2008 Peugeot 308 1.6L Diesel · YH08 OJR

Corrosion at the rear suspension mounting points is now the defining issue for this 2008 Peugeot 308: the July 2025 test recorded a major failure for an excessively corroded offside rear suspension component mounting area in the outer sill, described as significantly reducing structural strength, alongside a lesser corrosion advisory for the same area on the nearside. That same test produced three further majors — exhaust emissions exceeding the manufacturer's specified limit, an excessively worn nearside front Macpherson strut pin or bush, and a split offside front CV boot no longer keeping dirt out of the joint. The wider record shows a car that passed cleanly from 2020 through 2023, but the trend is clearly worsening: a fractured front coil spring failure in 2021, a badly distorted nearside front road wheel in 2020, a severely deteriorated CV boot flagged as a minor in 2024 that progressed to a split-boot major a year later, and worn front brake discs and an edge-worn tyre advised in 2024. A buyer should treat the 2025 outcome as the current mechanical baseline and verify that all four majors were properly rectified, with invoices, before proceeding. Recorded mileage stands at 123,865 miles over roughly 18 years, an average of about 6,900 miles per year, which is typical for the age and consistent with regular year-round use rather than long lay-ups. Tests have occurred annually each July without gaps, so there is no evidence of extended off-road periods. This steady accumulation is nonetheless enough to explain the wear pattern in the record: suspension bushes, coil springs, CV boots, brake discs and tyres are all age-and-mileage consumables, and at this mileage on an 18-year-old car the emergence of structural corrosion in the sill and suspension mounting areas is the more significant concern, since rust of this kind tends to progress rather than stabilise. On inspection, the priority is the outer sill and rear suspension mounting areas on both sides. The offside rear mounting was judged to have lost structural strength, so any repair should be checked for proper welded plating rather than surface treatment, and the nearside, already corroded at advisory level, should be probed for thinning metal. A magnet and a careful look along both sills will help distinguish sound metal from filler over rust. Given that corrosion has now been recorded in a prescribed load-bearing area, a ramp inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly advisable before purchase. On the road, the front suspension and drivetrain deserve close attention. The worn Macpherson strut bush may produce a knock or clonk over bumps and imprecise steering over broken surfaces if not yet replaced; the CV joint behind the split boot should be checked by driving on full lock in both directions in a car park, listening for clicking or clattering that indicates the joint has already ingested grit. Brake pedal feel should be assessed for judder under firm braking, consistent with the worn, pitted front discs noted in 2024, and the emissions failure warrants a check for exhaust smoke, a strong fuel smell, or an illuminated engine management light, since the cause could range from a tired lambda sensor or catalyst to engine wear. Confirm the fractured spring, distorted wheel and all 2025 majors have documented repairs, and budget for ongoing corrosion monitoring as a condition of ownership.