Inspecting a used Peugeot 308 SW before you buy it

Most of what matters on a used Peugeot 308 SW is invisible from the driver's seat, which is exactly why we go looking for the faults that tend to surface later. On a diesel the expensive items are the particulate filter, EGR, injectors and turbo, and a city-only history is exactly the pattern that wears them out early - so we read the regeneration data and look for it. On the petrol side we confirm the timing arrangement is healthy for the mileage, that the engine pulls cleanly without misfire, and that there is no coolant or oil weeping where there should not be. Estates tend to be worked harder at the rear, so the rear suspension, load area and tailgate get extra attention alongside the usual mechanical checks. French cars of this type can carry minor electrical and sensor niggles, so we check the electronics and dashboard warnings carefully, along with the timing arrangement on the smaller turbo petrol engines where a wet belt needs attention. The purpose of listing them is not to discourage you from a Peugeot 308 SW; it is to make sure the one you buy has been checked against them by someone independent.

Often it matters most on cheaper cars, where a single major fault can equal a large share of what you're paying. For a Peugeot 308 SW, an inspection that costs only a fraction of the car can save you from an expensive mistake, or hand you the evidence to negotiate. Put simply, the less you can afford an unexpected expense, the more the inspection is worth.

For the Peugeot 308 SW, yes: hire a mechanic to look at a car Budapest is our usual vehicle inspection, done on site in Budapest with the report written in English. The name makes no difference to what we actually check. Engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, electronics and structure are all covered either way.

Always. We're a mobile service, so the car inspector comes to wherever the Peugeot 308 SW is parked in or around Budapest. You never have to move a car you don't own yet, and you never have to take a stranger's word over the phone. The car is seen in person, where it stands.

We connect a diagnostic scanner to read both stored and live fault codes on the Peugeot 308 SW, including faults the dashboard never displays. If the engine light is on, you'll know exactly why before you buy, and whether it points to something minor or something expensive. If a seller has cleared the codes just before the viewing, that often shows up too.

Our inspection of the Peugeot 308 SW covers the safety-critical systems - brakes, tyres, suspension, steering and structure - and flags anything that needs attention before the car is driven with confidence. We'll tell you clearly whether something must be fixed now or simply watched. Your safety is the first thing the report addresses, not an afterthought.