Peugeot 405 (1987 - 1996)

Last updated 14 June 2014

Buying Guide

Good

• Fine Pininfarina styling.
• All handle and ride well.
• Practical estate cars.
• Narrow enough at 5' 7" to fit most garages.
• At least one diesel model has done more than 600,000 miles.
• Like 205, rust traps are designed out, so these cars don't rust badly.
• Huge range of engines over the years from rare 75bhp 1.4 through 92bhp 1.6, 103bhp 1.8, 110 and 125bhp 1.9s, 160bhp twin-cam Mi16s

Bad

• Light build. So any rust in seams will seriously weaken structure.
• Rusty brake pipes common on early examples but all should have been replaced with coated pipes by now.
• Not all had power steering and all need it.

Watch

• Early 'plip key' immobliser system was a joke because it was easy to unplug inside the centre console.
• Little things like failed heater thermostatic controls can cost £500 to replace which is usually more than the car is now worth.
• Trim does not take a hammering.
• Check spare wheel is in its underboot cradle and not nicked.
• Early carburettor petrol cars suffered from fuel vaporisation.
• Look for front suspension wear. Rear suspension pivots also wear, particularly on estate cars and can cost more to replace than the car is worth.
• Rusted brake pipes are an MOT failure point (later models had coated brake pipes). Rusty brake pipes common on early examples but all should have been replaced with coated pipes by now.
• Not all had power steering and all need it.
• Aircon system on GTX models prone to problems.
• All 405s, petrol or diesel, need a cambelt and camshaft end seal change every 3 years and 36,000 miles.
• All XU engines can suffer premature bore and big end wear if the oil has not been changed regularly.
• Look for fluid leaks from power steering rack and pump, clonky driveshafts, seeping gearbox driveshaft oil seals, worn bushes in external gearshift mechanism. A heavy clutch could either mean the clutch is on the way out or the cable is binding.
• Little things like failed heater thermostatic controls can cost £500 to replace which is more than the car is now worth
• 'Gong' sound means that car battery is failing to hold sufficient charge and needs to be replaced.
• Rear trailing arm bushes eventually give out and are an MoT failure, but specialists have popped up who can fix this very reasonably. One is sspengineering.co.uk in Devon. 

Recalls

1995 (1995 model year to VIN 71339513): airbag may fail to inflate in an accident. 1996 (Sept '93-May '95 build): check for seepage of fuel from feed pipe