Peugeot 208 Mk1 used: PureTech belt, gearboxes and what to pay

Buying a first-generation Peugeot 208 is mostly a paperwork exercise. Most cars for sale have the 1.2 PureTech three-cylinder, whose timing belt runs in engine oil and can shed debris into the lubrication system. A car with documented belt work is a light, economical supermini at a low price. One without that history carries a risk that no test drive can rule out.

The 208 in brief: years, bodies and the 2015 facelift

The 208 replaced the 207 in April 2012 and was built in three- and five-door hatchback form only. It is 7 cm shorter than the 207 and has a boot of up to 1,076 litres with the rear seats folded (AutoScout24). ADAC dates the original series from April 2012 to April 2015 and the facelifted series from June 2015 to December 2019. AutoScout24's buying guide gives mid-2016 for the facelift, but the ADAC catalogue lists facelift models from June 2015. The update brought the six-speed EAT6 automatic and the BlueHDi diesels. The second-generation 208 took over in 2019, and the 208 model page covers both generations.

Equipment is generous for the class: six airbags and ESP are standard, and an autonomous emergency braking system and a reversing camera were options on later cars (AutoScout24). The small steering wheel with instruments read over its rim is a matter of taste, so sit in the car before you travel far to see one.

The PureTech wet belt: what goes wrong and what protects you

The 1.2 PureTech (EB2 family) uses a timing belt that runs inside the engine, lubricated by oil. NTN-SNR, which supplies the belts to the aftermarket, explains the mechanism in its 2022 technical note. Unburnt fuel dilutes the oil, the mixture attacks the belt, and fragments block the oil pump strainer and the brake vacuum pump. The first sign may be the oil pressure light. In the worst case the brake servo stops working and the pedal needs much more force, which Test-Achats calls dangerous.

The recalls show how widespread the problem is. ADAC lists a March 2021 recall for 1.2 PureTech engines built from 2013 to 2017, covering 359,925 cars worldwide, for engine damage and reduced braking force. A December 2022 recall covered timing-belt damage on 330,973 cars built from 2017 to 2020. Peugeot also cut the belt interval from 175,000 km or 10 years to 100,000 km or 6 years (AD France).

Stellantis extended its cover to 10 years or 175,000 km in April 2024 for excessive oil consumption or low oil pressure linked to belt wear, according to Caradisiac. The conditions are maintenance according to the manufacturer's plan by any professional garage, the last three service invoices, and diagnosis in the Peugeot network. A 2015-2016 car is already at or past the 10-year limit, so for most 208s on sale the cover is running out. Budget for the work yourself: AD France quotes €800-1,000 for a full belt kit change at a garage, as listed in November 2026.

For low-mileage cars, NTN-SNR recommends an oil change every year rather than waiting for the distance interval, and AD France recommends 0W30 oil for these engines. The mechanic should measure the belt width through the oil filler with Peugeot's gauge at every service. The general guide to timing belts and chains explains how to read a service history for belt work.

Engines and gearboxes

Outputs come from ADAC and AutoScout24, the timing drives from AD France. Diesels across the range span 50-88 kW (68-120 PS). The PureTech 110 delivers 205 Nm, and with the EAT6 it is rated at 4.5 l/100 km on the NEDC cycle (ADAC). The BlueHDi 100 gives 254 Nm and 3.0 l/100 km NEDC, and meets Euro 6b with an SCR catalyst and a 17-litre AdBlue tank.

The gearbox choice is clear. AutoScout24 criticises the five-speed automated manual (ETG5) for its pause in traction on every shift, and ADAC's used-car report calls the automated gearboxes suitable only for very relaxed drivers. The EAT6, a conventional six-speed torque-converter automatic offered with the PureTech 110 from June 2015, is the comfortable option. The manual gearboxes are imprecise but do the job.

The BlueHDi is a sound engine with one expensive weak point: the AdBlue tank. Stellantis runs a compensation programme for SCR diesels built from January 2014 to August 2020. Parts are covered in full under five years or 150,000 km and at 30-90% from five to eight years, with the programme ending in August 2028 at the latest (January 2025 terms). Every 208 Mk1 is now more than five years old, so full cover no longer applies. AutoScout24 also warns that 208 diesels can dilute their oil, and a rising oil level is the warning sign.

Reliability in the data

ADAC's catalogue shows 13.9 breakdowns per 1,000 cars for 2017 registrations, 12.2 for 2018 and 13 for 2019, against 23.7 for 2016. Ignition coils are listed as a breakdown cause for 2016-2018, and the ADAC used-car report rates the 208 mid-field in almost every year. What Car?'s reliability survey gives the 208 a score of 87%, second to last in its class, with infotainment and electrical faults behind more than 15% of reported problems.

TUV inspectors see the age showing after six years. AUTO BILD's 2026 TUV check names worn brake discs, mediocre foot brake results and lighting failures (dipped beam, indicators, rear lights) on cars aged six and over. Rusty exhausts are frequent, and AutoScout24 reported exhaust findings about 21 times more often than average early in the car's life. Suspension and drive shafts hold up well.

Prices and the Clio alternative

The catalogue shows a launch price of €12,300 in 2012 (ADAC list price in Germany, cheapest version). AutoScout24 asking prices in November 2026 put the median at about €4,950, with most of the 4,241 offers between €3,000 and €6,450. Early 1.0 and 1.2 cars fill the lower half, facelifted PureTech 110 and BlueHDi cars the upper half, and a GTi costs noticeably more. Real prices depend on year, mileage, engine and condition, and a PureTech with documented belt work is worth paying extra for.

The obvious alternative is the Renault Clio 4, which has its own engine risk in the 1.2 TCe but offers a bigger boot and an estate. For a broader shortlist, see the best small city cars.

Checking a 208 before you pay

Ask for the full service record and look for three things: annual oil changes, the belt replacement or inspection with the date and mileage, and the recall work for the belt. Then call a Peugeot dealer with the VIN to confirm that no recall is open; What Car? also mentions a front wishbone bolt recall covering 5,502 cars. Check the touchscreen for freezes, and look under the boot floor for water from the rear washer pipe, a known leak according to Auto Express. The guide to test-driving a used car covers the drive itself; on a 208, include a cold start and a firm stop to feel the brake servo.