MajorCommonElectrical

Peugeot 308: BSI body-computer water ingress in the passenger footwell

BSI body-computer water ingress in the passenger footwell is a common electrical fault on the Peugeot 308 on the 2008–2013 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs ≈A$370 to ≈A$2,020 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 26 documented faults on the Peugeot 308.

Vehicle: Peugeot 308
Years: 2008–2013
System: Electrical

This page covers the Peugeot 308 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Peugeot 308 faults26 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

The 308's BSI body computer sits in the passenger footwell, directly in the path of water when the scuttle drains or a sunroof drain block. Water then causes erratic electrical behaviour, from central-locking and lighting faults to logged BSI errors and, at worst, a car that will not wake up. Damp carpets are the warning sign. Australian MOT/reliability data shows these cars are heavy on lights-and-electrics faults.

What you would notice

Damp passenger footwell / musty smell
Central locking, lights or indicators playing up
Random warning lights or BSI fault messages
Occasional no-wake / flat-battery drains

How to check it

Where to look. BSI in the passenger footwell; scuttle and sunroof drains

Press on the passenger carpet and lift the mat to feel for damp.
Check the scuttle drains and, if fitted, sunroof drains are clear.
Test locks, lights and indicators repeatedly.
Any dampness plus electrical oddities points to the BSI.

What it costs to put right

≈A$370 to ≈A$2,020 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, converted to Australian dollars, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Have the footwells ever been damp?”
“Any electrical gremlins or warning lights?”
“Has the BSI ever been replaced or dried out?”

Now check the Peugeot 308 you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car still has money owing on it, has been written off or reported stolen, what kms it showed in past sale ads, whether it has had accident repair claims and what it is worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate and its state for the A$17.90 Vehicle Check, or the full history from A$24.99.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

ProPeugeotSpares - 'Peugeot 308 problems' (BSI in footwell / water)
Peugeot Forums - 'BSI problem' thread

Peugeot 308 buyer questions

Is bsi body-computer water ingress in the passenger footwell serious on a Peugeot 308?

We rate it major and common on the Peugeot 308. The 308's BSI body computer sits in the passenger footwell, directly in the path of water when the scuttle drains or a sunroof drain block. Water then causes erratic electrical behaviour, from central-locking and lighting faults to logged BSI errors and, at worst, a car that will not wake up. Damp carpets are the warning sign. Australian MOT/reliability data shows these cars are heavy on lights-and-electrics faults.

How much does it cost to fix on a Peugeot 308?

≈A$370 to ≈A$2,020 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Peugeot 308 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2008–2013 Peugeot 308. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Press on the passenger carpet and lift the mat to feel for damp. Check the scuttle drains and, if fitted, sunroof drains are clear. Test locks, lights and indicators repeatedly. Any dampness plus electrical oddities points to the BSI. Look here: BSI in the passenger footwell; scuttle and sunroof drains