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                         Thanks very much for your responses to my first post on the HJ forum, much appreciated, 
The  Peugeot garage I purchased my 'Approved Used' 308 1.6 HDi from a few days ago,  are telling me that yes it is noisy, but not so noisy as to need  replacing. I am not sure how noisy they would need it to be! 
I  have compared it with an identical 308 1.6 HDi (age/mileage etc) which  makes no noise whatsoever when the clutch is depressed and released  again. 
It is interesting that a school of thought says it could go on for years, and not cause further damage if the bearing fails. 
I  will press the main dealer to replaced the bearing, but I do feel they  would rather I just returned the car so as they could then retail to a  person with no mechanical knowledge and ideally a malfunctioning hearing  aid! 
                            
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