2004 MERCEDES SLK3.5L PETROL

The 2004 Mercedes SLK holds a valid MOT certificate dated 11 September 2025, passing at 70,401 miles. The maintenance trend over the last three years is broadly stable, though the record reveals a pattern of minor recurring oil leaks and suspension wear that has been managed rather than fully resolved. The most recent failure on the same day in September 2025 flagged a fractured offside front coil spring and light oil misting on the nearside front shock absorber, both of which were rectified before the afternoon pass. This suggests the previous owner addressed immediate failures but left low-level oil seepage and worn suspension components to accumulate between tests rather than undertaking preventative renewal. The mileage progression is low for a 22-year-old vehicle, averaging roughly 3,200 miles per year. Between September 2023 and September 2024 the car covered approximately 1,221 miles, and between September 2024 and September 2025 it covered 1,866 miles. The current recorded mileage of 70,401 has not advanced since the September 2025 test, meaning the car has stood idle for nine months as of today's date. Extended periods of inactivity on a vehicle of this age can lead to deteriorated brake calipers, flat-spotted tyres, and moisture ingress in fluid systems, none of which the MOT directly assesses. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front suspension and drivetrain sealing. The repeated advisories for a front oil leak across three consecutive years, combined with the 2025 shock absorber misting and the fractured coil spring, point to aging engine or transmission seals and fatigued suspension components. The nearside front lower suspension arm ball joint and bush have been flagged as worn in both 2023 and 2024, so play in that linkage should be checked with a lever, not merely a visual glance. The offside front coil spring that failed in 2025 warrants close examination of its counterpart on the nearside, along with the top and bottom mountings, for early cracking or corrosion. Tyre wear has been a recurring theme, with both nearside rear and offside front tyres worn close to the legal limit or edged in both 2024 and 2023. This hints at possible tracking drift or lazy tyre rotation by the previous owner. A four-wheel alignment check is advisable, along with a close look at inner sidewalls and tread depth across all four corners. The oil seepage, while repeatedly deemed not excessive, should be traced to its source on a cold start to rule out a weeping crankshaft seal or rocker cover gasket that could worsen with heat cycles after the car returns to regular use.