1987 MERCEDES-BENZ 4204.2L Petrol

The 1987 Mercedes-Benz 420 presents a clean roadworthiness status with a stable maintenance trend. The most recent test on 5 August 2025 at 102,588 miles returned a pass with no defects recorded, continuing an unbroken sequence of passes across the available history. The mileage pattern shows exceptionally low use for a 39-year-old vehicle. Recorded distance rose from 102,451 miles at the 22 October 2021 test to 102,588 miles by August 2025, a total of just 137 miles over nearly four years. The longest gap falls between the October 2022 and June 2024 tests, where the car covered only nine miles. Such minimal annual accumulation, around 2,630 miles per year lifetime, suggests prolonged standing periods rather than regular road use. A clean MOT sheet with no advisories does not guarantee freedom from age-related defects on a car of this era. Long stationary intervals typically allow suspension bushes, brake calipers, and flexible brake hoses to degrade through lack of movement and moisture ingress. The buyer should physically inspect for perished rubber components, binding brakes, and corroded subframes or floor sections not always caught in a pass result. Given the sparse but fault-free record, the previous keeper appears to have maintained statutory testing without neglect. The absence of recurring faults points to no worsening mechanical trend. A pre-purchase inspection beneath the vehicle remains prudent to confirm structural integrity before commitment.