MERCEDES C2009 · 6.2L PETROL

The 2009 Mercedes C remains roadworthy following its most recent pass on 2026-03-02 at 72,641 miles, though the tester flagged a corroded offside front brake pipe covered in grease. The maintenance trend shows a clear improvement after a serious failure in early 2024, with the last two annual tests recording no defects beyond that minor pipe issue. This is a seventeen-year-old vehicle with low annual use, and the record indicates the owner addressed the major faults rather than deferring them. Mileage sat at 68,797 miles in February 2023 and rose only to 72,641 by March 2026, an average of roughly 1,280 miles per year across that span. The clean passes in 2023, 2025, and 2026 contrast sharply with the February 2024 failure at 70,040 miles, where the car covered just five miles between the failed and subsequent passed test four days later. Such low accumulation suggests extended standing periods, which typically accelerate surface corrosion on brake lines and discs. A buyer should physically inspect the front-to-rear brake pipes and the rear subframe area, as the 2024 failure cited leaking and excessive corrosion there before a pass was granted on 2024-03-05. The same test recorded both front and rear brake discs corroded on the inner faces, plus a deteriorated rear prop shaft flexible coupling and a failed anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover; confirm these were replaced, not merely greased over. The 2026 advisory on the offside front pipe implies the corrosion issue is not fully resolved. Given the low mileage and the four-day turnaround from failure to pass in 2024, previous ownership appears to have reacted to statutory failures rather than pursuing preventative maintenance. Verify the condition of suspension bushes, prop shaft joints, and hydraulic lines before purchase, as standing-related decay on a lightweight-use chassis can hide active leaks or structural rust not visible in an advisory-only pass.