2013 Mercedes-Benz C 1.6L Petrol · YB62 AAZ

The vehicle's most recent MOT test on 14 July 2026 resulted in a pass, with a single advisory recorded for light oil misting on the nearside rear shock absorber. Looking at the pattern of recent tests, the maintenance trend appears broadly stable but with some recurring concerns in particular areas. The 2022 retest after the brake disc failure was passed cleanly, the 2023 test picked up a suspension ball joint advisory on the nearside front, and the 2024 test noted only a minor stop lamp lens defect. The reappearance of suspension and brake-related advisories across consecutive or near-consecutive tests, however, suggests that these are wear items being monitored rather than resolved, and a prospective buyer should treat them as areas of ongoing concern rather than isolated incidents. With a recorded mileage of 119,996 miles across approximately thirteen years of use, the vehicle has accumulated around 9,230 miles annually, which is broadly typical for its age and indicates consistent rather than excessive use. There are some gaps in the MOT record between 2019 and 2022 where mileage accumulation is not directly verifiable from the data supplied, but the overall figure does not suggest extreme high-mileage wear or prolonged periods of standing that might cause calendar-related degradation. That said, the front brake discs required replacement at around the 90,000 mile mark based on the 2022 failure, and a nearside front suspension ball joint was flagged in both 2022 and 2023, which is consistent with the progressive wear one would expect on a Mercedes-Benz C-Class of this age and mileage, particularly on the front axle which carries the majority of braking and steering loads. For a prospective buyer, the recurring advisories warrant close physical inspection and a targeted test drive. The front suspension ball joint play noted in 2022 and 2023 should be rechecked on a ramp or over a pit; listen for clonks or knocking from the front end when traversing speed humps, uneven surfaces, or when turning at low speed, and check the inner and outer edges of the front tyres for uneven wear which would indicate accelerated bush or joint deterioration. The nearside rear shock absorber oil misting from the latest test is typically an early-stage seal failure that progresses over time, so inspect the shock body for fresh oil residue and listen for poor damping response, such as continued oscillation after pressing down on the rear corner. Given that all four brake discs required replacement at the previous failure, the current discs and pads should be physically inspected for wear lip, surface corrosion, and pad material thickness, with a test drive paying attention to brake pedal feel, any shudder under heavy braking, and whether the handbrake holds effectively on an incline. The nearside front tyre bulge that caused a dangerous failure in 2022 was a structural failure and the replacement tyre should be confirmed to be of correct specification, age, and undamaged. Beyond the recorded MOT items, a thirteen-year-old vehicle with this mileage also requires general age-appropriate inspection. Check all tyres, including the spare, for sidewall cracking or perishing from age regardless of tread depth, as rubber degrades over time independent of wear. Inspect the exhaust system for corrosion particularly at mounting brackets, joints, and the rear silencer, and verify that the 12V battery holds charge under load, as batteries of this age are often near the end of their reliable service life. Confirm the service history stamps and verify that brake fluid, coolant, and automatic transmission fluid have been changed at the manufacturer-recommended intervals, as these fluids degrade with calendar age even on lower mileage vehicles. Finally, examine the underbody and wheelarches for corrosion, particularly around suspension mounting points, subframe seams, and the sill jacking areas, as Mercedes-Benz vehicles of this era can be prone to surface corrosion in these regions if regularly exposed to winter road salt.