2016 Mercedes-Benz E 350 D AMG Line Premium+ Auto 3.0L Heavy oil · 77 TS

This E 350 D presents a faultless MOT history across the four recorded tests from 2022 through to 2025, with no advisories, no failures, and no defects of any category logged on the DVSA database. The most recent test on 15 July 2025 was a clean pass with a fully blank advisory sheet, and the preceding three annual examinations show the same outcome. Such an unbroken record of roadworthiness across consecutive tests is a strong indicator that the vehicle has remained mechanically sound and free from the corrosion, suspension wear, and brake component deterioration that frequently surface on diesel executive cars of this vintage, particularly those used on salted winter roads in the UK. The absence of even minor advisories on items like coil springs, brake disc lips, or exhaust corrosion is notable for a ten-year-old Mercedes and suggests the car has either been garaged, lightly used, or consistently maintained to a high standard. Against a recorded odometer reading of 39,873 miles spread across a ten-year registration period, the vehicle has averaged roughly 3,987 miles per year, which is substantially below the typical annual mileage for a diesel-powered executive saloon and consistent with private or second-car usage rather than high-mileage motorway commuting. There are no gaps in the annual MOT testing record since 2022, which indicates continuous road use rather than a long-term SORN lay-up that could otherwise have triggered issues such as brake disc corrosion, tyre flat-spotting, or diesel particulate filter saturation through infrequent regeneration cycles. Mechanically, this low-mileage profile means the major wear items such as the timing chain, dual-mass flywheel, turbocharger, and DPF are unlikely to have accrued severe fatigue, but the engine, transmission, and air-conditioning compressor will still have aged in calendar terms regardless of use, so age-related degradation of seals, gaskets, and rubber components remains a consideration. Given the clean MOT record, a prospective buyer should focus the pre-purchase inspection on areas not necessarily visible during a standard DVSA test. On a road test, listen for any clonking or knocking from the front suspension when traversing speed humps or uneven tarmac, which would point to worn lower wishbone bushes, anti-roll bar drop links, or top mount bearings common on the W213 platform. Check for steering vibration or wander at speed, which can indicate perished rear subframe mount bushes or front control arm wear. Under the bonnet, inspect for any oil misting around the rocker cover, turbo oil feed pipes, and the intercooler pipework, and verify that no oil is pooling in the lower intercooler pipe, a known concern on the OM642 engine. Examine the underside for any early signs of corrosion on the brake pipes, fuel lines, and rear axle components, as the MOT record will not have flagged cosmetic surface corrosion at the time of the previous tests but these areas should be visually confirmed. Additionally, evaluate the diesel particulate filter through a sustained drive at sustained engine load above 2,500 rpm for a minimum of fifteen to twenty minutes, ensuring successful active regeneration with no warning lamps illuminated afterwards. Check the nine-speed automatic gearbox for smooth, prompt shifts both warm and cold, and confirm that the 7G-Tronic or 9G-Tronic unit holds gears without flare, slip, or delayed engagement. Inspect all four tyres for even shoulder wear, as inner-edge wear on the rears can indicate alignment issues arising from worn rear trailing arm bushes, a recurring weak point on this chassis. Verify full operation of the air suspension if equipped, or the conventional coil spring setup, listening for any squeaks from the strut tops under full lock. Finally, confirm that the brake discs exhibit a clean lip with no significant ridges and that the caliper slide pins move freely without binding, as Mercedes brake caliper slide pins are prone to seizure through age rather than mileage.