2009 Mercedes C 2.1L Diesel · A28 TAC

The vehicle is currently roadworthy, but the maintenance history reveals a pattern of reactive rather than proactive care. While the most recent test in October 2025 at 129,294 miles passed, it followed a failure for low headlamp aim and a deteriorated rear registration plate. The trend shows a significant dip in standards during July 2024 when the car failed on multiple critical safety-related items, suggesting the previous owner only addressed faults once they became necessary to pass the annual test. At 17 years old, the recorded 129,294 miles represent an annual average of approximately 7,600 miles, which is consistent with typical light-to-moderate usage. However, the data shows very little movement between April 2023 (128,321 miles) and July 2024 (129,048 miles), covering only 727 miles in over fourteen months. This low-frequency use often leads to accelerated corrosion of rubber components and the degradation of hydraulic fluids rather than mechanical wear from high mileage. A buyer must conduct a thorough inspection of the braking system and suspension geometry. The 2024 failure highlighted severe issues including a leaking offside front brake pipe, excessive corrosion on the nearside front pipe, and poor brake efficiency. Although these were reportedly repaired, the recurring mention of pitted and scored brake discs across multiple years suggests a lack of preventative maintenance. The offside front suspension arm ball joint was flagged as worn in 2023 and excessively worn by 2024, indicating the front end components are nearing the end of their functional life. Physical attention should also be paid to the condition of the tyres and the registration plate. The 2024 record noted cuts reaching the cords on both rear tyres, which is a high-risk failure indicating neglected basic safety checks. Given the age of the vehicle and the low annual mileage, the inspector should check the chassis for structural corrosion and verify that the brake lines are now free of the weeping or scaling that caused previous failures.