2010 Mercedes-Benz CLC 2.1L Diesel · AA52 CAF

The vehicle is currently roadworthy, but the maintenance trend reveals a pattern of reactive repair rather than proactive upkeep. The most recent test in April 2026 at 58,106 miles followed an immediate failure just two miles prior due to a worn offside front track rod end and perishing tyres across three wheels. While the car passed after these repairs were made, the recurring nature of suspension component and rubber failures suggests that parts are only addressed once they reach the point of an MOT failure. The mileage profile is exceptionally low for a sixteen-year-old vehicle, averaging only approximately 3,600 miles per year. Between March 2024 at 53,280 miles and April 2025 at 55,765 miles, the car covered just 2,485 miles. This low usage explains the significant age-related degradation noted in the record. The tester consistently flagged cracking and perishing tyres across multiple years, indicating that the rubber compounds are dry-rotting due to time and lack of use rather than tread depth. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the front suspension and all rubber bushings. The history shows a trend of deteriorated ball joint dust covers and excessively worn ball joints flagged in both 2025 and 2026. These components should be checked for play in the control arms and track rods to ensure the recent repairs were comprehensive. Given the low mileage, specific attention should also be paid to the condition of the age-sensitive items like brake hoses, coolant pipes, and tyre sidewalls which are prone to structural failure despite low miles driven.