2004 Mercedes-Benz E 3.2L Petrol · AF04 FYR

The vehicle presents a stable and reassuring roadworthiness profile, culminating in a clean pass on 31 December 2021 at 128,857 miles with zero defects recorded. That certificate expired over four and a half years ago, meaning the car has no valid MOT as of today's date. The maintenance trend across the recorded history is consistently strong, with no failures or advisories logged in any completed test. A single failed test on 20 December 2018 at 110,974 miles shows no defects listed, suggesting the failure may have been administrative or a procedural issue rather than a mechanical one, and the car passed the very next day at the same mileage with no faults. The mileage pattern tells an unusual story. Between the December 2018 test at 110,974 miles and the December 2019 test at 111,265 miles, the car covered just 291 miles in an entire year. It then sat effectively stationary again, gaining only 291 miles between December 2019 and December 2020, reaching 118,902 miles. The jump to 128,857 miles by December 2021 represents a sudden spike of nearly 10,000 miles in a single year after prolonged dormancy. This stop-start usage pattern is atypical and raises questions about why the vehicle was largely unused for extended periods before being driven more intensively in its final recorded year. Prolonged standing is its own risk factor. Tyres will have aged and developed flat spots or sidewall cracking, brake discs will likely show surface corrosion from sitting damp, and suspension bushes may have perished from lack of movement rather than wear. The fuel system, including seals and gaskets, may have suffered from stale petrol sitting in the tank and lines. A buyer should carefully inspect all rubber components, including coolant hoses and brake flexibles, for dry rot. The brake calipers should be checked for seized pistons given the long periods of inactivity, and the exhaust system should be examined for internal corrosion that can develop from condensation during short trips. Despite the clean MOT record, the absence of a current certificate and the irregular usage history mean a thorough on-site inspection is essential. A compression test and underbody examination for structural corrosion would be prudent before committing to purchase.