2013 Mercedes-Benz C 2.1L Diesel · AS63 LOZ

A thirteen-year-old C-Class with a documented pattern of tyre condition issues and front suspension wear is the defining mechanical takeaway here. The most recent pass on 5 December 2025 followed immediately on from a fail the day before, and that fail produced two dangerous tyre defects and a major anti-roll bar linkage defect. The dangerous items were an offside front inner tyre with a sidewall lump indicating structural separation and an offside rear tyre below the legal 1.6mm tread limit, both of which had to be rectified before the pass was issued. The anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover was also flagged as failing to keep dirt out, mirroring a minor item recorded for the nearside front lower anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover the previous year. The earlier fail in October 2023 was a single major headlamp aim defect, which has not recurred. The overall trajectory shows a car that is roadworthy at present but with a recurring theme of front-end consumable wear and tyre management. Annual mileage of around 7,800 miles is in line with typical use for a vehicle of this age, and the testing cadence has been roughly annual with no multi-year gaps that would suggest prolonged standing. The recorded mileage at the December 2025 test was 101,460, which is consistent with steady, moderate accumulation rather than heavy motorway work. This kind of mileage generally allows original brake discs, calipers and exhaust components to remain serviceable, though the test record does show some localised wear patterns that warrant attention. There is no evidence in the MOT history of long periods off the road or of sudden mileage jumps between tests. Prospective buyers should focus their physical inspection on the front suspension, particularly the anti-roll bar linkage ball joints and their dust covers. With the nearside item first flagged as severely deteriorated in November 2024 and then recorded as failed to prevent dirt ingress in December 2025, it is worth asking whether the linkage has been replaced or merely the boot packed with grease, as a perished cover typically leads to accelerated joint wear. On a test drive, listen for clonks or rattles over speed humps and on uneven surfaces, and feel for vagueness or tremor through the steering wheel that could indicate worn drop links or bushes. The offside front inner tyre and offside rear tyre were both condemned only a year apart in late 2025, so any uneven tread wear, feathering or cupping across the axles should be checked closely. The nearside rear child seat advisory carried over from the December 2025 fail to the pass means the adult belt in that position was not fully inspected at the most recent test, which is a procedural note rather than a confirmed defect. The nearside front wing mirror glass was recorded as slightly damaged at both the 2024 and 2025 tests, so verify that the mirror still provides an adequate rear view and that the glass is secure. The nearside front tyre sidewall was also flagged in both the 2024 and 2025 tests, so inspect all four sidewalls for bulges, cracking or scuffing that could indicate kerbing damage or age-related deterioration. A thorough road test over varied surfaces, combined with a ramp inspection of the front suspension components and all four tyres, would be the most prudent way to confirm that the defects leading to the December 2025 fail have been properly rectified rather than temporarily resolved.