2014 Mercedes-Benz E 2.1L Diesel · AY62 AAA

A pattern of front-end tyre and brake wear dominates the recorded MOT history of this 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, with the most recent test on 2026-08-21 passed but accompanied by advisories for both front brake pads wearing thin and both front tyres worn close to the legal limit. The 2025 cycle is particularly revealing: a dangerous failure was recorded on 2025-08-21 for exposed ply or cords on both front tyres and the offside rear tyre, alongside an advisory for worn front brake discs. The vehicle was re-presented the following day and passed with the same disc advisory carried forward. By 2026 the front discs no longer warranted an advisory, but brake pad wear has reappeared alongside fresh tyre advisories, suggesting the front axle is consuming consumables at a steady rate. The 2023 and 2024 tests returned no recorded defects, so the core structure, emissions, and rear axle have remained compliant, but the front running gear is clearly the area demanding ongoing attention. With 75,108 miles accumulated over twelve years, this E-Class is running at approximately 6,259 miles annually, which is broadly typical for its age. The recorded mileages imply steady, regular use rather than long periods of standing, which generally benefits components prone to drying out or seizing such as brake calipers, flex hoses, and suspension bushes. There are no significant recorded jumps between tests that would indicate clocking or irregular usage, and the testing history is consistent year on year from 2023 through 2026. Routine annual mileage of this level on a vehicle of this size means that braking components, tyres, and fluid services will require periodic replacement on a predictable cycle, and the advisories on file align with that expectation rather than indicating premature wear. For a prospective buyer, the priority inspection area is the front braking and cornering assembly. The 2025 dangerous tyre failure means the previous tyres were either significantly underinflated, suffering from misalignment, or simply allowed to run beyond safe tread depth, and a test drive should include firm braking from around 40 mph to check for any pull to one side, vibration through the steering wheel, or a soft or spongy pedal that could suggest a binding caliper or a flexible brake hose nearing the end of its service life. With pads now flagged as wearing thin, expect replacement within a few thousand miles, and inspect both front discs in person for lipping, scoring, or uneven sheen that would indicate a seized slider. The nearside and offside front tyres should be inspected for uneven shoulder wear, which on a Mercedes of this era commonly points to worn front suspension components such as the lower control arm bushings, drop links, or top mount bearings; listen for clonking over speed humps and rough tarmac, and feel for any vagueness in the steering around the straight-ahead position. The rear axle has produced no advisories across the recorded tests, including during the 2025 failure when only the offside rear tyre was condemned, which suggests the rear brakes and suspension are holding up well. Nonetheless, on the test drive, listen for any knocking from the rear over undulating surfaces, as multi-link rear suspension bushes can deteriorate on higher-mileage E-Class models even without triggering MOT advisories. Check the exhaust system visually for corrosion at the mounting rubbers and joints, particularly given the vehicle's age, and inspect the underbody for any oil residue from the engine or automatic transmission, which would be consistent with twelve years of service. Finally, confirm the service history independently, as the MOT record only confirms point-in-time roadworthiness and cannot verify that routine items such as brake fluid changes, spark plug replacement on petrol variants, or automatic transmission fluid have been attended to at the manufacturer-recommended intervals.