2004 Mercedes-Benz E 3.2L Diesel · B3 POB

The vehicle’s MOT history presents an unusual but technically clean record, with no defects logged across five tests spanning January 2024 to January 2026. The most recent January 2026 entries—both a pass and a fail at 279,029 and 279,031 miles—confirm the car meets current roadworthiness standards without advisories or major concerns. This consistency suggests either meticulous maintenance by previous owners or a vehicle that has aged well mechanically, though the repeated fails at near-identical mileages in consecutive years (2025 and 2026) may hint at procedural delays rather than mechanical issues. There’s no evidence of worsening trends; instead, the absence of defects implies either rigorous servicing or benign neglect of non-critical components. The mileage accumulation is aggressive for a 22-year-old vehicle, averaging roughly 12,683 miles annually, which is double the UK’s typical annual mileage for a car of this age. The gap between the 2024 test (266,547 miles) and the 2025 test (275,573 miles) covers just over a year but shows a 9,026-mile jump—far higher than average. This rapid mileage suggests the car has been in active use, likely as a daily driver or in a role requiring frequent travel. The lack of defects despite this high mileage reinforces the idea that major mechanical components, such as the engine, transmission, and primary suspension, have either been well-maintained or are inherently robust for their age. For a buyer, the primary focus should be on components that typically wear under high mileage: the suspension bushes, coil springs, and shock absorbers, which may show signs of fatigue or leakage despite no MOT flags. The brake system—discs, pads, and calipers—should be inspected for uneven wear or corrosion, particularly if the vehicle has been driven in urban or stop-start conditions. Exhaust emissions and fuel system integrity should also be checked, as older Mercedes-Benz diesel engines can develop subtle efficiency losses over time. Structural corrosion, especially around wheel arches and sills, is less likely to have been caught by MOT but remains a risk given the vehicle’s age and mileage. Tyre condition and tread depth, while not recorded in the MOT, would be critical to verify in person, given the high mileage.