2019 Mercedes-Benz E 1.9L Diesel · B8 YFC

The vehicle is currently roadworthy but the maintenance trend shows a shift toward developing suspension component wear. While the most recent test in April 2026 at 52,630 miles passed, the tester identified new defects regarding steering rack inner joint play and light oil misting on both rear shock absorbers. This marks a departure from the clean record seen in April 2025, suggesting that age-related components are beginning to reach the end of their service life. The mileage pattern remains consistent with a seven-year-old vehicle averaging approximately 7,500 miles per annum. There is a notable period of high activity in early 2024 where the car covered roughly 1,600 miles in two months, resulting in two consecutive MOT failures. Since that period, the vehicle has accumulated another 14,400 miles over the last two years, maintaining a steady rate of 7,200 miles annually. This suggests regular use rather than long periods of which explains the gradual degradation of rubber bushes and hydraulic seals. A prospective buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the steering and suspension assembly. The recurring failure of the nearside front suspension arm ball joint in 2024, followed by the recent discovery of play in the steering rack inner joints, indicates the front-end geometry may be under significant stress. The light misting on the rear shock absorbers should be monitored for increased leakage, as minor misting often precedes a total seal failure and loss of damping. The tyre history from early 2024 reveals a period of neglect regarding basic consumable upkeep, with multiple tyres failing for legal limits and one exhibiting a structural sidewall bulge. While these were addressed to pass the subsequent test, the buyer should verify that the alignment was correctly corrected to prevent the uneven wear previously noted on the nearside front tyre.