2009 Mercedes-Benz C 1.8L Petrol · BK09 WWA

The vehicle is currently roadworthy, but the maintenance history indicates a reactive rather than proactive approach. While it passed its most recent test in September 2025 at 125,441 miles, it had failed just one day prior due to multiple safety-critical defects, including a non-functional headlamp, stop lamp, and a critically worn offside front lower suspension arm ball joint. This pattern suggests that the previous owner only addressed mechanical faults when necessitated by an MOT failure rather than performing routine preventative maintenance. At 17 years old, the 125,441 miles represent an average annual usage of approximately 7,379 miles, which aligns with typical expectations for a vehicle of this age. The mileage data shows consistent annual intervals, with roughly 11,000 miles covered between September 2023 and 2024, and another 13,000 miles between 2024 and 2025. This steady usage suggests the vehicle has not sat stationary for long periods, which is generally beneficial for seals and mechanical components, despite the age-related degradation of parts. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the front suspension, specifically the ball joints and wisharms, as the previous failure of a ball joint likely to become detached indicates significant wear in the steering geometry. The tester should also check the underside for mounting mounting corrosion, particularly around the exhaust heat shield which was flagged as loose in two consecutive tests. Given the history of a missing wheel fixing in 2024, verifying that all wheel bolts are torqued to specification is essential to ensure no other assembly oversights remain on the vehicle.