2013 Mercedes-Benz E 2.1L Diesel · CU13 VFN

At roughly 156,572 miles across thirteen years, this E-Class shows the wear profile of a high-mileage, well-used vehicle, with the front axle and brake components standing out as the principal mechanical themes across its MOT history. The most recent test on 13 May 2026 recorded a clean pass with no advisories, which interrupts what had been a steady drip of front-end concerns through 2024 and 2021. Nevertheless, the underlying record includes one failure in August 2021 for excessively worn front suspension arm pins or bushes on both sides, alongside repeated advisories for pitted front brake discs and slight nearside front wheel bearing play. The pattern points to a chassis that has absorbed significant road use and is beginning to surface the kind of wear typical of Mercedes-Benz front suspension geometry on cars that have covered substantial mileage. The mileage context here is unusually high for the age, working out to roughly 12,044 miles per year on average, which sits well above typical fleet or private use. This level of annual accumulation concentrates wear on consumables and rotating components: brake discs and pads, tyres, wheel bearings, and the rubber and metal linkages in the front suspension. The testing pattern is continuous from 2019 through 2026 with no prolonged absences from the road, which means the recorded findings represent an actively driven vehicle rather than one that has deteriorated through standing. Two tests in the same week in August 2021 (a failure on the 6th followed by a pass on the 10th) suggest an out-of-suspension repair was completed between those visits, but no further suspension advisories have appeared since, which is a cautiously positive sign for that subsystem while not a guarantee. For a prospective buyer, the priority on inspection should be the front suspension and braking system, since these are the areas the MOT history specifically flags. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the front wheels over uneven surfaces or speed bumps, particularly when turning or going over dips, as worn control arm bushes and pins commonly present this way. Pay attention to steering vagueness, uneven tyre wear across the front axle, and any shudder or vibration through the brake pedal, all of which can be linked to the previously noted disc wear and bush deterioration. The 2020 advisories covering front and rear brake pipes corroded and coated in grease should prompt a close visual examination of the underbody brake lines for surface rust, flaking, and any evidence of recent repainting or underseal masking corrosion, particularly along pipe joints and where they run close to the chassis. The 2024 advisory regarding slight damage and cracking on both front tyres also warrants a check of the current sidewalls for perishing and impact damage, and a look at the rear tyres for matching age-related degradation given the mileage. The earlier wheel bearing play advisory, while not flagged since, should be evaluated by rocking each front wheel with the car jacked to detect any notchiness or roughness, and by listening for a humming tone that changes with cornering. A scan tool or garage inspection for any stored suspension or ABS faults would be prudent given the failure history, and a thorough underbody inspection for oil misting, leaks from the engine and automatic transmission sump, and corrosion on subframe mounting points would help confirm whether the high annual mileage has produced any further issues beyond those recorded at test time.