2005 Mercedes CLS 3.0L Diesel · EX55 WDA

The vehicle is currently roadworthy but the most recent MOT history indicates a sudden decline in proactive maintenance. While the car maintained a clean record between 2022 and 2024, the October 2025 test at 189,710 miles revealed multiple immediate safety-related failures. The failure on that date due to exposed tyre cords and critically low brake pads suggests that the owner only addressed repairs when forced by a test failure, rather than performing routine inspections of consumables. At 189,710 miles, this 21-year-old Mercedes has averaged approximately 9,000 miles per year, which aligns with typical usage for a luxury grand tourerer. The data shows a consistent usage pattern between 2022 and 2025, where the vehicle covered roughly 17,500 miles over three years. However, the jump of 5,579 miles between August 2024 and October 2025 indicates a recent period of higher usage that may have stressed neglected components during that interval. A physical inspection must focus on the emerging mechanical and structural issues flagged in the 2025 record. The tester noted corrosion on the rear brake pipe that was obscured by grease, a common tactic used to hide rust that requires a thorough cleaning to ensure structural integrity. The light misting on the offside rear shock absorber indicates the start of seal failure, and the defective exhaust mounting will likely lead to vibration or noise shortly. The buyer should also verify the source of the oil leak to confirm it remains a minor cover gasket issue rather than a more significant engine seal failure.