2004 Mercedes-Benz ML 2.7L Diesel · F1 RKO

The 2004 Mercedes ML presents a clean roadworthiness status with a stable maintenance trend. The most recent test on 19 December 2025 at 140,518 miles passed with zero defects, continuing an unbroken five-year streak of first-time passes with no advisories. This consistency suggests the vehicle has been kept in sound mechanical order through routine servicing rather than reactive repairs. The mileage accumulation is steady and age-typical. Covering roughly 6,400 miles per year across its twenty-two-year lifespan, the annual increments between tests range from approximately 2,500 to 2,900 miles, with no sudden jumps or prolonged gaps in testing that would indicate long-term storage or clocking concerns. The record is complete and sequential from November 2021 through December 2025, showing the vehicle has been in regular use and consistently presented for annual testing. Despite the clean MOT history, a buyer should still carry out a thorough physical inspection. A 2004 ML at this mileage will have aged suspension bushes, coil springs, and anti-roll bar linkages that MOT tests only partially stress. Check for corrosion along the inner wings, sills, and subframes, as structural rust can develop beneath underseal without triggering an MOT failure until advanced. Inspect the brake discs, calipers, and flexible hoses for wear and seizing, and verify the condition of the exhaust system and catalytic converter for emissions compliance beyond the test threshold. The power steering system and transmission deserve close attention. The ML's air suspension, if fitted, is prone to compressor failure and leaking air springs at this age. Test all electrical systems, including the dashboard warning lights, central locking, and climate control. A clean MOT record is encouraging, but it does not substitute for a pre-purchase inspection by a qualified mechanic familiar with the Mercedes ML platform.