2007 Mercedes-Benz A-Class 1.5L Petrol · FH56 TYO

Corrosion of the braking system is the defining mechanical story of this 2007 Mercedes-Benz A-Class. In November 2022 both rear brake pipes were flagged as corroded or grease-covered, and by November 2023 the corrosion had progressed to a test failure, with both rear pipes and the offside front pipe recorded as excessively corroded. That episode was rectified and the car passed the same day, but the most recent test on 19 November 2025 still records rear brake discs worn, pitted or scored on both sides, alongside an offside rear tyre worn close to the legal limit. The wider record shows a recurring pattern of same-day fail-then-pass results: a fractured nearside rear lower coil spring and an ineffective wiper in 2024, a dangerously torn nearside rear tyre and an inoperative stop lamp in 2022, and failed headlamp aim on both sides plus a dead stop lamp in October 2025, all corrected promptly. The trend is neither worsening dramatically nor clean; it is a car that repeatedly presents with defects at test time and is repaired to pass. Recorded mileage stands at 71,522 miles over roughly nineteen years, averaging about 3,764 miles annually, which is low for the age. Tests have been conducted consistently each November with no significant gaps in the record, so the low accumulation reflects genuinely light use rather than untested lay-ups. Even so, extended periods of limited use are consistent with the corrosion observed on brake pipes and the pitted, scored condition of the rear discs, since lightly used vehicles often develop surface corrosion on braking components faster than regularly driven ones. The repeated tyre wear advisories across 2022, 2023 and 2025, including a bald outer edge on the offside front and a bald inner edge on the nearside rear, also point towards possible wheel alignment or suspension geometry issues rather than simple mileage-related wear. A prospective buyer should prioritise a thorough inspection of the brake lines front to rear. Although the corroded pipes were replaced or repaired in 2023, the discs remain flagged as worn and pitted, so on a test drive check for pedal pulsation, judder under moderate braking, and any pulling to one side, and listen for grinding or scraping from the rear. Ask for evidence of the pipe replacement work and inspect underneath for fresh corrosion on adjacent sections of line, unions and the subframe area, since corrosion rarely confines itself to the parts already changed. The fractured rear coil spring from 2024 warrants attention to the suspension generally: listen for knocking or clonking over uneven surfaces, check that the car sits level on its springs, and examine the remaining springs and dampers for cracks or leakage. Given the repeated uneven tyre wear, have the wheel alignment checked and inspect the tyres currently fitted for edge wear, and verify the headlamp aim and all stop lamps function correctly, as lighting faults have appeared in two of the last four test cycles. None of the recorded defects is unusual for a car of this age, but the pattern of recurring corrosion and wear items means a pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic would be money well spent.