2009 Mercedes-Benz CL 500 5.0L Petrol · GK59 AVD

The January 2026 test at 102,483 miles returned a clean pass with no defects recorded, a distinct improvement on the September 2024 test where the offside front brake pipe corrosion, a near-side front tyre bald on the inner edge, and a slight engine oil leak remained as advisories. The maintenance trend appears to be stabilising after years of recurring corrosion and fluid seepage, though the absence of defects on the latest certificate does not confirm the underlying issues have been rectified. Mileage has accumulated at roughly 6,000 miles per year over the 17-year lifespan, consistent with the 102,483 reading today. A sharper increase occurred between August 2022 and August 2023, jumping from 83,651 to 94,523 miles, before settling to a lower annualised rate of approximately 4,000 miles over the last two years. The current keeper appears to use the car sparingly; only 2,132 miles were covered between the September 2024 test and the January 2026 pass. Three persistent faults dominate the history. The offside front brake pipe has been flagged as corroded and coated in grease at every test since September 2020 at 73,014 miles, indicating a repair-by-protection approach rather than replacement. A slight engine oil leak has been recorded continuously since August 2018 at 59,016 miles, surviving multiple tests without escalation to "excessive" but never disappearing. Front tyre wear on the inner edges has recurred in 2020, 2023, and 2024, pointing to unresolved suspension geometry — likely worn control arm bushes or residual misalignment following the 2019 failure of both front lower ball joints, where the offside unit was deemed likely to detach. A buyer should verify the brake pipe has been replaced rather than greased, inspect the engine underside for the source of the chronic oil seepage, and check front suspension geometry and bush condition closely. The parking brake failure in September 2020 at 73,013 miles was rectified by the retest six days later, but the mechanism warrants a functional check. Structurally, the 2013 note regarding under-trays obscuring components remains relevant; a thorough underbody inspection is essential to confirm the chassis legs and sills are free from the corrosion typical of this generation.