2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK 3.2L Petrol · GV02 DFY

This 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK presents an exceptionally clean roadworthiness record across the three most recent DVSA tests, with a pass issued on 17 April 2024 following equally clean passes on 11 April 2022 and 31 March 2023, and notably zero advisories recorded against any of those examinations. While a full service history back to first registration would offer the complete picture, the absence of any flagged defects, monitoring items, or wear-related advisories over consecutive tests is a strong indicator that the structural, braking, suspension, and exhaust elements have all been holding well within MOT thresholds. The consistency of clean outcomes across roughly a two-year testing window suggests the vehicle has not been deteriorating in any obvious measured area and that it has passed through the most recent regulatory roadworthiness check without issue. With 75,752 miles recorded against a 24-year age, the CLK has averaged only around 3,156 miles annually, which is considerably below typical usage expectations for a vehicle of this vintage. This low annual accumulation rate is a double-edged mechanical consideration: on one hand, the engine, transmission, and drivetrain have experienced far less wear than a higher-mileage equivalent, which is particularly beneficial for the M111 and M112 engine families commonly fitted to this generation of CLK; on the other hand, low-mileage vehicles of this age are frequently associated with extended periods of standing, which can promote drying and cracking of rubber components such as suspension bushes, engine and gearbox mountings, coolant hoses, and drive belt rubber, along with potential moisture ingress into brake hydraulic systems. The fact that the car has been presented for MOT testing on a reasonably consistent biennial basis suggests it has not been formally declared off the road via SORN for long continuous stretches, although the buyer should still be alert to age-related degradation typical of low-use classics. Given the specific mechanical profile of this generation of Mercedes-Benz CLK, particular attention should be directed to the front suspension and steering assembly on a physical inspection. The front lower wishbones, upper control arms, anti-roll bar drop links, and the supporting bushes are known wear items that, when deteriorated, produce clonking noises over speed humps and uneven road surfaces, vague or wandering steering, and uneven front tyre wear that is often visible as inner or outer shoulder feathering. The buyer should also inspect the rear suspension, including the trailing arms and coil springs, for any signs of sagging or corrosion. A test drive should focus on detecting any knocking or creaking from the suspension over undulating surfaces, any vibration through the steering wheel at speed, and any pull to one side under braking, which would point to binding brake calipers or uneven pad wear a common issue on Mercedes of this era that has not shown up in advisories but may still be developing. The braking system, despite passing cleanly, warrants specific physical checks because the brake fluid, flexible hoses, and rear calipers on a 24-year-old car are all items that degrade with age regardless of mileage. The flexible brake hoses should be inspected for any cracking, swelling under pressure, or perishing, and the brake fluid itself should be tested for moisture content, as a low-mileage car that has covered short journeys may have a higher than expected moisture level in the fluid. Exhaust integrity, particularly the front flexi-section, mounting rubbers, and the heat shields under the floor, should be carefully examined for corrosion, as these items would not necessarily have been flagged at MOT if still intact at the time of test. Finally, a thorough underbody inspection for any developing rust on the sills, wheel arches, subframe, and brake pipe runs is highly advisable, as the 24-year age of the vehicle places it well within the window where Mercedes chassis of this era commonly develop structural and component-level corrosion that may not yet be severe enough to fail an MOT but could become a future concern.