2016 Mercedes-Benz C 2.1L Diesel · H18 LAV

The vehicle most recently passed its MOT on 13 September 2025 with a single advisory concerning the supplementary restraint system warning lamp, specifically that it does not illuminate on ignition. Looking at the broader DVSA history, this is the second time the SRS warning lamp has featured in the record; on 1 May 2024 it caused a present and recorded failure because the lamp indicated a fault, whereas this latest test shows the opposite symptom, that the lamp is failing to illuminate at all. The intervening tests from 2020 through early 2024 were consistently clean, so the overall maintenance trend appears generally stable with a notable concern now emerging around the airbag or seatbelt pretensioner warning system. The 2021 failure relating to tyre condition and washer fluid was typical of routine consumable wear rather than structural deterioration, and that pattern has not reappeared, suggesting the owner has since maintained the tyres and ancillary fluid systems to an acceptable standard. With 111,517 miles recorded over approximately ten years, the vehicle has averaged around 11,150 miles per annum, which is broadly typical for a privately used executive saloon of this age. There are no extended gaps in the MOT record that would suggest long periods of standing, nor is there evidence of unusually rapid mileage accumulation that might indicate heavy motorway or fleet use. Consistent annual usage of this nature tends to keep the drivetrain, seals, and brakes in a healthier state than a low-mileage garage-kept equivalent, as regular operation prevents seized calipers, dried rubber gaiters, and stale fluids, while still leaving the consumable wear items appropriately aged. The most pressing area for the prospective buyer to investigate is the supplementary restraint system warning lamp. The fact that it presented as an active fault in May 2024 and now as a non-illuminating lamp in September 2025 suggests an intermittent or unresolved electrical issue within the airbag system, possibly a faulty bulb, a failing instrument cluster, a corroded connector beneath the seat, or a depleted backup capacitor in the SRS control module. During a test drive, listen for any unusual chirping from the driver footwell, check whether the passenger airbag deactivation switch operates correctly, and verify that any dashboard bulb check sequence on ignition includes the airbag lamp. Because the SRS warning lamp is a statutory item under section 7.1.6 of the MOT inspection manual, any persistent fault would result in a further failure, and rectification may require a diagnostic scan with a Mercedes-compatible system such as STAR Diagnosis to read and clear the fault memory. Beyond the SRS concern, a ten-year-old C-Class with this mileage warrants standard age-related inspection. On a physical walkaround, examine the tyres not only for tread depth but for sidewall perishing and cracking from age, as Mercedes-specification tyres can degrade structurally well before the tread is exhausted, particularly if the vehicle has been parked in sunlight for long periods. Inspect the brake discs for any prominent lip and check the caliper slide pins for free movement, as binding calipers on a C-Class typically manifest as uneven pad wear or a pulling sensation under light braking. Verify that the service book contains stamps or digital records confirming timely replacement of the engine oil, brake fluid, coolant, and automatic transmission fluid at the manufacturer intervals, as calendar-aged fluid remains a common cause of cooling system degradation and automatic gearbox hesitation in this model. Finally, check the 12V auxiliary battery, since original equipment units in this generation of Mercedes are prone to failure beyond seven years and a weak battery can cause the very SRS and instrument cluster warning lamp irregularities noted on the MOT record.