2005 Mercedes-Benz E 3.2L Diesel · HG05 XBY

This 2005 Mercedes E-Class passed its most recent MOT on 23 June 2025 at 136,600 miles, but the maintenance trend is not reassuring. The vehicle has failed or picked up advisories at three of the last five annual tests, and the same defects keep returning. The offside front steering rack inner joint play was flagged in both the 2024 and 2025 tests, meaning the joint has been deteriorating for at least two years without a permanent fix. A windscreen crack or chip has appeared in every single test since 2022, suggesting the car has either suffered repeated stone damage or the screen has a slow, unresolved fault line. The 2024 failure for a bulging nearside front tyre also points to a lapse in basic pre-check maintenance, as a structural tyre defect should have been spotted before the test. The mileage pattern is broadly typical for a 21-year-old car, averaging roughly 6,500 miles per year. The jump from 125,236 miles in June 2022 to 136,600 miles in June 2025 represents about 11,360 miles over three years, which is slightly above the long-term average but not extreme. There are no alarming gaps or sudden spikes in the record, and the annual test dates are consistent, so the car appears to have been used regularly rather than left standing for long periods. A buyer should focus on the front suspension and steering first. The recurring offside front steering rack inner joint play is a wear item that will eventually affect steering precision and could fail catastrophically if ignored. The nearside front wheel bearing had slight play in 2022, and while it was not flagged again, any front-end clunking or roughness on a test drive warrants a closer look. The rear brake hoses were noted as slightly deteriorated in 2023, and the rear brake discs were flagged as worn in 2022, so the braking system needs a thorough inspection for corrosion and uneven wear. The repeated windscreen damage is a minor legal issue but a useful indicator of how the car has been maintained overall. If the screen has been patched rather than replaced across multiple tests, it suggests a pattern of deferring small repairs. A full underbody check for corrosion is also advisable, as a 20-year-old Mercedes of this mileage can develop structural rust, particularly around suspension mounting points and sills, even if it has not yet appeared on the MOT.