2015 Mercedes-Benz ML 3.0L Diesel · HT15 EUJ

A clear and recurring front-axle tyre wear pattern dominates the mechanical profile of this 2015 Mercedes-Benz ML, having surfaced at every annual assessment since 2022. The most recent test on 27 September 2025 returned a clean pass with no advisories recorded, which on the surface suggests improvement, yet the four prior inspections reveal a persistent issue centred on the nearside front tyre, culminating in a dangerous failure on 13 September 2022 where the offside front tyre had exposed plies or cords. The subsequent advisory on 28 September 2024 for nearside front tyre wear close to the legal limit on the edge indicates that despite the cord-exposure episode being addressed, the underlying wear geometry has not been fully resolved across multiple tyre replacements. Such a consistent pattern of edge wear rather than even tread reduction typically points to a chassis geometry or suspension component concern rather than a simple consumable issue. With 71,057 miles accumulated over approximately eleven years, this ML has averaged around 6,460 miles annually, which is broadly typical for a vehicle of its age and class. The MOT testing record shows annual continuity from 2022 through 2025 with no significant gaps, suggesting the vehicle has remained in regular use rather than laid up for extended periods. This steady but moderate annual accumulation means the major mechanical components, including the engine, automatic transmission, and four-wheel-drive system, have been worked consistently without the harsher stresses of high-mileage motorway driving, though they have also not benefited from the thorough warm-up cycles that frequent longer journeys provide. Given the recurring nearside front tyre edge wear, a prospective buyer should pay particular attention to the front suspension geometry and associated components during a physical inspection and test drive. Uneven inner or outer edge wear of this nature is commonly linked to worn wishbone bushes, failed ball joints, top mount bearings, or more specifically on this M-Class platform, deflection in the front lower control arm bushings or thrust arms. On a test drive, listen for clonks or knocks from the front end over uneven road surfaces, particularly over speed humps and potholes, and feel for any vagueness or knocking through the steering wheel when traversing rough tarmac. A wheel alignment check should be considered mandatory, and any kerbing damage to the offside front wheel, which suffered the cord exposure failure, should be inspected for distortion that could perpetuate the wear pattern. Beyond the documented tyre wear, the ML's larger mechanical vulnerabilities at this age and mileage should not be overlooked. Air suspension systems, if fitted, require scrutiny for sagging at the corners when stationary, while the coil spring variants are susceptible to fracture, producing an audible creak or drop in ride height. Brake discs and pads should be inspected for lipping on the disc edges and pad wear nearing the backing plate, and the underbody, particularly around the subframe mounting points, brake pipes, and rear axle assemblies, warrants a thorough check for surface corrosion consistent with winter road salt exposure. During the test drive, monitor for any steering pull to one side, which would corroborate the alignment issues suggested by the tyre wear record, and verify that the automatic transmission shifts smoothly without hesitation or flare between ratios.