2005 Mercedes CLK 3.2L Petrol · HT54 JJO

The most recent MOT, conducted on 22 August 2022 at 235,356 miles, passed cleanly with zero defects recorded. That result is now over three and a half years old, leaving a significant gap in verified roadworthiness. The maintenance trend across the broader record is mixed rather than consistently improving or worsening. The December 2019 failure flagged a defective headlamp lens, worn tyres, thin front pads, scored front discs, and play in the offside front lower ball joint and upper arm bush. The September 2021 test at 131,287 miles still found corrosion on both rear coil springs and slight play in both front rear suspension arm ball joints. By August 2022, none of those items appeared, suggesting repairs were carried out, but the absence of any test since then means there is no evidence of ongoing upkeep. The mileage pattern raises a clear concern. Between September 2021 at 131,287 miles and August 2022 at 235,356 miles, the car accumulated 104,069 miles in under twelve months, an extraordinary jump that dwarfs the typical annual figure of roughly 11,207 miles implied by the vehicle's age. No MOT exists after August 2022, so the current true mileage is unverified. That rapid accumulation in a single year would place heavy wear on consumables, suspension components, brakes, and the drivetrain, none of which have been formally inspected since. A buyer should treat this vehicle as having an unverified mechanical state. The rear coil springs corroded on both sides in September 2021, and corrosion of that nature on a 2005 CLK can extend beyond the springs into mountings and subframe contact points. The front suspension has a documented history of ball joint and bush wear, with play noted on both sides in 2019 and 2021. Front brake discs were scored and pads were thin in December 2019, yet no later test confirms whether the braking system received lasting repair or merely passed on the day. A thorough inspection should focus on the structural condition of the front suspension arms, ball joints, and subframe, the integrity of the rear coil springs and their mounting points, and the thickness and condition of all brake discs and pads. The headlamp lenses, flagged as seriously defective in 2019, should also be checked for clarity and secure mounting. Given the mileage gap and the age of the last test, a fresh MOT or independent inspection before purchase is strongly advisable.