2009 Mercedes-Benz E 3.0L Diesel · KD02 AAA

The most recent MOT test on 19 December 2025 resulted in a pass, but it was preceded on the same day by a failure citing several major defects relating to the windscreen washer system, an insecure headlamp, an excessively worn offside front lower suspension arm ball joint, and a perished anti-roll bar linkage dust cover. All items were evidently rectified to allow the pass to be issued, but the suspension arm ball joint failure is a significant structural concern on a W212 E-Class of this age and mileage, and it should be confirmed in writing that a genuine replacement component has been fitted rather than a temporary repair. Looking at the broader trajectory, the 2025 test shows a clear escalation from the advisories recorded in 2023 and 2024, where perished front suspension bushes and minor oil leaks were noted, suggesting that wear in the front suspension and under-bonnet sealing has now progressed to component replacement level. The pattern is one of gradual worsening, particularly around front suspension geometry, brake pipe corrosion, and minor fluid leaks, which is consistent with a vehicle of this age and accumulated mileage rather than evidence of neglect. The recorded mileage of 143,196 miles over approximately seventeen years equates to an average of around 8,400 miles annually, which is broadly typical for a car of this vintage and indicates steady rather than extraordinary use. There are no obvious large gaps in the test record, with annual tests submitted from 2020 through 2025, suggesting the vehicle has been in regular use and not left standing for prolonged periods. This consistency is mechanically reassuring in terms of preventing long-term corrosion issues from inactivity, though it does mean that wear-related components such as the suspension, braking, and drivetrain consumables will have accrued substantial fatigue over time. A higher-mileage service such as this would normally have warranted timing chain, automatic transmission fluid, and major auxiliary drive component attention by now, and any verifiable evidence of these services being carried out would add meaningful value to the purchase. A prospective buyer should pay particular attention to the recurring front suspension themes across the MOT record. The perished front arm bushes flagged in 2023 and the worn pin or bush advisory from 2024, combined with the failed lower suspension arm ball joint and anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover failure in 2025, indicate that the front suspension has been on a gradual path of deterioration. On a test drive, listen for clonks or knocks from the front end over speed humps, uneven or feathered tyre wear particularly on the inner or outer edges (which the 2025 advisories suggest has been present), and vagueness or wandering in the steering which could indicate worn track rod ends as flagged on the nearside in the latest test. A physical inspection on a ramp would be strongly advisable to assess the condition of all front bushes, drop links, wishbone arms, and the steering rack mounting, as replacement of the full set at this mileage on a Mercedes of this era is a foreseeable expense running into four figures. The brake and under-bonnet advisories also warrant close scrutiny. The 2023 failure for excessively corroded rear brake pipes on both sides, having been flagged as merely corroded in 2022, indicates that brake line corrosion has been actively progressing, and a buyer should confirm whether the full length of rear brake pipework was renewed rather than just locally repaired, as this is a common MOT failure point on E-Class models of this generation. The oil leaks noted in 2022, 2023, and 2024 should be inspected for source, with common culprits on this model including the oil filter housing, valve cover gasket, and front crankshaft seal. Additionally, given the vehicle's age, a buyer should independently verify the condition and age of all four tyres, looking for sidewall cracking or perishing even where tread depth is legal, the state of the 12V battery and its date code, the condition of the coolant and brake fluid in terms of age rather than just level, and the integrity of the exhaust system particularly at mounting points and around the flexi section where corrosion is common. A compression test or at minimum a diagnostic read for misfire counters and live data would also be prudent on a high-mileage Mercedes petrol or diesel of this era.