2015 Mercedes-Benz C 2.1L Diesel · KE15 LDF

Chronic tyre neglect defines the roadworthiness picture of this 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Across six of the eight recorded tests, tyre-related defects appear, spanning worn edges close to the legal limit, cuts exposing ply or cord, and a dangerous tread-depth failure below 1.6mm on the nearside rear in March 2023. Two of these tests resulted in outright failure, the 2023 dangerous defect and the June 2024 test where both the nearside front and offside rear tyres were cut deeply enough to expose the underlying structure, a Major category defect on a car that had passed just hours earlier. The most recent MOT on 12 June 2026 recorded a pass but again flagged an offside rear tyre worn close to the legal limit alongside a frayed offside front seat belt, both rear lower suspension arm pins or bushes worn but not yet resulting in excessive movement, and an offside front seat belt webbing defect that had been carried over from the prior year. The recurring tyre failures combined with the persistence of the same belt webbing advisory across consecutive years point to a pattern of consumable neglect rather than isolated wear. Mileage on this vehicle stands at 93,988 miles over approximately 11 years, equating to an annual average of around 8,544 miles, which is broadly typical for a car of its age. There are no extended absences from the testing record, and the test dates fall at regular intervals of roughly twelve to fifteen months, indicating consistent use on the road throughout its life rather than any prolonged storage period that might raise concerns about seized callipers, perished coolant hoses, or a discharged 12V battery. At this accumulated mileage, wear on friction materials, suspension bushes, engine mounts, and drivetrain flexible components is to be expected, and the fact that the recorded advisories have begun to appear on the 2025 and 2026 tests aligns with what one would anticipate from a Mercedes-Benz C-Class approaching the 100,000-mile mark. A prospective buyer should treat the tyre history as the single most important indicator of how this car has been managed, and budget immediately for a full set of four replacement tyres at point of purchase regardless of apparent remaining tread. Inspect each sidewall and tread face for sidewall bulges, exposed cords, and uneven shoulder wear, paying particular attention to inner-edge wear which can indicate worn suspension geometry. The worn rear lower suspension arm pins or bushes flagged at the latest test warrant a physical check, jack the rear and rock each wheel vertically and laterally while listening for clonking or feeling for play; any movement now is likely to progress to a failure at the next test, and replacement bushes on the multi-link rear axle of this model are labour-intensive. On the test drive, listen for rear suspension knocks over uneven surfaces and speed humps, particularly on low-speed compression, and feel for any vagueness or wandering from the rear axle which would indicate the bushes have deteriorated beyond advisory tolerance. The seat belt advisory that has now appeared on two consecutive tests should also be examined directly. Pull the offside front belt out fully along its length and inspect for fraying, cuts, or stiffness in the webbing, and confirm the retractor spools the belt back smoothly without hesitation. The 2025 advisory regarding a child seat fitted to the offside rear preventing full inspection of the adult belt is a procedural item rather than a mechanical defect, but it does mean there is no current record confirming the condition of that belt. Finally, given the mileage, inspect the brake discs and pads through the wheels for lipping on the disc edges and minimum pad material, check for any oil misting from the cam covers or valve cover gasket, and look underneath for weeping from the rear differential or axle seals, all of which are common at this mileage on this model even though none have yet been formally recorded.