2005 Mercedes E 2.6L Petrol · KG05 XSH

The vehicle is currently roadworthy, but the recent history indicates a sudden lapse in preventative maintenance. While the car passed its latest test in July 2025 at 85,736 miles, this followed a failure just one week prior at 85,589 miles. That failure revealed critical safety issues including worn rear brake pads and a damaged bumper. The trend shows a shift from clean records in previous years to a period of reactive repairs, suggesting the current owner only addresses faults when prompted by the MOT tester. The mileage profile is exceptionally low for a 21-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 4,000 miles per year. There is a significant period of inactivity between May 2021 and November 2022, where the car covered only 984 miles in seventeen months. Since then, it has covered roughly 10,600 miles over nearly three years. Such low usage on an older Mercedes often leads to the degradation of rubber components, perished seals, and brake corrosion due to lack of use, rather than mechanical wear. A buyer must perform a thorough physical inspection of the braking system, as the record recently flagged rear pads below the 1.5mm legal limit. Check the calipers for binding or excessive corrosion, which is common on vehicles that sit for long periods. The damaged nearside rear bumper was noted as a hazard in July 2025; ensure this is now securely fastened and does not catch upon impact. Given the age and low mileage, specifically inspect the suspension bushes for cracking and the chassis for structural rust that may not have triggered an MOT advisory until it becomes severe.