2008 Mercedes C 2.1L Diesel · KM58 BNB

The vehicle holds a current MOT certificate issued on 22 November 2025 at 196,462 miles, which remains valid until late November 2026. The maintenance trend is broadly stable but shows a recurring pattern of front suspension wear that has persisted across multiple test cycles. In the most recent test, the tester flagged both front lower anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust covers as severely deteriorated, a condition first noted in 2024 when slight play was found in both front lower anti-roll bar linkage ball joints. This suggests the front end has been degrading progressively rather than being properly rectified. The car has passed every recorded MOT, yet the advisories point to a pattern of component wear being monitored rather than replaced, which a buyer should treat as a warning. The mileage record shows a notable anomaly. The 2023 test recorded 291,738 miles, a figure that is physically impossible given the 2020 reading of 175,570 miles and the current 196,462 miles. This is almost certainly a data-entry error on the V5C or MOT system, and the true mileage likely sits on a steady upward trend from 175,570 in November 2020 to 196,462 in November 2025, averaging roughly 4,178 miles per year over that five-year window. That is low for an eighteen-year-old diesel executive saloon, which typically covers 10,000 to 12,000 miles annually. The car may have been lightly used or stood for long periods, which can cause its own problems such as perished rubber components, stale fuel, and surface corrosion on brake discs and suspension bushes. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front suspension and steering geometry. The repeated advisories around the front lower anti-roll bar linkage ball joints and lower arm ball joints indicate these components are approaching the end of their service life. Check for clunking over uneven surfaces and uneven tyre wear, particularly on the inner edges, which the 2024 test flagged on the nearside front. Inspect the condition of the front brake discs, as the 2019 test noted pitting and scoring, and low-mileage vehicles frequently develop surface corrosion on braking surfaces during extended parking. The 2020 test also noted fraying on both front seatbelts and slight play in the nearside rear suspension arm pin bush, so verify the seatbelt webbing runs cleanly through the retractors and listen for rear-end knocks over speed bumps. Given the age and the rubber deterioration pattern, expect to budget for front suspension bush and ball joint replacement in the near term.