2018 Mercedes-Benz E 3.0L Diesel · KO18 PFX

The vehicle holds a valid MOT pass certificate dated 3 June 2026 at 43,648 miles, yet the maintenance trend is currently worsening. The most recent test flagged multiple active advisories, including slight play in both nearside and offside front lower suspension arm ball joints, front brake pads wearing thin on both sides, and an offside rear tyre worn close to the legal limit on its edge. A nail was also found in the nearside rear tyre. A rear registration plate deteriorated but remained legible. These items mark a clear departure from the clean records seen in prior years. While none of these defects constitute a failure at present, the simultaneous emergence of suspension play, uneven tyre wear, and thinning brake pads suggests deferred attention to basic running gear. The annual mileage accumulation of roughly 5,456 miles is low for an eight-year-old vehicle. The record shows a steady progression from 20,679 miles in June 2023 to 29,237 miles in June 2024, then to 37,118 miles in June 2025, and finally to 43,648 miles in June 2026. That represents a notable acceleration in usage from approximately 8,558 miles per year between 2023 and 2024 to around 6,511 miles per year between 2024 and 2025, and then to 6,485 miles in the most recent year. The 2025 failure for exposed ply on both front tyres at 37,118 miles, followed by a clean pass just two days later at 37,163 miles, indicates those tyres were replaced promptly. However, the subsequent emergence of uneven rear tyre wear and suspension ball joint play within twelve months raises questions about whether wheel alignment and component condition were properly checked after that tyre replacement. A buyer should inspect the front suspension carefully. Play in both lower arm ball joints at relatively low mileage is unusual and may point to premature wear from defective bushings or impact damage. The uneven edge wear on the offside rear tyre warrants a four-wheel alignment check, as does the thinning of front brake pads, which could indicate binding calipers or simply harder use under the recent increase in mileage. The nail in the nearside rear tyre should be professionally repaired or the tyre replaced, and the rear registration plate renewed. Given the low annual mileage, extended periods of standing are likely, which can cause flat-spotting on tyres and localized corrosion on brake discs. A thorough underbody inspection is advisable to rule out surface corrosion affecting structural mounting points, particularly around the front subframe and rear trailing arms where Mercedes-Benz E-Class models of this generation are known to accumulate corrosion if not maintained.