2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 315 Premium CDI 1.9L Diesel · KO55 TON

The Sprinter's most recent MOT on 18 September 2025 at 60,998 miles returned a pass, but the advisory list tells a more nuanced story. The tester flagged play in both front steering rack inner joints and both front track rod end ball joints, along with both front brake discs worn and a rear parking brake that only just met the minimum efficiency threshold. These are not fresh defects. They point to a pattern of gradual wear that has been accumulating without proactive correction. The maintenance trend sits somewhere between stable and slowly worsening. Nothing catastrophic, yet the front-end components and rear braking system clearly need attention rather than continued monitoring. The mileage profile is notable. Between the failed test on 22 August 2024 at 48,180 miles and the pass on 18 September 2025 at 60,998 miles, the van covered 12,818 miles in just over twelve months. That is high annual use for a working van, consistent with regular long-distance or heavy-load operation. The 2024 failure itself revealed an excessively worn offside front suspension arm ball joint and a parking brake lever with excessive movement, both of which were rectified before the retest eleven days later. The gap between 2024 and 2025 shows no intervening test, so there is a blind spot in the record during the period of heaviest use. The 2024 advisories around suspension and the parking brake were addressed, but the reappearance of parking brake deficiency in 2025 suggests either a fresh adjustment issue or that the rear braking components are wearing faster than expected under sustained high-mileage demand. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front steering and suspension. Play in both inner rack joints and both track rod ends simultaneously is unusual on a van of this age and suggests either a rough service history or deferred maintenance. Check the condition of the front lower suspension arm ball joints, given the offside joint was excessively worn in 2024. Inspect the front brake disc thickness and whether the pads have been replaced recently, as worn discs at this mileage indicate either aggressive driving or a long service interval. The rear parking brake needs a thorough check of the cable adjustment, caliper mechanisms, and shoe or pad condition, especially if the van has been towing or carrying heavy loads on inclines. The flat spare tyre flagged in both 2024 tests should also be verified, as a missing or unserviceable spare is a practical risk for a working vehicle covering this kind of distance.