2007 Mercedes E 3.0L Petrol · KS56 WJC

The vehicle holds a current MOT certificate issued on 11 April 2026 at 150,953 miles, following a failure on the same date. The maintenance trend is mixed. A clean pass in March 2025 at 149,633 miles suggests a period of good upkeep, but the April 2026 failure reveals a cluster of new and recurring faults that were not addressed between tests. The tester flagged play in both front steering rack inner joints, a known issue dating back to at least April 2024. This indicates a progressive wear problem left unattended for over two years. The failure also identified deteriorated rear brake hoses, a cut in the nearside rear tyre reaching the cords, headlamp aim faults, and an inoperative engine management lamp. The subsequent pass on the same day implies these specific items were rectified, but the underlying pattern of deferred wear components is a concern. The mileage accumulation is consistent with typical use for a 2007 vehicle. The recorded 150,953 miles represents an average of roughly 7,945 miles per year. The annual tests show steady progression: 146,768 miles in March 2023, 148,200 in April 2024, 149,633 in March 2025, and 150,953 in April 2026. This equates to approximately 1,400 to 1,500 miles per year in the most recent period, which is low but not unusually so. There are no glaring gaps in the record that suggest the vehicle stood idle for extended periods, though the low recent mileage may explain why certain components like brake hoses and tyres have deteriorated through age and perishing rather than wear alone. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front steering and braking systems. The repeated advisories and failures for play in the steering rack inner joints point to worn track rod ends or the rack itself. Check for clunking over uneven surfaces and excessive free play at the wheel. The rear brake hoses were flagged as deteriorated; inspect all flexible hoses for cracking, bulging, or weeping at the fittings. The nearside rear tyre failed with a deep cut, so examine the full tyre age, condition, and sidewall integrity across all four corners. The inoperative engine management lamp is a red flag. Verify the bulb circuit and request a diagnostic scan for stored or pending fault codes that may have been cleared to pass the test. Headlamp aim was also out, so confirm the levelling system operates correctly and the lenses are not misted or incorrectly seated. Beyond the flagged items, pay close attention to the vehicle's structural condition. At nearly 19 years old and 150,000 miles, inspect the subframes, inner wing arches, sills, and suspension mounting points for corrosion, especially around the rear trailing arms and front lower wishbone bushes common on this model. The low recent mileage increases the risk of dry perishing on rubber bushes and seals. A thorough test drive should assess gearbox smoothness, suspension damping, and whether the brakes pull or bind, given the history of hose deterioration and the earlier advisory on binding rear brakes noted in previous years.