2016 Mercedes-Benz B-Class 1.5L Diesel · KW65 XAB

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz B-Class currently holds a valid MOT pass certificate dated 2 February 2026 at 76,526 miles, but the maintenance trend over the preceding twelve months is mixed and warrants close scrutiny. The vehicle failed its first attempt on 27 January 2026 due to rear brake pads below 1.5 mm, worn and pitted front and rear brake discs, an offside rear inner tyre worn close to the legal limit, deteriorated anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust covers on both front sides, and a parking brake efficiency deficiency. Five days later, after remedial work, the tester passed the car yet still flagged the same four advisories: pitted front and rear discs, the offside rear inner tyre near the limit, and both front anti-roll bar ball joint dust covers severely deteriorated. This pattern indicates the owner addressed the critical safety items to secure a pass but left known wear-related advisories unresolved. The recurring nature of these advisories suggests a reactive rather than preventive maintenance approach. The mileage progression tells a notable story. Between the January 2023 test at 63,826 miles and the January 2024 test at 76,012 miles, the vehicle covered 12,186 miles in a single year, a significant jump from the roughly 7,650-mile annual average implied by the vehicle's age. After that spike, mileage effectively plateaued: just 421 miles in the twelve months to January 2025, then a mere 87 miles by January 2026, and six more by the February 2026 retest. This sharp deceleration points to the car spending extended periods stationary, which can accelerate rubber component deterioration, cause brake disc surface corrosion, and lead to tyre flat-spotting, all of which align with the advisories now appearing on the record. A prospective buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front suspension and braking system. Both front lower anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust covers were flagged as severely deteriorated in consecutive tests, meaning water and road debris have likely ingress into the joint itself. Check for play in the ball joints and inspect the anti-roll bar links for wear. Examine the front and rear brake discs for scoring and lipping, and measure pad thickness, as the pitting noted by the tester suggests the discs have been running with contaminated or worn pads. The offside rear inner tyre wearing on its edge points to a possible tracking or rear suspension geometry issue, so inspect the rear tyres for uneven wear patterns and check the rear suspension bushes and toe arms. Finally, test the parking brake on a gradient, given the efficiency failure recorded in January 2026, and verify the handbrake cables and rear caliper mechanisms are free from corrosion or seizure.