2016 Mercedes-Benz E 3.0L Diesel · LE16 XEX

A five-year succession of clean MOT passes, the most recent dated 24 November 2025, presents this E-Class as a vehicle with an uninterrupted record of roadworthiness under DVSA inspection. Across every test from December 2021 through to the end of 2025, no advisories, failures, or even minor defects were recorded against the braking system, suspension, exhaust, structure, or emissions. For a ten-year-old Mercedes, this is an unusually tidy result, but it also means there is no itemised component history in the MOT file to draw on. A buyer must therefore rely more heavily on the test drive and physical inspection, because the DVSA record alone confirms only that the car passed each annual check, not that any underlying wear or developing faults have been formally logged. The mileage profile is the other defining characteristic of this car. At 44,734 miles from new, the annual accumulation works out at roughly 4,473 miles per year, which is considerably below the typical 7,000 to 9,000 mile average for a UK-registered vehicle and well under what might be expected of an executive saloon used for regular commuting or motorway work. There are no unusual gaps between tests and the mileage progression between consecutive MOTs is broadly consistent, indicating the car has been in steady but light use rather than left dormant for extended periods or subjected to a sudden surge of high-mileage driving. Mechanically, this profile tends to preserve the engine, gearbox, and drivetrain internals, but it can accelerate deterioration of components that suffer from underuse, such as brake discs and pads surface corroding, coil springs sagging, suspension bushes drying and stiffening, tyres developing flat spots or sidewall cracking, and rubber seals in the engine bay and underbody becoming brittle. Given that the MOT history is free of advisories, there are no specific flagged components to target, but a prospective buyer should focus the inspection on the items most likely to be affected by light, ten-year-old use. On the test drive, listen for any clonks or thuds from the front suspension over broken tarmac, which would indicate worn control arm bushes, top mounts, or anti-roll bar links, and pay attention to any vibration through the steering wheel under braking, suggesting corroded or lipped front brake discs. Check the brake pedal feel for sponginess or excessive travel, which on a low-mileage car of this age often points to seized caliper slide pins rather than hydraulic faults. Over speed humps and uneven roads, feel for any secondary ride harshness or knocking from the rear, as the self-levelling suspension components and coil springs on E-Class models are known to deteriorate with age regardless of mileage. At idle, watch for any blue or white exhaust smoke that would suggest valve stem seal oil consumption or coolant issues, both of which can develop on a low-mileage Mercedes that has seen more short journeys than sustained running. A physical inspection should complement the road test, again in the absence of MOT advisories to guide it. Examine the front brake discs through the wheels for a pronounced rust lip around the outer edge, and feel for a stepped edge when running a finger along the disc face, as this confirms they have corroded rather than worn. Check all four tyres for manufacturer date codes, as ten-year-old rubber will be well past its safe service life regardless of remaining tread depth, and inspect the sidewalls for cracking or crazing. Look under the vehicle for any oily residue around the engine sump, suspension turrets, and front subframe mounting points, and check the boot floor and undercarriage panels for surface corrosion, particularly around jacking points and wheel arches. Finally, verify the operation of the air suspension or conventional suspension system by raising and lowering the vehicle, ensuring it settles level and quickly corrects any manual adjustment, as E-Class suspension compressors and valve blocks are known wear items on cars of this vintage.