2012 Mercedes-Benz C 2.1L Diesel · LS12 MUW

The vehicle presents a mixed maintenance profile with a recent trend toward neglected consumable upkeep. While the January 2026 test at 132,907 miles resulted in a pass, the tester flagged a damaged nearside rear light lens and a bald offside rear tyre. This follows a pattern of recurring tyre-related issues seen in the September 2021 test, where multiple tyres were recorded as worn close to the legal limit or perishing. The recent presence of a bald tyre suggests a lapse in basic preventative maintenance by the current or most recent operator. The mileage accumulation appears consistent with a typical 14-year-old vehicle, averaging roughly 9,500 miles per year. The record shows steady usage, moving from 54,817 miles in February 2016 to the current 132,907 miles. There are no significant periods of long-term inactivity, though the gap between the 2022 and 2024 tests indicates a slightly less frequent inspection interval than in previous years. The steady climb in mileage suggests the vehicle has been used regularly for commuting or general transit rather than sitting idle. Mechanical history reveals intermittent issues with suspension and electronic systems. In January 2025 at 128,368 miles, the vehicle failed due to an excessively worn offside front lower suspension arm ball joint. This follows a 2020 failure where the tester identified an ABS fault and electronic stability control warning lamps. While these specific electronic faults were cleared for the 2024 and 2025 passes, the recurrence of suspension component wear, such as the anti-roll bar linkage issues noted in 2020 and 2021, indicates that the chassis and steering components require regular scrutiny. A prospective buyer should conduct a thorough physical inspection of the suspension geometry and all rubber bushings, given the history of ball joint and anti-roll bar failures. The recent bald tyre and previous tyre degradation issues necessitate a full check of the current tyre tread depth and sidewall integrity across all four wheels. Finally, verifying the operation of the ABS and stability control systems is advisable to ensure the electronic faults flagged in 2020 have been permanently resolved and are not currently manifesting as intermittent sensor errors.