2012 Mercedes-Benz E 2.1L Diesel · LS62 EEB

A clean DVSA history on this twelve-month-old Mercedes-Benz E-Class tells a story of consistent mechanical roadworthiness, though the absence of any advisory or failure notes on either the pass or the earlier failure entry is itself a point worth examining. The record contains only two recorded test events each year, with the most recent on 5 December 2025 returning a pass with no defects recorded, mirroring the clean outcomes from late 2023 and December 2024. The 2024 and 2025 entries that show a fail followed immediately by a pass on the next working day, both without recorded defects, are characteristic of vehicles stopped from testing for an administrative reason, a tyre change made between bookings, or a minor item rectified in minutes rather than any substantive mechanical deficiency. Taken in aggregate, the car presents a stable, untroubled MOT profile over the last three test cycles with no advisories logged to flag developing wear on suspension, brake, exhaust, or structural components. Mileage on this E-Class sits at 165,808 miles across roughly fourteen years of service, equating to an annual accumulation of around 11,843 miles per year, which is broadly typical for a vehicle of this age and segment rather than unusually low or high. The record shows annual tests without any multi-year testing gaps that might suggest long periods off the road, meaning the wear accrued in the odometer reading has been distributed relatively evenly across the car's life rather than concentrated in heavy use following a lay-up. For a Mercedes-Benz of this vintage and mileage, drivetrain and chassis components have done steady work, so expectations on the test drive should focus on accumulated fatigue rather than corrosion from disuse or overheating from motorway abuse. There is no recorded mileage anomaly or inconsistency to raise concern, and the continuous testing pattern supports the figure shown. Because the MOT history carries no advisories, there is no specific component flagged for you to prioritise, but at this mileage on a W212 E-Class the buyer should still direct a test drive toward the known wear points typical of the model. Listen for clonks or thuds from the front suspension over speed bumps and uneven surfaces, paying particular attention to the lower control arm bushings and the front subframe mounting points, both of which are known to deteriorate and can produce a wandering steering feel or a shimmy under braking. Check for any pulling to one side under steady throttle or braking, which on these cars can indicate worn tie rod ends, a tired steering rack, or binding brake calipers, especially at the rear. Inspect the condition of the brake discs visually for a pronounced lip at the outer edge, as warped or excessively worn front discs are common at this mileage and would typically announce themselves as pedal vibration or a pulsating sensation through the steering wheel under firm braking. On the underside and around the engine bay, examine the familiar weak points of the diesel and petrol variants in this range, including the oil filter housing and balance shaft seal area for any signs of oil misting or dampness, the EGR cooler and inlet manifold for soot deposits or staining, and the area around the turbocharger for play in the turbo shaft or blue smoke on start-up from cold. On the test drive, allow the engine to warm fully and listen for any rattle from the timing chain area on cold start, a known issue on the higher-mileage petrol units, while diesel examples should be assessed for smooth boost delivery without any overboost hesitation or EGR-related flat spots. Check the transmission for smooth, decisive shifts on the automatic, and verify that the air suspension, if fitted, settles evenly and does not sag overnight, as the strut bellows and valve block are regular repair items on these cars and would not necessarily be flagged in an MOT unless they were leaking or the vehicle was riding on its bump stops.