2009 Mercedes-Benz B-Class 1.7L Petrol · LT09 LLE

A pattern of front-end wear and minor electrical defects dominates the recorded history of this 2009 Mercedes B-Class, with the November 2025 test culminating in a pass only after addressing a failed side repeater lamp and misaligned windscreen washer jets. The trajectory across the last three annual tests suggests a vehicle whose mechanical condition has been broadly maintained, but which has required closer scrutiny at each visit. In 2023, the car passed with advisories for nearside front tire wear and play in the nearside steering rack inner joint. By 2024, the same nearside front tire had worn beyond the legal minimum and was classified as dangerous, accompanied by both headlamp aim defects and a note of front brake disc wear. The 2025 pass was marred by a transmission fluid seep at the nearside front, and the earlier failure that same day underscores that some of the issues are recurrent rather than isolated one-off events. Taken together, the record points to a chassis that is roadworthy but with components that are accumulating age-related wear at a steady, observable rate. Annual mileage averages around 3,800 miles, a notably low figure for a vehicle of this age and suggests either limited use or extended periods off the road between tests. Despite the modest accumulation, the MOT history does not show multi-year gaps, implying the car has been tested consecutively in recent years without the long lay-ups that often trigger standalone failures. Low-mileage examples of this generation B-Class typically present with hardened suspension bushes, slightly binding brake calipers from infrequent operation, and interior electrical quirks rather than high-mileage wear on the drivetrain itself. The presence of a transmission fluid seep alongside steering rack play hints that some of these age-related issues are already beginning to manifest, even though the engine and gearbox have not been heavily stressed by mileage. For a prospective buyer, the front axle is the area demanding the closest physical inspection. The nearside front tire has been flagged for edge wear in three consecutive tests, and the dangerous 2024 failure indicates the geometry may not have been corrected; on a test drive, listen for any rhythmic road noise from the front tires and inspect both front wheels for uneven shoulder wear, which would suggest a lingering tracking or suspension geometry issue. The steering rack inner joint play noted in 2023 warrants a stationary check with the engine running for any clunking as the wheel is turned lock-to-lock, and the tester should also feel for vagueness or a notchiness in the steering response over uneven surfaces. Brake pedal feel deserves attention given the noted disc wear, with particular focus on whether the pedal feels solid under firm application and whether the car pulls consistently to either side under braking. The transmission fluid seep at the nearside front should be inspected with the vehicle on a ramp if possible, looking for fresh residue tracking down the casing or pooling on the undertray, and the dipstick level should be checked for any further loss between services. The headlamp aim defects and washer jet misalignment from late 2024 are straightforward to verify visually but may indicate minor electrical gremlins or a tired multi-function switchgear common to this model. Finally, a thorough road test should include driving over broken tarmac and speed humps at low speed to detect any knocking from the front suspension, as the combination of low annual mileage and multiple front-end advisories makes perished top mounts or worn lower control arm bushes a credible concern that would not necessarily be flagged on a stationary MOT check.