1994 Mercedes C 2.0L Petrol · M183 ALK

The vehicle is currently roadworthy with a stable maintenance trend, having passed its most recent MOT on 10 November 2025 at 70,390 miles. The latest test flagged slight play in both front track rod end ball joints as an advisory. This is a recurring theme for the vehicle, as the tester recorded excessive play in the same components during the 14 November 2022 failure. While these issues were resolved to achieve a pass, the reappearance of play suggests these steering components are nearing the end of their service life. The mileage is exceptionally low for a 32-year-old car, averaging roughly 2,200 miles per year. The record shows a significant increase in usage over the last few years. Between November 2020 and November 2025, the mileage rose from 23,480 to 70,390, indicating the car has covered nearly 47,000 miles in five years. This is a sharp contrast to the period between 2014 and 2019, where the odometer only moved from 15,421 to 17,421 miles. This suggests the vehicle spent several years in long-term storage before returning to regular use. A buyer should prioritize a physical inspection of the steering and suspension systems. The history shows a fractured offside front coil spring in November 2019 and repeated issues with track rod ends. The steering box also leaked oil during the November 2021 test, and the vehicle has failed twice on exhaust carbon monoxide emissions, specifically in 2021 and 2022. These emissions failures, combined with the long periods of inactivity, suggest the engine and exhaust system may require a thorough health check to ensure they are operating within specified limits. Attention should also be paid to the tyres and rubber components. The November 2016 and November 2021 tests both revealed multiple tyres with structural cuts, tears, or wear on the inner edges. Inner edge wear typically points to incorrect wheel alignment or worn suspension bushings. Given the age of the vehicle and the history of tyre failure, checking for perishing or cracking in the sidewalls is essential, regardless of the remaining tread depth.