2009 Mercedes C 1.8L Petrol · ML09 LWR

The most recent DVSA examination on 3 June 2026 resulted in a Pass, although the vehicle attracted five advisories covering front and rear brake line corrosion on both nearside and offside, together with an offside front tyre flagged as worn close to the legal limit and showing edge wear. The day prior, on 2 June 2026, the car failed on two Major defects: a non-functioning offside front position lamp and an excessively worn nearside front suspension arm ball joint, with the same brake pipe advisories already noted. Looking at the broader pattern across the last five years, the 2021 test was entirely clean, but from 2022 onwards the record shows a steady accumulation of advisories and an increasing severity of suspension component deterioration, culminating in the 2026 Major failure for the nearside front ball joint. The trajectory is therefore clearly worsening rather than stable, with the front suspension geometry and underbody brake pipework representing the principal areas of ongoing concern that have progressed from advisory wear to outright failure over the period covered. The recorded mileage of 58,255 miles on a 2009 vehicle equates to an annualised usage of roughly 3,427 miles, which is well below the national average for a car of this age and points to either light regular use or extended periods of standing between journeys. Such low annual mileage has notable mechanical consequences. Brake discs and calipers can suffer from corrosion and seizure through inactivity, engine oil and coolant can degrade on a calendar basis rather than purely through use, and the 12V battery is likely to have been subjected to repeated shallow discharge cycles that shorten its service life. The relatively static odometer readings between tests are consistent with the latter scenario, and although the mileage is low enough to have spared the drivetrain from heavy wear, the calendar age of seventeen years means that age-sensitive components such as rubber bushes, flexible brake hoses, drive belts, and original fuel lines require careful scrutiny regardless of the odometer figure. The repeated brake pipe corrosion advisories across four consecutive tests are a direct symptom of this age-related deterioration rather than high-mileage wear. A prospective buyer should treat the front suspension as the foremost area for physical inspection and budgeting. The DVSA record shows that nearside front lower ball joint play was noted as an advisory in both 2024 and 2025 before escalating to a Major failure in June 2026, and the offside front suspension arm pin or bush has carried advisories in 2022 and 2023. On a test drive, listen for clonks or knocks from the front end when traversing speed bumps or uneven surfaces, pay attention to any vagueness or delay in the steering response, and check the offside front tyre for uneven inner-edge wear as this is a classic symptom of a worn ball joint or bush altering the wheel geometry. Replacement of the front lower suspension arms complete with pressed-in ball joints is a common repair on the W204 C-Class of this vintage, and given the documented progression it would be prudent to assume this work is imminent and to negotiate the price accordingly or commission a specialist inspection prior to purchase. The brake pipe corrosion advisories, recorded on all four flexible lines around the vehicle across multiple tests, indicate that the underbody brake lines are reaching the end of their serviceable life, even though they have not yet resulted in a failure. On inspection, request that the underside of the vehicle is examined with the wheels removed so that the steel brake pipes running along the chassis outboard rails can be visually checked for surface rust, pitting, and any flaking that could compromise structural integrity under hydraulic load. The offside front tyre advisory should prompt a check of all four tyres for age-related sidewall perishing and cracking, particularly given the low annual mileage, as tyres older than six or seven years deteriorate regardless of tread depth. Beyond the items recorded on the MOT, a buyer should also verify the condition of the 12V battery by load-testing it, establish the date of the most recent engine oil, brake fluid, and coolant services to confirm calendar-based fluid changes have been carried out, and inspect the front discs for any lipping or binding caliper symptoms that develop during prolonged standing. A documented service history with stamps from a Mercedes-Benz specialist or a reputable independent would substantially strengthen confidence in this otherwise well-preserved but age-sensitive vehicle.