1996 Mercedes-Benz E 3.2L Petrol · P745 ACT

A thirty year old Mercedes-Benz E-Class presenting a clean MOT history with no recorded advisories or defects across five consecutive tests demonstrates an exceptionally rare profile for a vehicle of this age. The most recent outcome on 26 June 2025 confirmed continued roadworthiness with no items flagged, following a pass earlier the same day after what appears to have been a minor retest situation. With four passes between January 2022 and June 2025 and a single failed entry that same day, the absence of any corrosion advisories on suspension components, brake pipes, or structural areas is particularly significant given the well known propensity for older W124 chassis Mercedes to develop subframe and jacking point rust. The clean record suggests the vehicle has remained mechanically sound throughout its testing life, though it is worth noting that a thirty year old car without a single advisory is unusual and may reflect either meticulous pre-test preparation or genuinely well maintained components. The recorded mileage of 87,517 miles against a 1996 registration equates to an average annual accumulation of roughly 2,917 miles per year, which is notably low for a vehicle approaching three decades of age. Such restrained usage typically indicates a second car, weekend use, or extended periods of standing, which carries its own mechanical implications. Vehicles with low annual mileages often suffer from perishing rubber components, dried suspension bushes, seized brake calipers from infrequent use, and degraded fuel system components including injectors and fuel lines. The four year gap between the 2022 and 2024 tests followed by a further eighteen month gap to mid 2025 implies the car was either not driven sufficiently to require earlier testing or was kept off the public road entirely during intervening periods, both of which warrant closer inspection of components prone to deterioration during lay-ups. For a prospective buyer, the absence of MOT advisories paradoxically increases rather than diminishes the need for a thorough physical inspection, since DVSA testers only identify defects present and visible on the day of testing. Given the low mileage profile and the age of the vehicle, particular attention should be paid to the suspension system including front and rear coil springs, which are known to sag on W124 chassis cars, along with the thrust arms, track rod ends, and anti-roll bar bushes that can perish and split with age rather than wear. On a test drive, listen for clonking noises over bumps and on full lock, feel for any vagueness in the steering response, and check for uneven tyre wear that may indicate worn suspension geometry components hidden from MOT inspection. The braking system on a low mileage thirty year old Mercedes deserves equally careful scrutiny, particularly the front calipers which can bind or seize due to corrosion of the slider pins and piston seals after long periods of inactivity. During a test drive, expect a firm pedal with no sponginess, listen for any grinding or scraping that might indicate worn pads seizing in the caliper bracket, and verify the handbrake holds firmly on an incline as rear caliper mechanisms are prone to sticking. Under the bonnet, inspect for any signs of oil misting from the cam covers, valve cover gaskets, and front crankshaft seal, all common leak points on this engine family, while also checking the condition of all cooling system hoses, the radiator itself, and the auxiliary drive belts for cracking. A compression test or at minimum a thorough warm-up observation would be prudent given the low usage pattern, as engines that have spent considerable time stationary can develop internal corrosion on cylinder bores and valve seats that only manifests under load.