1998 Mercedes E 3.0L Diesel · R461 AKR

The vehicle is currently roadworthy but exhibits a clear trend of worsening mechanical condition and deferred preventative maintenance. While it passed its latest test on 21 May 2026 at 296,902 miles, this followed a failure just three days prior that revealed critical safety issues, including a nearside front tyre with exposed cords and worn anti-roll bar bushes. The transition from a failure to a pass with a high volume of advisories suggests that the current owner is only performing the minimum repairs required to legal the vehicle rather than addressing underlying wear. At nearly 297,000 miles over 28 years, the vehicle has covered an average of approximately 10,600 miles per annum, which is consistent with long-distance annual use. However, the recent data shows a rapid accumulation of nearly 24,000 miles between May 2024 and May 2026. This high rate of usage in a short window, on a vehicle of this age, has placed significant stress on aging chassis components, as evidenced by the multiple failures of suspension bushes and tyres across the last two tests. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the suspension and braking systems. The record shows recurring issues with anti-roll bar linkage pins and bushes, which have progressed from slight wear to excessive wear in a single two-year period. There is also a persistent concern regarding the corrosion of the brake pipes, which was noted in both 2024 and 2026; the presence of grease on these pipes often masks the extent of structural degradation of the metal lines. Furthermore, the misting on the nearside front shock absorber and the pitting on the rear brake discs indicate that several major components are nearing the end of their functional life. The persistent oil leak noted in both 2024 and 2026 requires a professional inspection to determine the source and rate of loss. Given the structural corrosion reported on the rear coil springs, the structural integrity of the rear mounting points should also be checked for deep-seated rust. The vehicle is currently at a stage where high-mileage wear items are failing simultaneously, suggesting a high likelihood of further maintenance costs to maintain roadworthiness.