1998 Mercedes S-Class 6.0L Petrol · R660 CBP

The vehicle's most recent examination on 6 August 2026 resulted in a PASS classification, a notable turnaround given that a test just six days earlier on 31 July 2026 had produced a failure due to an excessively binding nearside front service brake. The fact that the vehicle passed a retest so quickly suggests the binding issue was addressed promptly, though any prospective purchaser should verify the nature of the repair carried out, as a binding caliper on a 28-year-old Mercedes-Benz S-Class frequently points to a seized slider mechanism, perished guide pin boot allowing moisture ingress, or a fatigued hydraulic return spring within the caliper assembly itself. Stepping back across the wider history, the maintenance trend shows clear signs of age-related deterioration rather than outright neglect, with an increasing volume of advisories relating to corroded brake pipes, worn suspension bushes, deteriorating exhaust mountings, and now tyre perishing appearing across consecutive tests from 2021 onwards. The pattern is one of progressively accumulating advisories, which is consistent with a vehicle of this vintage and is not in itself a cause for concern, but it does indicate that several secondary components are approaching the end of their effective service life. With 72,896 miles recorded over approximately 28 years, the vehicle has covered only around 2,603 miles annually, which is exceptionally low and well below the average mileage for any car of this age. Such low usage over a prolonged period carries specific mechanical implications quite distinct from those associated with high-mileage wear. Long periods of standing accelerate the degradation of rubber and polymer components, encourage corrosion of ferrous metal parts through exposure to moisture without the protective benefit of regular warming cycles, and allow lubricants within drivetrain and bearing assemblies to settle and lose their film strength. The recording of all four tyres as perished or cracking at both the July and August 2026 tests strongly corroborates the hypothesis of a vehicle that has spent considerable time stationary, as tyre rubber hardens and develops sidewall cracking through oxidation rather than wear from use. Given this usage profile, a prospective buyer should approach the inspection with standing-related degradation firmly in mind and budget accordingly. Beyond the tyre perishing already documented, careful examination should be given to brake discs, which on a low-use vehicle often exhibit severe surface corrosion and lipping even where pad material remains adequate; a binding caliper such as the one which caused the recent failure is a classic symptom of corrosion having taken hold within the caliper mechanism during extended periods of inactivity. The 12V battery should be load-tested, as low-mileage vehicles frequently suffer from sulphation through chronic undercharging, and all fluid systems should be treated as time-serviced rather than mileage-serviced, with the brake fluid, coolant, power steering fluid, automatic transmission fluid, and engine oil all due for renewal given the elapsed years regardless of the odometer reading. On the test drive, listen for clonks or knocks from the front suspension over uneven surfaces, which would indicate the worn rear bushes on both lower arms flagged in 2023 and 2024 advisories have now progressed to a state requiring replacement, and pay close attention to any pulling, vibration, or uneven braking that might suggest the front brake binding has resurfaced or that the corroded front-to-rear brake pipes first noted in 2024 have further deteriorated, as brake pipe failure on an MOT is both a safety concern and an indicator that a more comprehensive underfloor corrosion survey is warranted. Finally, structural and ancillary items flagged in the history warrant targeted physical checks. The advisories relating to corroded rear brake pipes and a corroded but not seriously weakened rear sub-frame from 2021 should be re-examined with a torch and, ideally, on a ramp, as sub-frame corrosion on a Mercedes-Benz of this era can progress from advisory to fail status relatively quickly once initiated. The defective exhaust clamps noted in 2023 and any direction indicator discolouration recorded across multiple tests are cosmetic or minor concerns, but the discoloured indicator lenses often indicate the original seals have failed and moisture has ingressed into the housing, so the buyer should verify all indicators illuminate correctly and check for condensation within the lamp units. Given the vehicle's age and recorded history, a pre-purchase inspection by a marque specialist rather than a generalist would be strongly advisable, as the cumulative picture is of an honest, slowly deteriorating low-mileage example that will reward sympathetic ownership but requires a discerning eye to separate current advisories from the next likely failure points.