2010 Mercedes-Benz E 3.0L Diesel · S28 JOP

The vehicle is currently roadworthy, but the maintenance trend shows a clear shift toward mechanical neglect. While the car maintained a clean record between 2022 and 2024, the most recent test in March 2026 at 165,014 miles revealed multiple failures related to suspension and braking. The tester identified a severely deteriorated ball joint dust cover and play in the offside front suspension arm, indicating that these critical steering components have now reached the end of their functional life. The mileage pattern remains consistent with a sixteen-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 10,300 miles per year. There was a notable usage spike of nearly 6,000 miles between January 2024 and March 2025, followed by another 10,600 miles in the year leading up to the latest test. This steady accumulation suggests the car is used regularly, but the transition from clean MOTs to multiple defects in 2026 suggests that the previous owner deferred maintenance until the MOT test itself rather than following a preventative schedule. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the front suspension geometry to assess the extent of wear on the control arms and bushings. The March 2026 record flagged thin pads on all four wheels and worn front discs, meaning a full brake system overhaul is likely required to ensure stopping performance. Given the 2025 advisory regarding edge-worn tyres, the buyer should also check for uneven tyre wear which would indicate alignment issues caused by the failing suspension components.