2007 Mercedes B-Class 1.5L Petrol · SB07 NRE

The most recent MOT, conducted on 14 February 2026 at 116,569 miles, resulted in a pass, but the tester flagged slight free play in the offside front steering rack at the tie rod. This advisory, combined with a recurring pattern of minor exhaust leaks and brake-related issues across multiple tests, suggests the vehicle is in a borderline-stable condition. The maintenance trend is neither clearly improving nor rapidly deteriorating, but rather reflects a pattern of deferred minor repairs and component wear typical of a nineteen-year-old vehicle that has been kept on the road without significant preventative work. The mileage progression reveals a notable anomaly. Between the November 2022 test at 161,659 miles and the December 2023 test at 104,715 miles, the recorded figure dropped by over 56,000 miles, which is physically impossible and strongly indicates a clocking discrepancy or a replacement odometer unit. Prior to that gap, the vehicle appears to have covered substantial mileage, and the post-2023 readings suggest a return to roughly typical annual use of around 6,000 to 7,000 miles. The sparse record between 2022 and 2023 leaves a significant gap in verifiable history, which a buyer should treat with caution. A prospective buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front suspension and steering components. The February 2026 advisory regarding free play at the offside tie rod points to wear in the steering rack or inner track ends, and this should be checked with the vehicle raised to assess for play in the rack itself and the lower ball joints. The exhaust system has appeared on multiple occasions with minor and major leaks, most recently flagged in November 2023, so the full exhaust from the manifold back should be inspected for corrosion, cracked flanges, and deteriorating flexi joints. The braking system has drawn attention repeatedly, including a binding offside service brake noted in November 2022 and a parking brake efficiency issue in February 2025 that only just met the legal threshold. Rear calipers, handbrake cables, and the condition of the rear brake discs and pads all warrant close examination. Tyre wear has also been a recurring theme, with the nearside front tyre worn close to the legal limit in both the November 2023 and December 2023 tests. This suggests possible alignment issues or worn suspension bushes causing uneven wear, and a four-wheel alignment check is advisable. The electronic stability control warning lamp that appeared in the November 2023 failure should be scanned for stored fault codes to determine whether the issue was resolved or remains latent. Overall, the vehicle presents as mechanically tired rather than fundamentally unsound, but the mileage anomaly and repeated minor faults indicate a history of reactive rather than proactive maintenance.