2009 Mercedes C 2.1L Diesel · SJ09 FCE

The vehicle presents a concerning roadworthiness profile with a clear trend of reactive maintenance rather than preventative care. While the most recent MOT recorded in December 2021 at 147,621 miles was a pass, it followed a failure just three days prior. That failure identified significant suspension issues, including an excessively worn front suspension arm bush and play in the track rod end, alongside worn tyres. The presence of severely deteriorated anti-roll bar ball joint dust covers in the subsequent pass indicates that the owner only addressed mechanical faults when they threatened to fail the legal test. The mileage data is highly inconsistent and raises immediate red flags. The record shows 228,333 miles in September 2019, yet drops significantly to 144,777 miles by December 2020. This retrospective decrease of over 80,000 miles in fifteen months is physically impossible under normal operation and suggests odometer tampering or serious clerical errors. Despite the calculated average of 8,684 miles per year appearing typical for a seventeen-year-old vehicle, the discrepancy between the 2019 and 2020 entries invalidates the reliability of the service history. A buyer must prioritise a thorough inspection of the braking system and suspension geometry. The 2018 test flagged heavy corrosion across all four brake pipes, which were further obscured by grease, a common tactic used to hide structural decay from inspectors. Given the recurring failures of ball joints, track rod ends, and suspension bushes, the entire front end should be checked for perished rubber and play in the metal components. Because the last recorded MOT was conducted over four years ago, the current state of the tyres, brake pads, and fluid integrity is unknown and likely requires immediate replacement to ensure roadworthiness.