2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK 2.6L Petrol · ST53 YEX

A pattern of accumulating suspension and corrosion advisories defines the mechanical outlook for this 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK, with the most recent test on 13 April 2026 offering a split outcome that warrants close attention. On the same date, the vehicle was both presented for retest after a failure and re-examined with the same items still recorded, the advisories comprising a deteriorating rear registration plate, slightly defective headlamp lenses on both sides, a loose rear exhaust heat shield, heavily corroded exhaust hangers, and a worn nearside front lower suspension arm pin or bush at the rear arm location. The 2022 failure on 5 January, which cited a fractured nearside rear coil spring and an excessively worn offside front lower suspension arm pin or bush, demonstrates that this is not a car with a spotless structural record, and the reappearance of a similar suspension arm bush advisory four years later indicates that wear in this area is recurring rather than fully resolved. Elsewhere, the 2024 test recorded corrosion on both front and rear anti-roll bars and worn, pitted and scored front brake discs, reinforcing a trend of underbody deterioration consistent with a vehicle of its age. Against a 22-year chassis life, the recorded mileage of 69,442 miles equates to an average annual accumulation of roughly 3,156 miles, which is notably low for the platform and could equally reflect genuinely light use or extended periods of standing. A gap of approximately 15 months between the January 2022 tests and the December 2022 pass, and a further gap to April 2023, suggests the car was off the road or unused for stretches, both of which carry mechanical consequences. Prolonged standing typically dries out suspension bushes, allows brake disc surface corrosion to pit further, and can lead to exhaust hangers seizing or detaching, all of which align with the advisories observed. Equally, low annual mileage does not by itself guarantee component longevity, and the failure and advisory history shows that bushes, springs, exhaust mountings and brake discs have all reached meaningful wear thresholds despite the modest mileage. For a prospective buyer, the priority areas on inspection should mirror what the MOT record has actually flagged. The suspension items deserve particular scrutiny: with the nearside front lower arm rear bush already noted as worn and a prior fractured rear coil spring on file, the car should be raised and the lower arms, top mounts, drop links, and springs examined for perished rubber, play in the pins, and any sagging or broken coils. On the road, listen for clonks or knocks from the front over uneven surfaces, feel for vagueness or shimmy through the steering wheel, and check for suspension-induced vibration or instability under braking, as the pitted front brake discs recorded in 2024 can transmit judder through the pedal. The exhaust system also warrants a physical check given the loose heat shield and corroded hangers; support the system by hand and look for movement at the mounting points, listening for rattles on start-up and during idle that would indicate the hangers have finally given way. Cosmetic and minor items should not be overlooked either, as they often signal wider deterioration on a car of this age. The defective headlamp lenses on both sides will reduce night-time illumination and should be inspected for moisture ingress, cracking, and UV haze, while the deteriorating number plates should simply be replaced to avoid future test failures. Beneath the car, the anti-roll bar corrosion noted in 2024 should be re-examined to confirm it has not progressed to a serious weakening, and the underside generally inspected for any developing corrosion around jacking points, subframe mounting areas, and brake pipe unions, as these are typical failure zones on a CLK approaching its third decade. A thorough road test covering poor surfaces, full-lock steering, and a firm brake application from around 40 mph will be essential to confirm that the suspension and braking components still flagged by the record remain within safe operating tolerance before purchase.