2013 Mercedes-Benz C 2.1L Diesel · T900 ACC

The most recent MOT, conducted on 15 July 2025 at 78,454 miles, resulted in a pass, but the record reveals a pattern of borderline maintenance rather than proactive care. The vehicle failed its initial attempt that same day on four separate items before passing a retest at the identical recorded mileage. Advisories carried forward from prior years, including worn front and rear suspension arm pins or bushes and scored brake discs, remain unresolved. This indicates a worsening trend of deferred mechanical attention, where components are being run to failure rather than replaced ahead of test failure. The vehicle is 13 years old with 78,454 miles recorded, averaging approximately 6,035 miles annually, which is typical for its age. The mileage progression shows a notable gap between April 2023 at 65,766 miles and June 2024 at 72,652 miles, representing 6,886 miles in just over 14 months. Between June 2024 and July 2025, the odometer advanced only 5,802 miles over 13 months, suggesting reduced usage or possible long periods of standing. The record is relatively consistent with no suspicious jumps, but the low annual mileage means corrosion-related defects are more concerning than wear-related ones. Buyers should focus their inspection on the front suspension, where the nearside front coil spring was flagged for corrosion in June 2024 and front suspension bushes have appeared as advisories across multiple tests. Corrosion on a coil spring is a structural integrity concern that can lead to sudden suspension failure. The rear brake pipe was noted as excessively corroded in July 2025, and rear brake discs have been consistently scored across all recorded tests, suggesting the braking system has been neglected. A thorough underbody inspection is essential to assess the extent of corrosion on brake lines, subframes, and suspension mounting points. The persistent oil leak, flagged as not excessive since April 2023, warrants investigation at the source, likely a valve cover gasket or front crank seal on this age of Mercedes C-Class. Tyre wear has been a recurring advisory, with both axles flagged for worn tread edges in June 2024 and both rear tyres failing with bald tread in July 2025. This suggests possible alignment issues or simply that the previous owner ran tyres to the legal minimum. Any test drive should evaluate brake pedal feel for pulsation from scored discs and listen for clunking from worn suspension bushes over rough surfaces.