2011 Mercedes-Benz B-Class 1.5L Petrol · VO11 LDY

The most recent MOT, conducted on 16 February 2026 at 120,125 miles, passed, but the record reveals a maintenance pattern that is stable at best rather than improving. Several advisories persist across multiple years, indicating that previous owners addressed only the most critical failures while leaving secondary defects unresolved. The February 2026 test still flagged a deteriorated offside front outer drive shaft flexible coupling and a slightly corroded offside front outer brake pipe, both of which had appeared in the January 2025 test. The parking brake lever also required adjustment in both 2025 and 2026, suggesting this mechanism has needed attention for at least eighteen months. The tester also noted that central front upper items were removed from the driver's view prior to testing in both 2025 and 2026, which is worth investigating further as it may indicate cosmetic or lighting modifications. The mileage progression is consistent and broadly typical for a fifteen-year-old vehicle. Between 23 February 2023 at 96,008 miles and 12 February 2024 at 102,774 miles, the car covered roughly 6,766 miles in twelve months. From 12 February 2024 to 29 January 2025 at 111,347 miles, the annual figure rose to approximately 8,573 miles. The final interval, from 29 January 2025 to 16 February 2026, shows 8,778 miles covered in just over one year, confirming a steady and unremarkable usage rate of around 8,000 miles annually. There are no suspicious gaps or sudden spikes in the odometer record that would raise concerns about tampering or long periods of inactivity. The recurring theme across this vehicle's history is corrosion affecting the braking system. Brake pipe corrosion advisories appeared in every single test from February 2023 through February 2026, consistently on the offside front and rear lines, with the nearside rear also flagged in 2024. A prospective buyer should have the entire brake pipe run inspected, ideally with a wire brush and moisture meter, to determine whether surface corrosion has progressed to structural weakening. The fractured nearside rear coil spring and corroded offside rear coil spring identified in the February 2024 failure were presumably repaired given the pass on the same date, but the suspension should still be checked for uneven ride height or clunking over speed bumps. The front lower suspension arm ball joint play noted in 2024 was not mentioned in subsequent tests, likely replaced, but a physical check of all ball joints and suspension bushes remains prudent. The drive shaft coupling deterioration flagged in both 2025 and 2026 warrants immediate inspection, as a failed flexible coupling can cause vibration and loss of drive. Finally, the damaged central rear seat buckle that appeared in three consecutive tests is a functional defect that may fail a future inspection and should be repaired before resale or daily use with rear passengers.