2005 Mercedes CLS 3.0L Diesel · VX55 SVF

The vehicle currently holds a roadworthy status following a clean pass on September 3, 2025. While the most recent result is positive, the failure on that same day indicates a reactive maintenance approach rather than preventative care. The tester flagged the offside front brake pads reaching the wear indicator and the nearside front pads falling below the legal limit of 1.5mm. This suggests the previous owner neglected basic brake inspections until the annual MOT test forced a repair. The mileage pattern remains consistent with a 21-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 7,800 miles per year. There is a significant gap of 43,265 miles between the September 2024 test at 121,061 miles and the September 2025 test at 164,326 miles, representing a period of high usage compared to the previous years. Conversely, the interval between January 2023 and September 2023 shows only 1,717 miles driven, suggesting the car sat stationary for periods during that specific window. A buyer must perform a thorough physical inspection of the braking system to ensure the recent pad replacement was accompanied by an inspection of the rotors and calipers. Given the high mileage and the age of the Mercedes, the suspension bushings and control arms should be checked for perished rubber, as these are common failure points on this chassis. Structural integrity should also be verified for corrosion on the sills and subframe mounting, as the MOT record does not show historical structural advisories despite the vehicle's age.