2018 Mercedes-Benz Vito 2.1L Diesel · WM67 HFO

The recorded MOT history for this 2018 Mercedes-Benz Vito is defined by two test failures that share identical defect themes, both resulting in repeat Major items for both headlamps and the engine management warning lamp, followed by a successful pass on the very next attempt in 2023 and three entirely clean tests thereafter. The most recent assessment on 2026-07-31 was a pass with no defects recorded, and the 2024, 2025 and 2026 results show a stabilised roadworthiness picture after the 2024 failure. That 2024 failure on 2024-07-30 included a fractured offside rear coil spring, which is the most mechanically significant item in the file, alongside the same headlamp aim and engine MIL faults seen on the 2022-10-31 failure. While the post-failure sequence is clean, the recurrence of the same component groups across two separate failures is a meaningful indicator of pattern rather than isolated incident. With 111,477 miles recorded over approximately eight years of registration, this Vito is accumulating around 13,935 miles annually, which is a high mileage for a vehicle of its age and substantially above typical private-car usage. There is also a conspicuous gap in the MOT file between the 2022 tests and the 2024 test, with no recorded DVSA interaction for that period, which is unusual given the high annual mileage and could indicate a period off the public road, a change in keeper behaviour, or missing records. Mechanically, sustained high mileage places elevated wear on suspension components, brake discs and pads, driveline mountings, and the coil springs flagged in 2024, so consumable life remaining should be assessed in person rather than inferred from the clean test pass. The 2024 coil spring fracture is the component warranting the closest physical inspection, as rear coil springs on light commercial vehicles carrying regular load are prone to fatigue cracking. On a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the rear suspension over uneven surfaces, particularly with weight in the load area, and check for any uneven ride height at the rear that could indicate a weakened or failed spring. Examine the offside rear spring seat and surrounding bodywork for signs of contact damage where a fractured spring may have contacted the body, and inspect both rear tyres for uneven inner or outer shoulder wear which often accompanies compromised rear suspension geometry. The brake system should be checked for binding calipers and worn discs, given the high mileage, by feeling for residual drag after a firm stop from speed and by inspecting the discs for lipping and scoring. The repeated engine MIL illumination recorded in both 2022 and 2024 points to an intermittent or unresolved emissions or sensor fault that has cleared at subsequent tests rather than been definitively rectified. On inspection, ask for evidence of any fault code history held in the diagnostic memory, as intermittent MIL illumination on diesel vehicles frequently traces to sensor degradation, EGR or DPF related faults, or wiring/connector issues rather than major mechanical failure. Both headlamp aim failures, recorded on near and offside units in 2022 and again on the same configuration in 2024, suggest the headlamp levelling system or adjusters may not be holding position reliably. Confirm that both headlamps sit at the correct projection height against a flat wall before any purchase, and check that the manual or automatic levelling mechanism, where fitted, operates smoothly through its full range, as recurrence across two separate tests four years apart indicates a persistent rather than transient issue.