2011 Mercedes-Benz C 2.1L Diesel · YP60 XAB

The vehicle holds a valid MOT certificate issued on 16 January 2026 at 158,682 miles, following a failure the previous day on 15 January 2026 at the identical recorded mileage. The maintenance trend is broadly stable, though the record reveals a pattern of recurring advisories that a diligent owner has addressed just enough to pass. The most recent pass confirms the car met the minimum legal standard at the time of testing, but two advisories carried forward from the failure inspection warrant close attention. The offside front suspension arm rear ball joint has slight play, and the rear sub-frame is corroded, though the tester judged neither serious enough to fail the vehicle. Both items remain live advisories on the current certificate. The mileage progression tells a consistent story of regular use. Between the January 2025 test at 149,620 miles and the January 2026 tests at 158,682 miles, the car covered 9,062 miles in twelve months. Earlier intervals show similar steady accumulation: 7,177 miles between January 2024 and January 2025, and 4,820 miles between December 2022 and January 2024. There are no suspicious gaps or sudden jumps in the odometer record, and the overall annualised average of roughly 10,579 miles aligns with typical use for a 2011 vehicle now in its fifteenth year. The MOT history flags two areas a buyer should inspect in person before committing. Suspension and structural integrity top the list. The offside front ball joint play has appeared in both the 2025 and 2026 tests, suggesting the component is deteriorating gradually rather than failing suddenly. The rear sub-frame corrosion advisory has also persisted across consecutive years. A physical inspection on a ramp is essential to determine whether the corrosion is surface-only or has begun to compromise structural integrity, particularly around mounting points and suspension pickup areas. Surface rust noted on brake pipes in 2025 and corrosion flagged on both front and rear brake pipes in 2024 indicate this car may have spent periods standing or been driven in harsh conditions, accelerating underbody deterioration. Brake and tyre condition round out the concerns. The 2024 test noted worn front pads, scored front and rear discs, and corroded brake pipes, while the 2025 test recorded surface rust on all pipes. The 2026 failure was driven by two tyres, one worn to the legal limit on the outer edge and the other with exposed ply or cords, both replaced before the pass the next day. Repeated tyre wear advisories in 2022 and 2026, combined with the ball joint play, point to possible alignment or suspension geometry issues that are causing uneven tyre wear rather than simple neglect. A buyer should have the tracking and four-wheel alignment checked, inspect the sub-frame closely for deeper corrosion, and budget for replacement brake components and a front suspension ball joint in the near term.