2002 Mercedes-Benz SLK 3.2L Petrol · YT52 THU

The vehicle holds a current MOT certificate issued on 20 October 2025 at 77,640 miles, following a failure three days prior on 17 October 2025 at the same recorded mileage. The maintenance trend is broadly stable but punctuated by recurring minor electrical and structural advisories rather than a clear pattern of escalating mechanical wear. The tester flagged an electronic stability control fault and a rear brake disc wear item on the initial test, both rectified before the pass. Under trays were noted as fitted on both October 2025 attempts, restricting inspection of the underbody and subframe. This is a significant limitation when assessing a 24-year-old vehicle. The pass confirms the car met the minimum legal standard at the time of testing, though the record does not confirm whether deeper structural corrosion was visible once the trays were removed. The mileage profile is notably low. The vehicle has covered approximately 77,640 miles over roughly 24 years, averaging around 3,235 miles per year. The record shows a jump of only 230 miles between the July 2024 pass at 77,410 miles and the October 2025 pass at 77,640, suggesting the car has seen very light use or possibly stood for extended periods in the last two years. Between June 2023 and July 2024, the mileage rose by 415 miles, and between June 2024 and October 2025, by just 230 miles. This is not a high-mileage vehicle by any measure, but prolonged standing can cause its own issues, including perished seals, flat-spotted tyres, and moisture-related corrosion in brake lines and fuel system components. Buyers should pay close attention to the front suspension and underbody. The 2023 and 2024 tests repeatedly flagged external corrosion damage to both front shock absorber casings, and the 2024 test also noted front underbody corrosion. These advisories did not appear on the 2025 record, but the presence of fitted under trays means the condition of the shock absorbers, subframe mounts, and front crossmember could not be fully assessed at the most recent test. A physical inspection with the trays removed is essential to determine whether surface corrosion has progressed to structural weakness. The rear brake disc wear noted in October 2025 also warrants attention. While the disc was described as worn, pitted, or scored but not seriously weakened, the fact that it required a retest within three days suggests the condition was borderline. Inspect the rear disc thickness, lipping, and any heat discolouration, and check the caliper slides for free movement. The electrical and lighting faults are less concerning but should not be dismissed. Both headlamp aim issues and the ESC warning lamp were resolved between the 2025 failure and pass, yet the recurring advisories on headlamp lens condition and indicator discolouration in 2024 point to ageing lighting components. Check that the ESC lamp extinguishes correctly after ignition and that the headlamp aim has not drifted since the October 2025 pass. The perished fuel cap seal flagged in 2024 may have been replaced, but a sniff test around the filler neck during a test drive can confirm whether fuel vapour leaks persist. Overall, the record describes a low-mileage car with minor recurring faults rather than catastrophic failures, but the underbody remains an unknown quantity that only a hands-on inspection can resolve.