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A20 BJW

2003 Mercedes-benz C

Silver Petrol 2597cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires8 Mar 2027
Tests30 (21 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate70%

Mileage

154,608 mi
Last recorded154,608 miles
Recorded on13 Feb 2026
Typical for 2003 Mercedes-benz C81,364 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Mercedes-benz
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationA20 BJW
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelC
Year2003
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,597cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

21 pass 9 fail
Pass 13 Feb 2026 154,608 miles
Fail 11 Feb 2026 154,574 miles

Front Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 1 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Exhaust silencer insecure broken. (8.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Inner Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 19 Feb 2025 150,648 miles

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement both side (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 17 Feb 2025 150,648 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play inner & outer (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement both side (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge both side (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 21 Feb 2024 146,183 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Front & Rear (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both side (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Both side Also Worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Under trays fitted to the vehicle are obscuring some components.

Pass 20 Feb 2023 141,704 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Both side Badly worn on edges. (5.2.3 (e))

Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy Also slight play (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both side (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing both side (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Under trays fitted to the vehicle are obscuring some components.

Pass 18 Feb 2022 135,815 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both side (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Fail 14 Feb 2022 135,812 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.4.3 (b))

Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Rear Service brake excessively fluctuating both side (1.2.1 (e))

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Brake fluid close to minimum mark (1.1.10 (d) (ii))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Front Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both side (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 17 Feb 2021 130,260 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin 2MM Remain (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Rear Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

Fail 11 Feb 2021 130,245 miles

Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin 2MM Remain (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Rear Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

Pass 13 Feb 2020 127,100 miles

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Coil spring corroded O/S/F & N/S/R (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Wheel bearing has slight play both side (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing sidewall damage (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 11 Feb 2020 127,072 miles

Offside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Steering linkage ball joint has excessive play Tie rod inner (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Coil spring corroded O/S/F & N/S/R (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Wheel bearing has slight play both side (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing sidewall damage (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 16 Feb 2019 122,183 miles

All direction indicators slightly discoloured including side repeaters (4.4.3 (a))

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases centre pipes (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Front tyre has sidewall damage

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Fail 14 Feb 2019 122,171 miles

Exhaust system insecure middle and rear brackets broken away (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn bottom balljoint (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

All direction indicators slightly discoloured including side repeaters (4.4.3 (a))

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases centre pipes (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Front tyre has sidewall damage

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge sidewall damaged (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 16 Feb 2018 117,854 miles

Nearside Front Inner brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front Inner brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

n/s rear tyre outer wall perishing

Pass 16 Feb 2017 113,059 miles

Play in OS steering rack inner joint

o/s front suspension arm has slight play in bush

Fail 15 Feb 2017 113,054 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage insecure (2.4.G.1) DANGEROUS

Play in OS steering rack inner joint

Pass 22 Feb 2016 108,194 miles

Nearside Front suspension arm bush has play[front bush].not excessive.

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit also cracking. (4.1.E.1)

Fail 22 Feb 2016 108,194 miles

Nearside Lower Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint nsf bottom ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt drop link (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front suspension arm bush has play[front bush].not excessive.

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit also cracking. (4.1.E.1)

Pass 12 Feb 2015 105,040 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 17 Feb 2014 101,947 miles

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Fail 12 Feb 2014 101,929 miles

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Offside Front coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 11 Feb 2013 99,806 miles
Pass 21 Feb 2012 97,572 miles
Pass 21 Feb 2011 95,075 miles
Pass 9 Mar 2010 89,248 miles
Pass 2 Mar 2009 81,009 miles
Pass 27 Feb 2008 72,785 miles
Pass 26 Feb 2007 60,764 miles
Pass 8 Feb 2006 47,469 miles

How Reliable is the Mercedes-benz C?

Based on 8,031,355 MOT tests across 683,668 vehicles.

77.6%
Pass Rate
6,412
Miles/Year
32
Year Lifespan
683,668
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 240,078
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 76,831
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 67,503
Brake pipe excessively corroded 66,298
coil spring broken 61,560
Full Mercedes-benz C reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

A20 BJW is a 2003 Mercedes-benz C in Silver with a 2,597cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 30 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 70%.

Across all 2003 Mercedes-benz C models, the average MOT pass rate is 72.5% with a typical mileage of 81,364 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Mercedes-benz C fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 240,078 recorded failures. If you're considering buying A20 BJW, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mercedes-benz C typically stays on UK roads for around 32 years. At 23 years old, this Mercedes-benz C is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of A20 BJW?

You can check the full history of A20 BJW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was A20 BJW registered?

A20 BJW is a 2003 Mercedes-benz C, first registered on 1 March 2003.

Is A20 BJW safe to buy?

The MOT history for A20 BJW shows 30 tests with a 70% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A20 BJW have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on A20 BJW. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.