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AX53 BUW

2003 Mercedes-benz C

Blue Diesel 2148cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires1 May 2025
Tests28 (17 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate60.7%

Mileage

110,717 mi
Last recorded110,717 miles
Recorded on14 Jul 2025
Typical for 2003 Mercedes-benz C81,364 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Mercedes-benz
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationAX53 BUW
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelC
Year2003
ColourBlue
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,148cc

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

17 pass 11 fail
Fail 14 Jul 2025 110,717 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

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

Nearside Rear Stop lamp(s) with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning (4.3.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Pass 2 May 2024 108,978 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Rear tyre 12 years old

Offside Rear tyre 12 years old

Fail 1 May 2024 108,975 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced (4.1.4 (b))

Nearside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced (4.1.4 (b))

Nearside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

Nearside Rear tyre 12 years old

Offside Rear tyre 12 years old

Pass 28 Apr 2023 106,715 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear tyre 11 years old

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

Offside Rear tyre 11 years old

Fail 28 Apr 2023 106,712 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp light intensity severely reduced (4.1.4 (a))

Offside Front Headlamp light intensity severely reduced (4.1.4 (a))

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

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

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

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

Nearside Rear tyre 11 years old

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

Offside Rear tyre 11 years old

Pass 29 Apr 2022 104,158 miles

Air box and intake pipe loose

Exhaust emits black smoke during acceleration (8.2.1.2 (g))

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated Rear control arm (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Possible fuel leak, bolted down engine covers unable to visually see a leak but can smell fuel.

Fail 29 Apr 2022 104,158 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens so that the light output is severely reduced (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Air box and intake pipe loose

Exhaust emits black smoke during acceleration (8.2.1.2 (g))

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

Front fog lights not working

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated Rear control arm (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Possible fuel leak, bolted down engine covers unable to visually see a leak but can smell fuel.

Pass 22 Jan 2021 102,903 miles

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

Fail 22 Jan 2021 102,903 miles

Headlamp light intensity severely reduced BOTH (4.1.4 (a))

Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 23 Jul 2019 101,890 miles

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Fail 22 Jul 2019 101,886 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 14 Feb 2018 101,210 miles
Pass 25 Feb 2017 97,709 miles
Fail 25 Feb 2017 97,708 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

Pass 5 Mar 2016 94,474 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 20 Feb 2015 91,607 miles
Pass 21 Feb 2014 88,878 miles
Fail 13 Feb 2014 88,869 miles

Nearside Front coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 28 Jan 2013 84,326 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

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

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

edge wear on both rear tyres

Fail 28 Jan 2013 84,326 miles

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

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

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

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

edge wear on both rear tyres

Pass 7 Feb 2012 71,651 miles
Pass 24 Jan 2011 67,590 miles
Pass 19 Jan 2010 61,844 miles
Fail 15 Jan 2010 61,826 miles

Front registration plate delaminated (6.3.1d)

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on (8.2.1b)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on (8.2.1b)

Rear registration plate delaminated (6.3.1d)

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

Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f) DANGEROUS

Pass 9 Jan 2009 54,620 miles

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

Suspension joint offside lower dust cover split/missing

Fail 5 Jan 2009 54,502 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Suspension joint offside lower dust cover split/missing

Pass 19 Dec 2007 35,970 miles
Pass 8 Dec 2006 23,999 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

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AX53 BUW is a 2003 Mercedes-benz C in Blue with a 2,148cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60.7%.

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 AX53 BUW, 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 AX53 BUW?

You can check the full history of AX53 BUW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was AX53 BUW registered?

AX53 BUW is a 2003 Mercedes-benz C, first registered on 30 December 2003.

Is AX53 BUW safe to buy?

The MOT history for AX53 BUW shows 28 tests with a 60.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does AX53 BUW 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 AX53 BUW. 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.