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EX53 FWV

2003 Mercedes-benz C

Black Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires30 Apr 2027
Tests24 (19 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate79.2%

Mileage

117,922 mi
Last recorded117,922 miles
Recorded on1 May 2026
Typical for 2003 Mercedes-benz C81,364 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationEX53 FWV
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelC
Year2003
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,796cc

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

19 pass 5 fail
Pass 1 May 2026 117,922 miles
Fail 17 Apr 2026 117,921 miles

Emissions unable to be completed Due to exhaust tail pipe missing (8.2.1.2 (d))

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases middle (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Headlamp aim unable to be tested (4.1.2 (b))

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

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

Parking brake lever defective so that it cannot be satisfactorily operated (1.1.6 (d))

Parking brake lever inoperative (1.1.6 (d))

Rear Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar vehicle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition silencer missing (8.1.1 (a))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 25 Mar 2025 108,412 miles

Offside front lower suspension arm (REAR) ball joint worn but not considered excessive at this time.

Ofrfside front suspension anti-roll bar drop link upper gaiter damaged but not enough to allow the ingress of dirt.

Fail 25 Mar 2025 108,412 miles

Headlamp aim too high Nearside and offside. (4.1.2 (a))

Offside front lower suspension arm (REAR) ball joint worn but not considered excessive at this time.

Ofrfside front suspension anti-roll bar drop link upper gaiter damaged but not enough to allow the ingress of dirt.

Pass 2 Apr 2024 106,010 miles

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Pass 4 Apr 2023 101,117 miles

Offside rear tyre worn very close to legal maximum limit of wear (2mm tread remaining).

Rear brake pads worn thin.

Pass 29 Mar 2022 94,694 miles
Pass 23 Mar 2021 90,640 miles

Nearside front lower suspension arm (rear) ball joint has play/wear but not considered excessive at this time.

Nearside front wheel binding slightly.

Pass 15 Apr 2020 90,012 miles

Nearside front wheel binding slightly.

Pass 9 Aug 2018 86,343 miles
Pass 22 Aug 2017 83,387 miles
Pass 23 Aug 2016 74,247 miles
Pass 19 Aug 2015 66,562 miles
Fail 18 Aug 2015 66,559 miles

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

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

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

Pass 18 Aug 2014 63,557 miles

Exhaust hanger broken but the exhaust is still adequately supported

Oil leak

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 18 Aug 2014 63,557 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

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

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Exhaust hanger broken but the exhaust is still adequately supported

Oil leak

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 16 Aug 2013 60,169 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Pass 31 Aug 2012 57,341 miles
Pass 30 Aug 2011 54,338 miles

Front brakes inbalanced by 20%.

Rear brake pads worn thin.

Pass 1 Sep 2010 52,779 miles
Pass 8 Dec 2008 47,018 miles
Pass 12 Dec 2007 41,501 miles
Fail 11 Dec 2007 41,499 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 16 Dec 2006 35,330 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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EX53 FWV is a 2003 Mercedes-benz C in Black with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 79.2%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 EX53 FWV, 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 EX53 FWV?

You can check the full history of EX53 FWV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was EX53 FWV registered?

EX53 FWV is a 2003 Mercedes-benz C, first registered on 17 December 2003.

Is EX53 FWV safe to buy?

The MOT history for EX53 FWV shows 24 tests with a 79.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does EX53 FWV 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 EX53 FWV. 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.