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FV53 LDU

2003 Mercedes-benz C

Silver Diesel 2148cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires20 Jul 2026
Tests25 (17 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate68%

Mileage

206,730 mi
Last recorded206,730 miles
Recorded on21 Jul 2025
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

RegistrationFV53 LDU
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelC
Year2003
ColourSilver
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 8 fail
Pass 21 Jul 2025 206,730 miles

Coil spring corroded all (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

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

underbody and components corroded

Pass 2 Jul 2024 199,121 miles

Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement All (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule All (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Chassis/subframes/suspension arms corroded

Coil spring corroded All (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Fuel Pipe/s corroded All ()

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

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

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

Underbody corroded

Fail 2 Jul 2024 199,121 miles

Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement All (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule All (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Chassis/subframes/suspension arms corroded

Coil spring corroded All (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Fuel Pipe/s corroded All ()

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

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

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

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

Underbody corroded

Windscreen wiper missing (3.4 (a))

Pass 20 Apr 2023 193,297 miles

Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Coolant leak ()

Front Coil spring corroded both sides (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output both sides (4.1.4 (b))

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

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

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

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

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

Parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.4.2 (a) (i))

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

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

Service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive front and rear (5.3.6 (a) (i))

underbody and suspension components corroded

undertrays and covers fitted obscuring some underside component's

Pass 18 Feb 2022 186,917 miles

Front Coolant leak ()

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

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

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

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

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

Rear Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

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))

Pass 26 Nov 2020 186,900 miles

Rear Integral body structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Fail 19 Nov 2020 186,890 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar corroded and seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint likely to become detached (5.3.4 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Tyre tread pattern not visible over the whole tread area when minimum depth required is 1.0mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Rear Integral body structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Pass 13 Dec 2018 180,182 miles

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage modified but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (c) (i))

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

Pass 27 Oct 2017 150,354 miles

Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement n/s and o/s (2.4.G.2)

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened n/s and o/s (3.5.1i)

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

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fail 27 Oct 2017 150,354 miles

Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement n/s and o/s (2.4.G.2)

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened n/s and o/s (3.5.1i)

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

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 11 Aug 2016 131,843 miles

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

Pass 15 Aug 2015 127,898 miles
Fail 12 Aug 2015 127,898 miles

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

Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Indicator switch faulty (1.4.A.1)

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

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

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

Rear Coil spring not correctly located (2.4.C.2)

Pass 16 Nov 2013 122,169 miles
Pass 17 Nov 2012 119,003 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Pass 7 Dec 2011 115,532 miles
Fail 6 Dec 2011 115,532 miles

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

rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Pass 13 Dec 2010 112,954 miles
Fail 10 Dec 2010 112,954 miles

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

Pass 24 Nov 2009 109,348 miles
Pass 16 Dec 2008 108,858 miles
Fail 16 Dec 2008 108,858 miles

Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine (7.4.B.3b)

Pass 31 Oct 2007 99,888 miles

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

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

Pass 24 Nov 2006 82,105 miles
Fail 24 Nov 2006 82,097 miles

front brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b) DANGEROUS

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

engine oil leak

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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FV53 LDU is a 2003 Mercedes-benz C in Silver with a 2,148cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68%.

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 FV53 LDU, 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 FV53 LDU?

You can check the full history of FV53 LDU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was FV53 LDU registered?

FV53 LDU is a 2003 Mercedes-benz C, first registered on 26 November 2003.

Is FV53 LDU safe to buy?

The MOT history for FV53 LDU shows 25 tests with a 68% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does FV53 LDU 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 FV53 LDU. 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.