Missing miles?

[gramey]

During my usual trawl of ebay, I know I need to get out more, I came across this ad and I thought I might give this a look as I have to go to Colchester tomorrow anyway. It looks clean and tidy and the price is enticing especially given the miles it's apparently done. The only trouble is that it had 13,000 more miles on it in April 2015 than it did in April 2016 according to an MOT history check?
mercedes | eBay

 

[markjay]

Yes...

FB03 CXH :

24 March 2017 Mileage 69,004 miles MOT
- March 2017 Registered owner changed
- January 2017 Registered owner changed
13 April 2016 Mileage 63,144 miles MOT
28 April 2015 Mileage 76,542 miles MOT
3 May 2014 Mileage 45,473 miles MOT
- May 2014 Listed for sale £9,995 FB03 CXH Mercedes-Benz SL 45,000 miles
- February 2014 Numberplate change V80 RJW --> FB03 XCH
15 March 2013 Mileage 44,395 miles MOT
16 March 2012 Mileage 43,051 miles MOT
19 March 2011 Mileage 41,822 miles MOT
13 February 2010 Mileage 40,283 miles MOT
- May 2009 Numberplate change FB03 XCH --> V80 RJW
6 January 2009 Mileage 37,535 miles MOT
24 January 2008 Mileage 35,656 miles MOT
20 November 2007 Mileage 34,721 miles MOT
22 June 2007 Mileage 31,723 miles MOT
3 August 2006 Mileage 26,629 miles MOT
- April 2003 First registered on the road 11th April 2003

 

[markjay]

If the car is honest.... then the 2015 mileage could be an error, e.g. it should have been 56,542.

The service history records could help clear this up.

 

[gramey]

Well I happened to go past the forecourt in question today, it's one guy selling cars on the forecourt of a general service centre, so I stopped and had a quick look. The seller wasn't there and his mobile went to voice mail so no answer on the mileage anomaly but I had a quick look round it. I don't know if he'd driven it but the engine temp showed 80 degrees as soon as I turned the key which the lady in the service centre had kindly got for me.

I had a look in the boot and no smell or feel of any damp so presumably the roof seals are intact given how much rain we had yesterday. The car looked pretty tidy but the big worry was rust in the rear wheel arches, not horrendous as you couldn't see it until you bent down but both lips had rust coming through most of the way round. The problem being that what is showing on the outside may turn out to be worse than it looks although the metal itself seemed pretty solid.

Can these be stripped repaired and treated effectively to last in the long term or are new panels, which I should think on the rear are an horrendous job, the only answer?