HELP!! Cl203 I want to buy lacks MOT history

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Merclover2005

Active Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2020
Messages
71
Location
London
Car
C180 Kompressor CL203 EVOLUTION AMG
Hi all,

I am looking to purchase a late 2006 C180K Cl203 sports coupe. Have seen quite a rare low milage great condition Evolution S model with all extras on it. I have spoken to the owner and he has confirmed it is category N due to the fact he had a minor accident in the vehicle earlier this year. It has been fully repaired, he has all evidence to show the repair was done properly and photos of the previous damage so that doesn't particularly worry me as the car was most likely written off due to it's age and value, even if the damage was minor.

The bit I am wary of though is the fact it lacks so much MOT history. The only MOT history I can find for the vehicle online is from 2019 onwards. The current owner has however just had a new MOT done so it has a whole year on it, passed with no advisories. I'm just not sure how a vehicle registered in late 2006 could only have 2 MOT certificates show up online.

Where could it have been for the other 12 or so years with no MOT history at all if it isnt an import or export? Does anyone know why this may be the case and whether I should just avoid the car all together?

I suspect it could be that it was owned by someone who lived on a UK island where they don't need to have MOT, for example in Northern Ireland, Guernsey or the Isle of man. As the second owner owner had it from 2007-2018 which is the period that the MOT history is missing. Only explanation I can think of...

Bit more info from the full check I bought on the vehicle - milage is 38,000, not imported or exported, no plate changes, no milage issues, 3 owners.

Thanks for your help! :)
 
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This is indeed odd.

A few thoughts:

- Was it SORNED for whatever reason?

- Did it have a private plate? That shouldn't matter, but then there's always the potential for a mix-up.

- Is there another way for you to verify the mileage? MB service history? Etc.
 
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Also... the M271 engine is prone to premature timing gear failure. Unless the car already had the camshaft sprocket wheels and timing chain replaced, I would take it to a specialist and have the cam cover removed and the sprockets inspected for wear.
 
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I take it there are no MOT certificates with the car ; could it have been in Ireland ( different system ) but not registered over there ( think you can drive UK reg cars in ROI ? ) so would have NCT instead of MOT ?

Does service hi story show where car has been serviced over its life ?

Low mileage - maybe it has been SORN for a long time ?

Have you asked the seller these questions?
 
Also... the M271 engine is prone to premature timing gear failure. Unless the car already had the camshaft sprocket wheels and timing chain replaced, I would take it to a specialist and have the cam cover removed and the sprockets inspected for wear.
I am aware of these problems as the milage creeps up, which is why I am looking to buy one with lower milage. Im quite familiar with these cars and their issues, my mum has owned a C180K coupe for the last 10 years and has done about 110k miles, still drives like a dream!
 
This is indeed odd.

A few thoughts:

- Was it SORNED for whatever reason?

- Did it have a private plate? That shouldn't matter, but then there's always the potential for a mix-up.

- Is there another way for you to verify the mileage? MB service history? Etc.
Ikr! Makes no sense. I am not sure, planning to go and see the car on Monday but wanted to try and get a better insight and see if anyone knew why this may be. It has a private plate, JEZ8159. But it hasn't had a plate change so I'm assuming it was registered with that numberplate? And owner said it has part Main dealer service history and all other work has been carried out by a Mercedes approved garage. So perhaps that could verify the milage?
 
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I take it there are no MOT certificates with the car ; could it have been in Ireland ( different system ) but not registered over there ( think you can drive UK reg cars in ROI ? ) so would have NCT instead of MOT ?

Does service hi story show where car has been serviced over its life ?

Low mileage - maybe it has been SORN for a long time ?

Have you asked the seller these questions?
I was thinking it may have been sorn but for 12 years? Very long time... I will have to ask all these questions when I see the car on Monday. If he can provide all the service history, verify the milage and can explain the mot gap I don't see why it would be a concern
 
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I am aware of these problems as the milage creeps up, which is why I am looking to buy one with lower milage...

Which is also why it is important that you find a way to verify the mileage.......
 
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JEZ8159 looks like a Northern Ireland registration.
Oh okay I didn't realise, if that is the case it would most likely warrent the low milage and lack of MOT history. as you said though, unless I can verify that milage I shouldn't touch it regardless.
 
While it's common for people over here to buy Irish plates and use them as private plates (which I assume this is what you think this plate is), it is also possible that this is actually a Northern Ireland car, and these are the plates it was originally registered with? This could explain the lack of MOT history (NI MOT can not be checked online), i.e. if the car was driven between 2005 and 2016 in NI, then brought over here.
 
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The other possibility is that the original UK plates were replaced with thesE Irish private plates in 2016, but for some reason there was a mix-up at the DVLA and that's why the MOT history isn't showing.

If there are any service bills, try to see how long back do the current plates go.
 
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...If there are any service bills, try to see how long back do the current plates go.

Early service bills will also show if the car started its life in NI or in GB.
 
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While it's common for people over here to buy Irish plates and use them as private plates (which I assume this is what you think this plate is), it is also possible that this is actually a Northern Ireland car, and these are the plates it was originally registered with? This could explain the lack of MOT history (NI MOT can not be checked online), i.e. if the car was driven between 2005 and 2016 in NI, then brought over here.
I did indeed believe it was a private plate but under further inspection of you saying you thought its from NI, I am now certain. I've done some research and discovered NI plates always have either an 'I' or 'Z' in the first 3 letters and a 4 number combination after. It says said that a registration with both a 'J' and 'Z' means it's from a place called Down in NI. So like you said it most likely is an NI car and has been over there until the current owner from London bought it in 2018. Would for sure explain huge MOT gap if you can't check NI MOT online. Would also explain why its not flagged up as an import because NI is obviously part of the UK. May not be dodgy after all, just need find a way to verify that milage so hopefully he has extensive paper copies of MOTs and services done while it was in NI🤞. Yes it was owned from 2007-2018 by the second owner and there was no MOT history shown during this period. Then of course sold over here and had its MOT done in 2019.
 
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I did indeed believe it was a private plate but under further inspection of you saying you thought its from NI, I am now certain. I've done some research and discovered NI plates always have either an 'I' or 'Z' in the first 3 letters and a 4 number combination after. It says said that a registration with both a 'J' and 'Z' means it's from a place called Down in NI. So like you said it most likely is an NI car and has been over there until the current owner from London bought it in 2018. Would for sure explain huge MOT gap if you can't check NI MOT online. Would also explain why its not flagged up as an import because NI is obviously part of the UK. May not be dodgy after all, just need find a way to verify that milage so hopefully he has extensive paper copies of MOTs and services done while it was in NI🤞. Yes it was owned from 2007-2018 by the second owner and there was no MOT history shown during this period. Then of course sold over here and had its MOT done in 2019.
Something else worth noting. TotalCarCheck (the service I used to buy a full history check of the vehicle) would usually say the location the vehicle was registered in England. For example it says my current car was first registered near Manchester. However it cannot find where this Mercedes was first registered and same with my mums merc. Her numberplate begins with 'EEZ' so that's probably an NI car as well? Again all of this would make sense if it was registered in NI.
 
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The other possibility is that the original UK plates were replaced with thesE Irish private plates in 2016, but for some reason there was a mix-up at the DVLA and that's why the MOT history isn't showing.

If there are any service bills, try to see how long back do the current plates go.
Could be possible if the DVLA had a mix up in 2016. But based on what I know now I reckon it being an NI car is the most likely theory. Especailly after realising my mums car has a similar situation with the numberplate and certain parts of key history missing online. Although she bought that in 2009, so it was obviously a lot newer then.
 
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Update*
Milage turned out to be genuine I spoke to the DVA and they sent the MOT history confirming the milage. Unfortunately the seller is being difficult and asking me to send images of my drivers licence and said he won't let me view the Mercedes otherwise. Which I'm not comfortable doing as this is a private sale and complete stranger. Said I'd bring it with me but that wasn't good enough 😕 sounds like fraud...
 
Update*
Milage turned out to be genuine I spoke to the DVA and they sent the MOT history confirming the milage. Unfortunately the seller is being difficult and asking me to send images of my drivers licence and said he won't let me view the Mercedes otherwise. Which I'm not comfortable doing as this is a private sale and complete stranger. Said I'd bring it with me but that wasn't good enough 😕 sounds like fraud...

Ask for his, and proof of address.
Let's see if he is reciprocal in his requirements.

It's reasonable for you to assure yourself that he has the right to sell,
to that end sight of the latest V5 is reasonable, so as to be sure it isn't subject to a V5 loan. The latest V5 date is easily found online anyway and there is no reason you shouldn't see it although the V5 reference can be used to advantage I beleive.

The V5 also should show the previous owners address for understanding of where the motor has lived, if that applies for a NI owner I don't know.
 
This is based in Walthamstow right? Sending your driver's license to someone in East London, buying a car in East London...it's bad to generalise but statistically speaking its reputation isn't great...

Do you have access to another phone, if so message them and ask to arrange a viewing to buy the car without asking too much and see if the prerequisites to view his car is the same.

Let's be realistic here, it's a £2600 car, not a 5 figure exotic - what's with the disproportionate prerequisites in his part? It's wholly inappropriate for someone with a two month foot print on GumTree based in East London to ask for your license up front, let's go back a few years and Gum Tree/scams in that part of London was well known.
 
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