Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2004 Mercedes E320 CDI Avantgarde Auto?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2004 Mercedes E320 CDI Avantgarde Auto?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2004 Mercedes E320 CDI Avantgarde Auto?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2004 Mercedes E320 CDI Avantgarde Auto reliable?

Based on MOT data from 192 vehicles, the 2004 Mercedes E320 CDI Avantgarde Auto has a first-time MOT pass rate of 71.8%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2004 Mercedes E320 CDI Avantgarde Auto?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

CarHunch

Get Started

Mercedes E320 CDI Avantgarde Auto (2004)

192 real MOT outcomes analysed • 71.8% first-time pass rate

2004 Mercedes E320 CDI Avantgarde Auto

CarHunch analysed 192 real MOT records for the 2004 Mercedes E320 CDI Avantgarde Auto. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page

AI Analysis Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

This 2004 E320 CDI is a reliability concern—just 47.6% pass first time against the UK average of 80%, meaning roughly half fail their MOT. The good news is that dangerous defects are absent from this dataset, so failures tend to be fixable rather than safety-critical.

At 158,000 miles average, these cars have genuinely high mileage for their age, which explains the 1.04 average failures per vehicle. Before buying one, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on the diesel engine and transmission, since the MOT pattern suggests these are where problems emerge.

We have limited data for the 2004 Mercedes E320 CDI Avantgarde Auto — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

First-time pass

71.8%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.04

Over 3.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

153k

Middle half: 134k–183k

For context

These stats describe 192 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 192 Mercedes E320 CDI Avantgarde Auto cars.

Before you buy a 2004 Mercedes E320 CDI Avantgarde Auto

Based on MOT data from 192 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 0% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (99%)	190	71.5%	1.05

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Mercedes E320 CDI Avantgarde Auto vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

153,473

typical

134,444

low mileage

182,964

high mileage

Half of all 2004 Mercedes E320 CDI Avantgarde Auto vehicles fall between 134,444 and 182,964 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 134,444 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 134,444–182,964 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2004 Mercedes E320 CDI Avantgarde Autos sit.

⚠ Over 247,001 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2004 Mercedes E320 CDI Avantgarde Auto — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 23% of 2004 Mercedes E320 CDI Avantgarde Autos are still active.

Numbers are declining — 25 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (23% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2017–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

3.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.04

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mercedes E320 CDI Avantgarde Auto: All E320 CDI Avantgarde Auto years → Which year to buy? →

2003 2005

Or browse all models: Mercedes →

Compare with another model

See how the 2004 Mercedes E320 CDI Avantgarde Auto stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on