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Mercedes 500sl MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Mercedes 500sl. Check any 500sl by registration number below.

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88.4%

Avg Pass Rate

+10.7%

vs Mercedes Avg

3

Year Ranges

Excellent

Reliability

Mercedes 500sl — MOT Reliability Overview

The Mercedes 500sl has an average MOT pass rate of 88.4%, which is 10.7 percentage points above the Mercedes brand average of 77.7%. This is a strong result, indicating that the 500sl is well-engineered and tends to age well mechanically. Owners can expect fewer surprises at MOT time.

Before buying a used Mercedes 500sl, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the Mercedes 500sl performs at MOT across different model years.

2003

Based on 34 vehicles

79.4%Good
Mercedes average: 77.7%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

18.5%

2002

Based on 33 vehicles

100.0%Excellent
Mercedes average: 77.7%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

0

Based on 14 vehicles

85.7%Excellent
Mercedes average: 77.7%
Mileage at 5yr

91k mi

Where Failures Occur

The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.

Front Offside Lower

11.8%

Front Offside Upper

2.9%

Other Mercedes Models

Compare MOT reliability across Mercedes models.

Mercedes 316cdi

94.7% pass rate

Mercedes 207d

71.4% pass rate

Mercedes Hymer

76.6% pass rate

Mercedes 609d

66.7% pass rate

Mercedes Ml 250

80.5% pass rate

Mercedes SLS

93.8% pass rate

Useful MOT Guides

Common MOT Failures

The most common reasons UK vehicles fail their MOT — and how to prepare.

MOT Checklist

Pre-MOT checklist to improve your chances of passing first time.

Advisory vs Failure

Understanding the difference between MOT advisories and failures.

See detailed fault analysis for Mercedes 500sl

Mercedes 500sl — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Mercedes 500sl MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Mercedes 500sl?
The average MOT pass rate for the Mercedes 500sl is 88.4% compared to the Mercedes average of 77.7%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.
What are the most common MOT failures on a Mercedes 500sl?
Check the detailed breakdown on this page for specific failure data by year range.
Is the Mercedes 500sl reliable?
With an average MOT pass rate of 88.4%, the Mercedes 500sl is rated as "Excellent" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.
How do I check the MOT history of a Mercedes 500sl?
Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.
What mileage should I expect on a Mercedes 500sl?
Typical mileage for the Mercedes 500sl: 90,770 miles at 5 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used 500sl to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Mercedes 500sl's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.

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