1985 Mercedes-Benz 230 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1985 perform at MOT as they age

41 years

Current Age

72.3%

Latest Pass Rate

1,147

Total Tests (All Years)

109,375 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230 as it ages.

32 yrs59.4%

→ ↓0.2%

33 yrs59.2%

→ ↑15.3%

34 yrs74.5%

→ ↓11.1%

35 yrs63.4%

→ ↑2.6%

36 yrs66.0%

→ ↓2.2%

37 yrs63.8%

→ ↑11.6%

38 yrs75.4%

→ ↓3.1%

39 yrs72.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
32 yrs	59.4%	165
33 yrs	59.2%	125
34 yrs	74.5%	110
35 yrs	63.4%	112
36 yrs	66.0%	147
37 yrs	63.8%	105
38 yrs	75.4%	134
39 yrs	72.3%	249

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (39 yrs)	72.3%	249
2023 (38 yrs)	75.4%	134
2022 (37 yrs)	63.8%	105
2021 (36 yrs)	66%	147
2020 (35 yrs)	63.4%	112
2019 (34 yrs)	74.5%	110
2018 (33 yrs)	59.2%	125
2017 (32 yrs)	59.4%	165

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2017High Fail Rate

59.4%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 165Avg Mileage 117,103Top Failure Suspension — 54.5%

2018High Fail Rate

59.2%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 125Avg Mileage 114,329Top Failure Suspension — 54.4%

2019

74.5%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 110Avg Mileage 117,709Top Failure Suspension — 33.6%

2020High Fail Rate

63.4%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 112Avg Mileage 118,885Top Failure Suspension — 50.0%

2021

66.0%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 147Avg Mileage 113,636Top Failure Suspension — 46.3%

2022High Fail Rate

63.8%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 105Avg Mileage 122,032Top Failure Suspension — 49.5%

2023

75.4%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 134Avg Mileage 112,314Top Failure Suspension — 35.8%

2024

72.3%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 249Avg Mileage 109,375Top Failure Suspension — 26.1%

MOT results for 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2017	32	59.4%	165	117,103	Suspension — 54.5%
2018	33	59.2%	125	114,329	Suspension — 54.4%
2019	34	74.5%	110	117,709	Suspension — 33.6%
2020	35	63.4%	112	118,885	Suspension — 50.0%
2021	36	66.0%	147	113,636	Suspension — 46.3%
2022	37	63.8%	105	122,032	Suspension — 49.5%
2023	38	75.4%	134	112,314	Suspension — 35.8%
2024	39	72.3%	249	109,375	Suspension — 26.1%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230, with age trends.

Suspension

43.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

33.4%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, chassis, structure

30.0%

— Consistent

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

29.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

23.4%

↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	54.5% (32 yrs)	26.1% (39 yrs)	-28.4%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	41.2% (32 yrs)	17.3% (39 yrs)	-23.9%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

1964 1965 1966 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992

← Back to Mercedes-Benz 230 overview

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About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes-Benz 230 cars manufactured in 1985 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2017 to 2024, covering 1,147 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.