1985 Mercedes 190 E — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1985 perform at MOT as they age

41 years

Current Age

68.8%

Latest Pass Rate

594

Total Tests (All Years)

117,829 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 190 E as it ages.

24 yrs60.2%

→ ↓2.3%

25 yrs57.9%

→ ↑3.0%

26 yrs60.9%

→ ↑0.6%

27 yrs61.5%

→ ↓1.5%

28 yrs60.0%

→ ↓10.0%

29 yrs50.0%

→ ↑9.0%

30 yrs59.0%

→ ↓0.0%

31 yrs59.0%

→ ↑9.8%

32 yrs68.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
24 yrs	60.2%	128
25 yrs	57.9%	107
26 yrs	60.9%	87
27 yrs	61.5%	65
28 yrs	60.0%	55
29 yrs	50.0%	42
30 yrs	59.0%	39
31 yrs	59.0%	39
32 yrs	68.8%	32

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1985 Mercedes 190 E pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (32 yrs)	68.8%	32
2016 (31 yrs)	59%	39
2015 (30 yrs)	59%	39
2014 (29 yrs)	50%	42
2013 (28 yrs)	60%	55
2012 (27 yrs)	61.5%	65
2011 (26 yrs)	60.9%	87
2010 (25 yrs)	57.9%	107
2009 (24 yrs)	60.2%	128

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

60.2%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 128Avg Mileage 113,335Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.9%

2010High Fail Rate

57.9%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 107Avg Mileage 113,199Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.2%

2011High Fail Rate

60.9%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 87Avg Mileage 114,169Top Failure Brakes — 18.4%

2012High Fail Rate

61.5%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 65Avg Mileage 114,561Top Failure Suspension — 24.6%

2013High Fail Rate

60.0%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 55Avg Mileage 116,093Top Failure Suspension — 56.4%

2014High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 42Avg Mileage 116,186Top Failure Brakes — 50.0%

2015High Fail Rate

59.0%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 39Avg Mileage 112,531Top Failure Brakes — 76.9%

2016High Fail Rate

59.0%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 39Avg Mileage 111,254Top Failure Suspension — 64.1%

2017

68.8%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 32Avg Mileage 117,829Top Failure Suspension — 53.1%

MOT results for 1985 Mercedes 190 E by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	24	60.2%	128	113,335	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.9%
2010	25	57.9%	107	113,199	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.2%
2011	26	60.9%	87	114,169	Brakes — 18.4%
2012	27	61.5%	65	114,561	Suspension — 24.6%
2013	28	60.0%	55	116,093	Suspension — 56.4%
2014	29	50.0%	42	116,186	Brakes — 50.0%
2015	30	59.0%	39	112,531	Brakes — 76.9%
2016	31	59.0%	39	111,254	Suspension — 64.1%
2017	32	68.8%	32	117,829	Suspension — 53.1%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1985 Mercedes 190 E, with age trends.

Suspension

37.0%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

33.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

29.6%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

25.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Driver's View of the Road

25.6%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	21.1% (24 yrs)	53.1% (32 yrs)	+32.0%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	18.8% (24 yrs)	28.1% (32 yrs)	+9.3%	🔴 ↑
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions	17.2% (24 yrs)	12.5% (32 yrs)	-4.7%	🟢 ↓
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	21.9% (24 yrs)	18.8% (32 yrs)	-3.1%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994

← Back to Mercedes 190 E overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes 190 E page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes 190 E cars manufactured in 1985 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 594 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.