1988 Mercedes 190 E — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age

38 years

Current Age

69.9%

Latest Pass Rate

3,164

Total Tests (All Years)

106,835 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 1988 Mercedes 190 E as it ages.

21 yrs54.3%

→ ↑2.2%

22 yrs56.5%

→ ↓1.6%

23 yrs54.9%

→ ↑11.2%

24 yrs66.1%

→ ↓3.5%

25 yrs62.6%

→ ↓4.8%

26 yrs57.8%

→ ↑6.3%

27 yrs64.1%

→ ↑3.5%

28 yrs67.6%

→ ↓4.4%

29 yrs63.2%

→ ↓0.7%

30 yrs62.5%

→ ↑5.6%

31 yrs68.1%

→ ↑1.8%

32 yrs69.9%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
21 yrs	54.3%	632
22 yrs	56.5%	508
23 yrs	54.9%	417
24 yrs	66.1%	313
25 yrs	62.6%	270
26 yrs	57.8%	223
27 yrs	64.1%	198
28 yrs	67.6%	188
29 yrs	63.2%	155
30 yrs	62.5%	96
31 yrs	68.1%	91
32 yrs	69.9%	73

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1988 Mercedes 190 E pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (32 yrs)	69.9%	73
2019 (31 yrs)	68.1%	91
2018 (30 yrs)	62.5%	96
2017 (29 yrs)	63.2%	155
2016 (28 yrs)	67.6%	188
2015 (27 yrs)	64.1%	198
2014 (26 yrs)	57.8%	223
2013 (25 yrs)	62.6%	270
2012 (24 yrs)	66.1%	313
2011 (23 yrs)	54.9%	417
2010 (22 yrs)	56.5%	508
2009 (21 yrs)	54.3%	632

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

54.3%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 632Avg Mileage 117,031Top Failure Suspension — 23.6%

2010High Fail Rate

56.5%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 508Avg Mileage 116,714Top Failure Suspension — 22.0%

2011High Fail Rate

54.9%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 417Avg Mileage 115,722Top Failure Brakes — 23.0%

2012

66.1%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 313Avg Mileage 113,119Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.7%

2013High Fail Rate

62.6%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 270Avg Mileage 116,781Top Failure Suspension — 53.0%

2014High Fail Rate

57.8%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 223Avg Mileage 113,688Top Failure Suspension — 47.1%

2015High Fail Rate

64.1%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 198Avg Mileage 110,552Top Failure Brakes — 47.0%

2016

67.6%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 188Avg Mileage 110,186Top Failure Brakes — 29.8%

2017High Fail Rate

63.2%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 155Avg Mileage 108,026Top Failure Suspension — 49.7%

2018High Fail Rate

62.5%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 96Avg Mileage 109,849Top Failure Brakes — 44.8%

2019

68.1%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 91Avg Mileage 114,715Top Failure Brakes — 42.9%

2020

69.9%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 73Avg Mileage 106,835Top Failure Suspension — 38.4%

MOT results for 1988 Mercedes 190 E by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	21	54.3%	632	117,031	Suspension — 23.6%
2010	22	56.5%	508	116,714	Suspension — 22.0%
2011	23	54.9%	417	115,722	Brakes — 23.0%
2012	24	66.1%	313	113,119	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.7%
2013	25	62.6%	270	116,781	Suspension — 53.0%
2014	26	57.8%	223	113,688	Suspension — 47.1%
2015	27	64.1%	198	110,552	Brakes — 47.0%
2016	28	67.6%	188	110,186	Brakes — 29.8%
2017	29	63.2%	155	108,026	Suspension — 49.7%
2018	30	62.5%	96	109,849	Brakes — 44.8%
2019	31	68.1%	91	114,715	Brakes — 42.9%
2020	32	69.9%	73	106,835	Suspension — 38.4%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1988 Mercedes 190 E, with age trends.

Brakes

33.5%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

33.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

25.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

22.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, chassis, structure

21.8%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	23.6% (21 yrs)	38.4% (32 yrs)	+14.8%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	21.8% (21 yrs)	27.4% (32 yrs)	+5.6%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	15.2% (21 yrs)	16.4% (32 yrs)	+1.2%	⚪ —

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 1988 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 3,164 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.