1989 Mercedes 190 E — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age

37 years

Current Age

68.7%

Latest Pass Rate

8,348

Total Tests (All Years)

122,250 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 1989 Mercedes 190 E as it ages.

20 yrs57.3%

→ ↑2.1%

21 yrs59.4%

→ ↑0.1%

22 yrs59.5%

→ ↓0.4%

23 yrs59.1%

→ ↓0.1%

24 yrs59.0%

→ ↑1.3%

25 yrs60.3%

→ ↑3.4%

26 yrs63.7%

→ ↑2.5%

27 yrs66.2%

→ ↓2.2%

28 yrs64.0%

→ ↑2.4%

29 yrs66.4%

→ ↑4.7%

30 yrs71.1%

→ ↓2.4%

31 yrs68.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
20 yrs	57.3%	1,587
21 yrs	59.4%	1,307
22 yrs	59.5%	1,083
23 yrs	59.1%	860
24 yrs	59.0%	719
25 yrs	60.3%	615
26 yrs	63.7%	545
27 yrs	66.2%	494
28 yrs	64.0%	420
29 yrs	66.4%	262
30 yrs	71.1%	242
31 yrs	68.7%	214

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1989 Mercedes 190 E pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (31 yrs)	68.7%	214
2019 (30 yrs)	71.1%	242
2018 (29 yrs)	66.4%	262
2017 (28 yrs)	64%	420
2016 (27 yrs)	66.2%	494
2015 (26 yrs)	63.7%	545
2014 (25 yrs)	60.3%	615
2013 (24 yrs)	59%	719
2012 (23 yrs)	59.1%	860
2011 (22 yrs)	59.5%	1,083
2010 (21 yrs)	59.4%	1,307
2009 (20 yrs)	57.3%	1,587

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

57.3%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 1,587Avg Mileage 124,931Top Failure Brakes — 21.9%

2010High Fail Rate

59.4%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 1,307Avg Mileage 124,264Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.8%

2011High Fail Rate

59.5%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 1,083Avg Mileage 122,623Top Failure Brakes — 21.1%

2012High Fail Rate

59.1%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 860Avg Mileage 121,858Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.8%

2013High Fail Rate

59.0%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 719Avg Mileage 120,607Top Failure Brakes — 48.3%

2014High Fail Rate

60.3%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 615Avg Mileage 119,342Top Failure Brakes — 49.4%

2015High Fail Rate

63.7%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 545Avg Mileage 120,961Top Failure Brakes — 50.1%

2016

66.2%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 494Avg Mileage 121,365Top Failure Brakes — 37.2%

2017High Fail Rate

64.0%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 420Avg Mileage 120,505Top Failure Brakes — 40.2%

2018

66.4%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 262Avg Mileage 124,462Top Failure Brakes — 51.9%

2019

71.1%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 242Avg Mileage 126,101Top Failure Brakes — 39.3%

2020

68.7%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 214Avg Mileage 122,250Top Failure Suspension — 45.3%

MOT results for 1989 Mercedes 190 E by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	20	57.3%	1,587	124,931	Brakes — 21.9%
2010	21	59.4%	1,307	124,264	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.8%
2011	22	59.5%	1,083	122,623	Brakes — 21.1%
2012	23	59.1%	860	121,858	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.8%
2013	24	59.0%	719	120,607	Brakes — 48.3%
2014	25	60.3%	615	119,342	Brakes — 49.4%
2015	26	63.7%	545	120,961	Brakes — 50.1%
2016	27	66.2%	494	121,365	Brakes — 37.2%
2017	28	64.0%	420	120,505	Brakes — 40.2%
2018	29	66.4%	262	124,462	Brakes — 51.9%
2019	30	71.1%	242	126,101	Brakes — 39.3%
2020	31	68.7%	214	122,250	Suspension — 45.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1989 Mercedes 190 E, with age trends.

Brakes

36.5%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

31.5%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

25.1%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

23.0%

— Consistent

Body, chassis, structure

17.2%

↑ Increases 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	19.7% (20 yrs)	45.3% (31 yrs)	+25.6%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	21.9% (20 yrs)	39.3% (31 yrs)	+17.4%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	11.0% (20 yrs)	17.3% (31 yrs)	+6.3%	🔴 ↑

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 1989 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 8,348 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.