1988 Mercedes 230 Ce — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age

38 years

Current Age

57.6%

Latest Pass Rate

405

Total Tests (All Years)

119,785 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 230 Ce as it ages.

21 yrs55.6%

→ ↑6.4%

22 yrs62.0%

→ ↓1.0%

23 yrs61.0%

→ ↓16.1%

24 yrs44.9%

→ ↑12.6%

25 yrs57.5%

→ ↑0.4%

26 yrs57.9%

→ ↓16.7%

27 yrs41.2%

→ ↑16.4%

28 yrs57.6%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
21 yrs	55.6%	81
22 yrs	62.0%	71
23 yrs	61.0%	59
24 yrs	44.9%	49
25 yrs	57.5%	40
26 yrs	57.9%	38
27 yrs	41.2%	34
28 yrs	57.6%	33

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1988 Mercedes 230 Ce pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (28 yrs)	57.6%	33
2015 (27 yrs)	41.2%	34
2014 (26 yrs)	57.9%	38
2013 (25 yrs)	57.5%	40
2012 (24 yrs)	44.9%	49
2011 (23 yrs)	61%	59
2010 (22 yrs)	62%	71
2009 (21 yrs)	55.6%	81

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

55.6%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 81Avg Mileage 118,688Top Failure Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 21.0%

2010High Fail Rate

62.0%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 71Avg Mileage 119,521Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.1%

2011High Fail Rate

61.0%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 59Avg Mileage 118,422Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.1%

2012High Fail Rate

44.9%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 49Avg Mileage 117,600Top Failure Brakes — 42.9%

2013High Fail Rate

57.5%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 40Avg Mileage 127,318Top Failure Brakes — 67.5%

2014High Fail Rate

57.9%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 38Avg Mileage 120,689Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 57.9%

2015High Fail Rate

41.2%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 34Avg Mileage 122,330Top Failure Brakes — 82.4%

2016High Fail Rate

57.6%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 33Avg Mileage 119,785Top Failure Brakes — 72.7%

MOT results for 1988 Mercedes 230 Ce by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	21	55.6%	81	118,688	Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 21.0%
2010	22	62.0%	71	119,521	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.1%
2011	23	61.0%	59	118,422	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.1%
2012	24	44.9%	49	117,600	Brakes — 42.9%
2013	25	57.5%	40	127,318	Brakes — 67.5%
2014	26	57.9%	38	120,689	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 57.9%
2015	27	41.2%	34	122,330	Brakes — 82.4%
2016	28	57.6%	33	119,785	Brakes — 72.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1988 Mercedes 230 Ce, with age trends.

Brakes

46.5%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

38.1%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

33.6%

↑ Increases with age

Registration Plates and VIN

20.6%

— Consistent

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

19.1%

↑ 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
Brakes	18.5% (21 yrs)	72.7% (28 yrs)	+54.2%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	19.8% (21 yrs)	51.5% (28 yrs)	+31.7%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	21.0% (21 yrs)	51.5% (28 yrs)	+30.5%	🔴 ↑
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions	21.0% (21 yrs)	30.3% (28 yrs)	+9.3%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992

← Back to Mercedes 230 Ce overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes 230 Ce page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes 230 Ce cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 405 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.