1983 Mercedes 230 E — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1983 perform at MOT as they age

43 years

Current Age

71.8%

Latest Pass Rate

1,455

Total Tests (All Years)

117,454 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 1983 Mercedes 230 E as it ages.

26 yrs66.7%

→ ↓2.8%

27 yrs63.9%

→ ↓5.4%

28 yrs58.5%

→ ↓0.6%

29 yrs57.9%

→ ↑2.0%

30 yrs59.9%

→ ↓1.1%

31 yrs58.8%

→ ↑3.4%

32 yrs62.2%

→ ↑6.2%

33 yrs68.4%

→ ↓2.4%

34 yrs66.0%

→ ↑3.2%

35 yrs69.2%

→ ↑2.2%

36 yrs71.4%

→ ↑0.4%

37 yrs71.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
26 yrs	66.7%	195
27 yrs	63.9%	180
28 yrs	58.5%	188
29 yrs	57.9%	171
30 yrs	59.9%	152
31 yrs	58.8%	136
32 yrs	62.2%	127
33 yrs	68.4%	133
34 yrs	66.0%	53
35 yrs	69.2%	39
36 yrs	71.4%	42
37 yrs	71.8%	39

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1983 Mercedes 230 E pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (37 yrs)	71.8%	39
2019 (36 yrs)	71.4%	42
2018 (35 yrs)	69.2%	39
2017 (34 yrs)	66%	53
2016 (33 yrs)	68.4%	133
2015 (32 yrs)	62.2%	127
2014 (31 yrs)	58.8%	136
2013 (30 yrs)	59.9%	152
2012 (29 yrs)	57.9%	171
2011 (28 yrs)	58.5%	188
2010 (27 yrs)	63.9%	180
2009 (26 yrs)	66.7%	195

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

66.7%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 195Avg Mileage 122,283Top Failure Suspension — 17.4%

2010High Fail Rate

63.9%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 180Avg Mileage 122,262Top Failure Suspension — 16.1%

2011High Fail Rate

58.5%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 188Avg Mileage 124,858Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.3%

2012High Fail Rate

57.9%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 171Avg Mileage 122,333Top Failure Suspension — 25.1%

2013High Fail Rate

59.9%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 152Avg Mileage 124,200Top Failure Suspension — 63.8%

2014High Fail Rate

58.8%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 136Avg Mileage 121,563Top Failure Suspension — 63.2%

2015High Fail Rate

62.2%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 127Avg Mileage 125,371Top Failure Suspension — 60.6%

2016

68.4%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 133Avg Mileage 118,593Top Failure Suspension — 45.9%

2017

66.0%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 53Avg Mileage 124,770Top Failure Brakes — 50.9%

2018

69.2%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 39Avg Mileage 118,195Top Failure Suspension — 43.6%

2019

71.4%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 42Avg Mileage 125,659Top Failure Brakes — 47.6%

2020

71.8%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 39Avg Mileage 117,454Top Failure Suspension — 30.8%

MOT results for 1983 Mercedes 230 E by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	26	66.7%	195	122,283	Suspension — 17.4%
2010	27	63.9%	180	122,262	Suspension — 16.1%
2011	28	58.5%	188	124,858	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.3%
2012	29	57.9%	171	122,333	Suspension — 25.1%
2013	30	59.9%	152	124,200	Suspension — 63.8%
2014	31	58.8%	136	121,563	Suspension — 63.2%
2015	32	62.2%	127	125,371	Suspension — 60.6%
2016	33	68.4%	133	118,593	Suspension — 45.9%
2017	34	66.0%	53	124,770	Brakes — 50.9%
2018	35	69.2%	39	118,195	Suspension — 43.6%
2019	36	71.4%	42	125,659	Brakes — 47.6%
2020	37	71.8%	39	117,454	Suspension — 30.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1983 Mercedes 230 E, with age trends.

Suspension

37.1%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

31.5%

— Consistent

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

29.3%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

23.1%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

19.1%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	17.4% (26 yrs)	30.8% (37 yrs)	+13.4%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	10.8% (26 yrs)	10.3% (37 yrs)	-0.5%	⚪ —
Brakes	15.4% (26 yrs)	15.4% (37 yrs)	0.0%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1997

← Back to Mercedes 230 E overview

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

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes 230 E cars manufactured in 1983 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 1,455 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.