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1968 Mercedes 250sl MOT Pass Rate

Pass rate for 250sl models manufactured in 1968, based on 39 real MOT test results.

82.1%
Pass Rate
17.9%
Fail Rate
39
Total Tests
45,479
Avg Mileage

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

1968 Mercedes 250sl MOT Analysis

The 1968 Mercedes 250sl has an MOT pass rate of 82.1% based on 39 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 45,479 miles on the odometer. With a 17.9% failure rate, the 1968 250sl is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.

The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1968 Mercedes 250sl is Driver's View of the Road, responsible for 10.3% of failures. Driver's View of the Road issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs range from £100–400. Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions is the second most common issue at 5.1%. Suspension follows at 5.1%.

⚠ Based on limited data (39 tests)

Top failures specific to 1968 models only. The overall 250sl page may show different rankings.

What Fails Most

What Fails on This Car?

Click a category to see specific failure items.

View as table
MOT failure categories ranked by failure rate
RankFailure CategoryRate (%)Count
1Driver's View Of The Road10.3%4
2Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions5.1%2
3Suspension5.1%2

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 45,479 mi

For every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.

Visibility2.26% per 10K miEmissions & Exhaust1.13% per 10K miSuspension1.13% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Visibility2.2610.3%4
Emissions & Exhaust1.135.1%2
Suspension1.135.1%2

Mileage Statistics

45,479
Mean
35,774
Median
12,832
25th Percentile
76,034
75th Percentile
3.94% failures per 10K miles

Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.

About This Data

The 1968 Mercedes 250sl has an MOT pass rate of 82.1% based on 39 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 45,479 miles on the odometer. With a 17.9% failure rate, the 1968 250sl is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.

If you own or are considering buying a 1968 Mercedes 250sl, you can expect reliable MOT performance overall. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to driver's view of the road: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights. With relatively low average mileage of 45,479 miles, many of these vehicles are still in good mechanical condition.

Driver's View of the Road — 10.3% of failures

Driver's View of the Road issues account for 10.3% of MOT failures on 1968 Mercedes 250sl models. Driver's View of the Road issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 5.1% of failures

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions issues account for 5.1% of MOT failures on 1968 Mercedes 250sl models. Emissions failures occur when exhaust gases exceed legal limits for carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), or particulate matter (diesel). Common causes include faulty oxygen sensors, clogged catalytic converters, or DPF issues on diesel vehicles. Typical repair costs: £100–1,000+. Pre-MOT check: If the engine management light is on, get it diagnosed before the MOT. For diesel cars, ensure the DPF has completed a regeneration cycle. Regular servicing and using premium fuel before the test can help.

Suspension — 5.1% of failures

Suspension issues account for 5.1% of MOT failures on 1968 Mercedes 250sl models. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

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