1988 Mercedes 260 E — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age

38 years

Current Age

72.7%

Latest Pass Rate

589

Total Tests (All Years)

104,596 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 260 E as it ages.

21 yrs57.4%

→ ↑8.2%

22 yrs65.6%

→ ↓5.8%

23 yrs59.8%

→ ↑3.3%

24 yrs63.1%

→ ↑2.2%

25 yrs65.3%

→ ↑3.7%

26 yrs69.0%

→ ↓17.5%

27 yrs51.5%

→ ↑21.2%

28 yrs72.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
21 yrs	57.4%	155
22 yrs	65.6%	125
23 yrs	59.8%	87
24 yrs	63.1%	65
25 yrs	65.3%	49
26 yrs	69.0%	42
27 yrs	51.5%	33
28 yrs	72.7%	33

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1988 Mercedes 260 E pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (28 yrs)	72.7%	33
2015 (27 yrs)	51.5%	33
2014 (26 yrs)	69%	42
2013 (25 yrs)	65.3%	49
2012 (24 yrs)	63.1%	65
2011 (23 yrs)	59.8%	87
2010 (22 yrs)	65.6%	125
2009 (21 yrs)	57.4%	155

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

57.4%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 155Avg Mileage 118,461Top Failure Brakes — 23.9%

2010

65.6%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 125Avg Mileage 121,829Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.2%

2011High Fail Rate

59.8%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 87Avg Mileage 117,651Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.5%

2012High Fail Rate

63.1%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 65Avg Mileage 116,459Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.0%

2013

65.3%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 49Avg Mileage 119,586Top Failure Suspension — 38.8%

2014

69.0%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 42Avg Mileage 112,089Top Failure Suspension — 42.9%

2015High Fail Rate

51.5%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 33Avg Mileage 113,319Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 48.5%

2016

72.7%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 33Avg Mileage 104,596Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.2%

MOT results for 1988 Mercedes 260 E by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	21	57.4%	155	118,461	Brakes — 23.9%
2010	22	65.6%	125	121,829	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.2%
2011	23	59.8%	87	117,651	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.5%
2012	24	63.1%	65	116,459	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.0%
2013	25	65.3%	49	119,586	Suspension — 38.8%
2014	26	69.0%	42	112,089	Suspension — 42.9%
2015	27	51.5%	33	113,319	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 48.5%
2016	28	72.7%	33	104,596	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.2%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1988 Mercedes 260 E, with age trends.

Suspension

24.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

24.7%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

22.5%

— Consistent

Body, Structure and General Items

15.2%

— Consistent

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

14.8%

↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions	18.1% (21 yrs)	12.1% (28 yrs)	-6.0%	🟢 ↓
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	18.7% (21 yrs)	24.2% (28 yrs)	+5.5%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	20.0% (21 yrs)	15.2% (28 yrs)	-4.8%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	23.9% (21 yrs)	21.2% (28 yrs)	-2.7%	🟢 ↓
Tyres	14.2% (21 yrs)	12.1% (28 yrs)	-2.1%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992

← Back to Mercedes 260 E overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes 260 E page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes 260 E cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 589 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.