1989 Mercedes 260 E — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age

37 years

Current Age

72.3%

Latest Pass Rate

976

Total Tests (All Years)

108,030 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 260 E as it ages.

20 yrs59.8%

→ ↑2.3%

21 yrs62.1%

→ ↑2.6%

22 yrs64.7%

→ ↓1.2%

23 yrs63.5%

→ ↑8.4%

24 yrs71.9%

→ ↓4.0%

25 yrs67.9%

→ ↑1.1%

26 yrs69.0%

→ ↑3.3%

27 yrs72.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
20 yrs	59.8%	234
21 yrs	62.1%	182
22 yrs	64.7%	136
23 yrs	63.5%	115
24 yrs	71.9%	89
25 yrs	67.9%	84
26 yrs	69.0%	71
27 yrs	72.3%	65

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1989 Mercedes 260 E pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (27 yrs)	72.3%	65
2015 (26 yrs)	69%	71
2014 (25 yrs)	67.9%	84
2013 (24 yrs)	71.9%	89
2012 (23 yrs)	63.5%	115
2011 (22 yrs)	64.7%	136
2010 (21 yrs)	62.1%	182
2009 (20 yrs)	59.8%	234

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

59.8%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 234Avg Mileage 126,890Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.4%

2010High Fail Rate

62.1%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 182Avg Mileage 123,223Top Failure Brakes — 17.0%

2011High Fail Rate

64.7%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 136Avg Mileage 117,610Top Failure Brakes — 22.1%

2012High Fail Rate

63.5%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 115Avg Mileage 120,765Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.7%

2013

71.9%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 89Avg Mileage 112,610Top Failure Suspension — 33.7%

2014

67.9%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 84Avg Mileage 114,730Top Failure Brakes — 53.6%

2015

69.0%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 71Avg Mileage 108,517Top Failure Brakes — 43.7%

2016

72.3%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 65Avg Mileage 108,030Top Failure Brakes — 36.9%

MOT results for 1989 Mercedes 260 E by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	20	59.8%	234	126,890	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.4%
2010	21	62.1%	182	123,223	Brakes — 17.0%
2011	22	64.7%	136	117,610	Brakes — 22.1%
2012	23	63.5%	115	120,765	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.7%
2013	24	71.9%	89	112,610	Suspension — 33.7%
2014	25	67.9%	84	114,730	Brakes — 53.6%
2015	26	69.0%	71	108,517	Brakes — 43.7%
2016	27	72.3%	65	108,030	Brakes — 36.9%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1989 Mercedes 260 E, with age trends.

Brakes

28.4%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

25.5%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

21.5%

↑ Increases with age

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

14.5%

↓ Decreases with age

Tyres

13.7%

↑ 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	16.7% (20 yrs)	36.9% (27 yrs)	+20.2%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	17.9% (20 yrs)	29.2% (27 yrs)	+11.3%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	18.4% (20 yrs)	29.2% (27 yrs)	+10.8%	🔴 ↑
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions	17.9% (20 yrs)	12.3% (27 yrs)	-5.6%	🟢 ↓
Tyres	15.0% (20 yrs)	18.5% (27 yrs)	+3.5%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992

← Back to Mercedes 260 E overview

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About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes 260 E cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 976 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.