1978 Mercedes 280 E MOT Pass Rate
Pass rate for 280 E models manufactured in 1978, based on 33 real MOT test results.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
1978 Mercedes 280 E MOT Analysis
The 1978 Mercedes 280 E has an MOT pass rate of 69.7% based on 33 tests — slightly above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 100,640 miles on the odometer. With a 30.3% failure rate, the 1978 280 E is rated as "Good" for MOT reliability.
The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1978 Mercedes 280 E is Non-component advisories, responsible for 6.1% of failures. Non-component advisories 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. Driver's View of the Road is the second most common issue at 3.0%. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment follows at 3.0%.
Top failures specific to 1978 models only. The overall 280 E page may show different rankings.
What Fails Most
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non-component Advisories | 6.1% | 2 |
| 2 | Driver's View Of The Road | 3.0% | 1 |
| 3 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 3.0% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 100,640 miFor 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.
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| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-component advisories | 0.60 | 6.1% | 2 |
| Visibility | 0.30 | 3.0% | 1 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 0.30 | 3.0% | 1 |
Mileage Statistics
Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.
About This Data
The 1978 Mercedes 280 E has an MOT pass rate of 69.7% based on 33 tests — slightly above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 100,640 miles on the odometer. With a 30.3% failure rate, the 1978 280 E is rated as "Good" for MOT reliability.
If you own or are considering buying a 1978 Mercedes 280 E, you can expect reliable MOT performance overall. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to non-component advisories: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights. With an average mileage of 100,640 miles, these vehicles are in the higher-mileage bracket where wear-related failures become more common.
Non-component advisories — 6.1% of failures
Non-component advisories issues account for 6.1% of MOT failures on 1978 Mercedes 280 E models. Non-component advisories 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.
Driver's View of the Road — 3.0% of failures
Driver's View of the Road issues account for 3.0% of MOT failures on 1978 Mercedes 280 E 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.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 3.0% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 3.0% of MOT failures on 1978 Mercedes 280 E models. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.