1983 Mercedes 280 E — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1983 perform at MOT as they age

43 years

Current Age

64.5%

Latest Pass Rate

408

Total Tests (All Years)

127,149 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 280 E as it ages.

26 yrs58.1%

→ ↓11.6%

27 yrs46.5%

→ ↑9.2%

28 yrs55.7%

→ ↑11.0%

29 yrs66.7%

→ ↓13.5%

30 yrs53.2%

→ ↑11.1%

31 yrs64.3%

→ ↓4.8%

32 yrs59.5%

→ ↑5.0%

33 yrs64.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
26 yrs	58.1%	74
27 yrs	46.5%	71
28 yrs	55.7%	61
29 yrs	66.7%	45
30 yrs	53.2%	47
31 yrs	64.3%	42
32 yrs	59.5%	37
33 yrs	64.5%	31

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1983 Mercedes 280 E pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (33 yrs)	64.5%	31
2015 (32 yrs)	59.5%	37
2014 (31 yrs)	64.3%	42
2013 (30 yrs)	53.2%	47
2012 (29 yrs)	66.7%	45
2011 (28 yrs)	55.7%	61
2010 (27 yrs)	46.5%	71
2009 (26 yrs)	58.1%	74

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

58.1%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 74Avg Mileage 133,917Top Failure Suspension — 24.3%

2010High Fail Rate

46.5%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 71Avg Mileage 131,969Top Failure Brakes — 33.8%

2011High Fail Rate

55.7%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 61Avg Mileage 128,756Top Failure Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 23.0%

2012

66.7%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 45Avg Mileage 124,620Top Failure Suspension — 22.2%

2013High Fail Rate

53.2%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 47Avg Mileage 125,011Top Failure Suspension — 95.7%

2014High Fail Rate

64.3%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 42Avg Mileage 129,438Top Failure Suspension — 131.0%

2015High Fail Rate

59.5%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 37Avg Mileage 125,575Top Failure Suspension — 37.8%

2016High Fail Rate

64.5%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 31Avg Mileage 127,149Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 54.8%

MOT results for 1983 Mercedes 280 E by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	26	58.1%	74	133,917	Suspension — 24.3%
2010	27	46.5%	71	131,969	Brakes — 33.8%
2011	28	55.7%	61	128,756	Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 23.0%
2012	29	66.7%	45	124,620	Suspension — 22.2%
2013	30	53.2%	47	125,011	Suspension — 95.7%
2014	31	64.3%	42	129,438	Suspension — 131.0%
2015	32	59.5%	37	125,575	Suspension — 37.8%
2016	33	64.5%	31	127,149	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 54.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1983 Mercedes 280 E, with age trends.

Suspension

48.1%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

35.3%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

28.5%

↓ Decreases with age

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

21.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Steering

19.3%

↑ 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
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	24.3% (26 yrs)	54.8% (33 yrs)	+30.5%	🔴 ↑
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions	20.3% (26 yrs)	12.9% (33 yrs)	-7.4%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	17.6% (26 yrs)	12.9% (33 yrs)	-4.7%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	24.3% (26 yrs)	29.0% (33 yrs)	+4.7%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1982 1983 1984 1985 1992 1993

← Back to Mercedes 280 E overview

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About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes 280 E cars manufactured in 1983 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 408 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.