1968 Mercedes 280 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1968 perform at MOT as they age

58 years

Current Age

91.3%

Latest Pass Rate

1,002

Total Tests (All Years)

53,135 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for 280

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1968 Mercedes 280 as it ages.

41 yrs73.4%

→ ↓2.8%

42 yrs70.6%

→ ↑4.2%

43 yrs74.8%

→ ↓0.9%

44 yrs73.9%

→ ↑0.2%

45 yrs74.1%

→ ↑0.5%

46 yrs74.6%

→ ↑4.9%

47 yrs79.5%

→ ↓0.7%

48 yrs78.8%

→ ↑12.5%

49 yrs91.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
41 yrs	73.4%	124
42 yrs	70.6%	119
43 yrs	74.8%	123
44 yrs	73.9%	115
45 yrs	74.1%	108
46 yrs	74.6%	118
47 yrs	79.5%	117
48 yrs	78.8%	132
49 yrs	91.3%	46

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1968 Mercedes 280 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (49 yrs)	91.3%	46
2016 (48 yrs)	78.8%	132
2015 (47 yrs)	79.5%	117
2014 (46 yrs)	74.6%	118
2013 (45 yrs)	74.1%	108
2012 (44 yrs)	73.9%	115
2011 (43 yrs)	74.8%	123
2010 (42 yrs)	70.6%	119
2009 (41 yrs)	73.4%	124

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

73.4%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 124Avg Mileage 51,105Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.7%

2010

70.6%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 119Avg Mileage 52,374Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.3%

2011

74.8%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 123Avg Mileage 54,757Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.6%

2012

73.9%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 115Avg Mileage 49,495Top Failure Brakes — 12.2%

2013

74.1%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 108Avg Mileage 50,336Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.1%

2014

74.6%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 118Avg Mileage 51,426Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.4%

2015

79.5%

Age (yrs) 47Tests 117Avg Mileage 52,695Top Failure Suspension — 28.2%

2016

78.8%

Age (yrs) 48Tests 132Avg Mileage 54,277Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.9%

2017

91.3%

Age (yrs) 49Tests 46Avg Mileage 53,135Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.0%

MOT results for 1968 Mercedes 280 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	41	73.4%	124	51,105	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.7%
2010	42	70.6%	119	52,374	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.3%
2011	43	74.8%	123	54,757	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.6%
2012	44	73.9%	115	49,495	Brakes — 12.2%
2013	45	74.1%	108	50,336	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.1%
2014	46	74.6%	118	51,426	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.4%
2015	47	79.5%	117	52,695	Suspension — 28.2%
2016	48	78.8%	132	54,277	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.9%
2017	49	91.3%	46	53,135	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1968 Mercedes 280, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

17.2%

— Consistent

Suspension

15.3%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

13.1%

— Consistent

Driver's View of the Road

10.1%

— Consistent

Steering

9.3%

↑ 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
Driver's View of the Road	6.5% (41 yrs)	4.3% (49 yrs)	-2.2%	🟢 ↓
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions	8.1% (41 yrs)	6.5% (49 yrs)	-1.6%	⚪ —
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	13.7% (41 yrs)	13.0% (49 yrs)	-0.7%	⚪ —
Brakes	11.3% (41 yrs)	10.9% (49 yrs)	-0.4%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 2006

← Back to Mercedes 280 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes 280 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes 280 cars manufactured in 1968 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 1,002 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.