1983 Mercedes 280 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1983 perform at MOT as they age

43 years

Current Age

72.5%

Latest Pass Rate

2,143

Total Tests (All Years)

104,713 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 as it ages.

26 yrs61.8%

→ ↓1.6%

27 yrs60.2%

→ ↑3.7%

28 yrs63.9%

→ ↓3.5%

29 yrs60.4%

→ ↑3.3%

30 yrs63.7%

→ ↓0.8%

31 yrs62.9%

→ ↑6.5%

32 yrs69.4%

→ ↓1.7%

33 yrs67.7%

→ ↓9.4%

34 yrs58.3%

→ ↑18.8%

35 yrs77.1%

→ ↑1.6%

36 yrs78.7%

→ ↓6.2%

37 yrs72.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
26 yrs	61.8%	280
27 yrs	60.2%	269
28 yrs	63.9%	244
29 yrs	60.4%	260
30 yrs	63.7%	234
31 yrs	62.9%	229
32 yrs	69.4%	219
33 yrs	67.7%	201
34 yrs	58.3%	72
35 yrs	77.1%	48
36 yrs	78.7%	47
37 yrs	72.5%	40

Pass Rate Trend

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

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (37 yrs)	72.5%	40
2019 (36 yrs)	78.7%	47
2018 (35 yrs)	77.1%	48
2017 (34 yrs)	58.3%	72
2016 (33 yrs)	67.7%	201
2015 (32 yrs)	69.4%	219
2014 (31 yrs)	62.9%	229
2013 (30 yrs)	63.7%	234
2012 (29 yrs)	60.4%	260
2011 (28 yrs)	63.9%	244
2010 (27 yrs)	60.2%	269
2009 (26 yrs)	61.8%	280

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

61.8%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 280Avg Mileage 95,583Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.6%

2010High Fail Rate

60.2%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 269Avg Mileage 96,193Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.7%

2011High Fail Rate

63.9%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 244Avg Mileage 99,360Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.0%

2012High Fail Rate

60.4%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 260Avg Mileage 94,469Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.3%

2013High Fail Rate

63.7%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 234Avg Mileage 93,235Top Failure Suspension — 45.7%

2014High Fail Rate

62.9%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 229Avg Mileage 95,441Top Failure Suspension — 52.4%

2015

69.4%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 219Avg Mileage 96,550Top Failure Suspension — 37.9%

2016

67.7%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 201Avg Mileage 94,277Top Failure Suspension — 42.8%

2017High Fail Rate

58.3%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 72Avg Mileage 96,937Top Failure Brakes — 41.7%

2018

77.1%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 48Avg Mileage 96,168Top Failure Brakes — 27.1%

2019

78.7%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 47Avg Mileage 100,741Top Failure Suspension — 44.7%

2020

72.5%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 40Avg Mileage 104,713Top Failure Suspension — 27.5%

MOT results for 1983 Mercedes 280 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	26	61.8%	280	95,583	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.6%
2010	27	60.2%	269	96,193	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.7%
2011	28	63.9%	244	99,360	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.0%
2012	29	60.4%	260	94,469	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.3%
2013	30	63.7%	234	93,235	Suspension — 45.7%
2014	31	62.9%	229	95,441	Suspension — 52.4%
2015	32	69.4%	219	96,550	Suspension — 37.9%
2016	33	67.7%	201	94,277	Suspension — 42.8%
2017	34	58.3%	72	96,937	Brakes — 41.7%
2018	35	77.1%	48	96,168	Brakes — 27.1%
2019	36	78.7%	47	100,741	Suspension — 44.7%
2020	37	72.5%	40	104,713	Suspension — 27.5%

Common MOT Failures

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

Suspension

31.7%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

28.8%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

24.1%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

20.2%

↑ Increases with age

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

13.9%

↓ 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
Suspension	14.3% (26 yrs)	27.5% (37 yrs)	+13.2%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	14.3% (26 yrs)	20.0% (37 yrs)	+5.7%	🔴 ↑

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 1983 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 2,143 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.