1998 Mercedes 310 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

45.9%

Latest Pass Rate

566

Total Tests (All Years)

202,735 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 19

This car: 45.9%

Average: 55.4%

⚠️ 9.5% below average (7550 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1998 Mercedes 310 as it ages.

11 yrs45.7%

→ ↓10.7%

12 yrs35.0%

→ ↑7.1%

13 yrs42.1%

→ ↑0.3%

14 yrs42.4%

→ ↓0.6%

15 yrs41.8%

→ ↓0.7%

16 yrs41.1%

→ ↓1.1%

17 yrs40.0%

→ ↑5.2%

18 yrs45.2%

→ ↑0.7%

19 yrs45.9%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	45.7%	92
12 yrs	35.0%	80
13 yrs	42.1%	76
14 yrs	42.4%	66
15 yrs	41.8%	67
16 yrs	41.1%	56
17 yrs	40.0%	50
18 yrs	45.2%	42
19 yrs	45.9%	37

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Mercedes 310 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (19 yrs)	45.9%	37
2016 (18 yrs)	45.2%	42
2015 (17 yrs)	40%	50
2014 (16 yrs)	41.1%	56
2013 (15 yrs)	41.8%	67
2012 (14 yrs)	42.4%	66
2011 (13 yrs)	42.1%	76
2010 (12 yrs)	35%	80
2009 (11 yrs)	45.7%	92

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

45.7%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 92Avg Mileage 164,961Top Failure Brakes — 43.5%

2010High Fail Rate

35.0%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 80Avg Mileage 167,361Top Failure Brakes — 48.8%

2011High Fail Rate

42.1%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 76Avg Mileage 170,994Top Failure Brakes — 52.6%

2012High Fail Rate

42.4%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 66Avg Mileage 177,782Top Failure Brakes — 48.5%

2013High Fail Rate

41.8%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 67Avg Mileage 191,717Top Failure Brakes — 158.2%

2014High Fail Rate

41.1%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 56Avg Mileage 188,852Top Failure Brakes — 167.9%

2015High Fail Rate

40.0%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 50Avg Mileage 206,092Top Failure Brakes — 126.0%

2016High Fail Rate

45.2%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 42Avg Mileage 193,891Top Failure Brakes — 111.9%

2017High Fail Rate

45.9%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 37Avg Mileage 202,735Top Failure Suspension — 132.4%

MOT results for 1998 Mercedes 310 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	45.7%	92	164,961	Brakes — 43.5%
2010	12	35.0%	80	167,361	Brakes — 48.8%
2011	13	42.1%	76	170,994	Brakes — 52.6%
2012	14	42.4%	66	177,782	Brakes — 48.5%
2013	15	41.8%	67	191,717	Brakes — 158.2%
2014	16	41.1%	56	188,852	Brakes — 167.9%
2015	17	40.0%	50	206,092	Brakes — 126.0%
2016	18	45.2%	42	193,891	Brakes — 111.9%
2017	19	45.9%	37	202,735	Suspension — 132.4%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Mercedes 310, with age trends.

Brakes

98.0%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

82.1%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

73.0%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

30.5%

↑ Increases with age

Driver's View of the Road

25.7%

↑ 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
Suspension	30.4% (11 yrs)	132.4% (19 yrs)	+102.0%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	43.5% (11 yrs)	124.3% (19 yrs)	+80.8%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	40.2% (11 yrs)	81.1% (19 yrs)	+40.9%	🔴 ↑
Driver's View of the Road	21.7% (11 yrs)	32.4% (19 yrs)	+10.7%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes 310 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes 310 cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 566 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.