1978 Mercedes 350 Sl Auto — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age

48 years

Current Age

78.0%

Latest Pass Rate

398

Total Tests (All Years)

96,798 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for 350 Sl Auto

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1978 Mercedes 350 Sl Auto as it ages.

31 yrs59.6%

→ ↑3.4%

32 yrs63.0%

→ ↑7.6%

33 yrs70.6%

→ ↓0.8%

34 yrs69.8%

→ ↑1.4%

35 yrs71.2%

→ ↑1.5%

36 yrs72.7%

→ ↑9.5%

37 yrs82.2%

→ ↓4.2%

38 yrs78.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
31 yrs	59.6%	57
32 yrs	63.0%	46
33 yrs	70.6%	51
34 yrs	69.8%	53
35 yrs	71.2%	52
36 yrs	72.7%	44
37 yrs	82.2%	45
38 yrs	78.0%	50

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1978 Mercedes 350 Sl Auto pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (38 yrs)	78%	50
2015 (37 yrs)	82.2%	45
2014 (36 yrs)	72.7%	44
2013 (35 yrs)	71.2%	52
2012 (34 yrs)	69.8%	53
2011 (33 yrs)	70.6%	51
2010 (32 yrs)	63%	46
2009 (31 yrs)	59.6%	57

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

59.6%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 57Avg Mileage 102,072Top Failure Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 15.8%

2010High Fail Rate

63.0%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 46Avg Mileage 97,498Top Failure Brakes — 17.4%

2011

70.6%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 51Avg Mileage 98,584Top Failure Driver's View of the Road — 15.7%

2012

69.8%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 53Avg Mileage 93,179Top Failure Driver's View of the Road — 17.0%

2013

71.2%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 52Avg Mileage 96,065Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.7%

2014

72.7%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 44Avg Mileage 99,658Top Failure Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 20.5%

2015

82.2%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 45Avg Mileage 92,289Top Failure Suspension — 20.0%

2016

78.0%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 50Avg Mileage 96,798Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.0%

MOT results for 1978 Mercedes 350 Sl Auto by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	31	59.6%	57	102,072	Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 15.8%
2010	32	63.0%	46	97,498	Brakes — 17.4%
2011	33	70.6%	51	98,584	Driver's View of the Road — 15.7%
2012	34	69.8%	53	93,179	Driver's View of the Road — 17.0%
2013	35	71.2%	52	96,065	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.7%
2014	36	72.7%	44	99,658	Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 20.5%
2015	37	82.2%	45	92,289	Suspension — 20.0%
2016	38	78.0%	50	96,798	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1978 Mercedes 350 Sl Auto, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

17.6%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

17.5%

↑ Increases with age

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

16.7%

↑ Increases with age

Driver's View of the Road

16.2%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

14.3%

— Consistent

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	12.3% (31 yrs)	22.0% (38 yrs)	+9.7%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	12.3% (31 yrs)	22.0% (38 yrs)	+9.7%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	12.3% (31 yrs)	16.0% (38 yrs)	+3.7%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	12.3% (31 yrs)	14.0% (38 yrs)	+1.7%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1976 1977 1978 1979 1980

← Back to Mercedes 350 Sl Auto overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes 350 Sl Auto page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes 350 Sl Auto cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 398 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.