1985 Mercedes 380 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1985 perform at MOT as they age

41 years

Current Age

78.8%

Latest Pass Rate

1,442

Total Tests (All Years)

111,533 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 1985 Mercedes 380 as it ages.

24 yrs64.8%

→ ↑1.9%

25 yrs66.7%

→ ↓1.2%

26 yrs65.5%

→ ↓7.4%

27 yrs58.1%

→ ↑8.8%

28 yrs66.9%

→ ↑0.6%

29 yrs67.5%

→ ↑6.0%

30 yrs73.5%

→ ↑3.4%

31 yrs76.9%

→ ↓13.0%

32 yrs63.9%

→ ↑16.1%

33 yrs80.0%

→ ↓11.8%

34 yrs68.2%

→ ↑10.6%

35 yrs78.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
24 yrs	64.8%	176
25 yrs	66.7%	180
26 yrs	65.5%	171
27 yrs	58.1%	148
28 yrs	66.9%	145
29 yrs	67.5%	154
30 yrs	73.5%	147
31 yrs	76.9%	143
32 yrs	63.9%	61
33 yrs	80.0%	40
34 yrs	68.2%	44
35 yrs	78.8%	33

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1985 Mercedes 380 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (35 yrs)	78.8%	33
2019 (34 yrs)	68.2%	44
2018 (33 yrs)	80%	40
2017 (32 yrs)	63.9%	61
2016 (31 yrs)	76.9%	143
2015 (30 yrs)	73.5%	147
2014 (29 yrs)	67.5%	154
2013 (28 yrs)	66.9%	145
2012 (27 yrs)	58.1%	148
2011 (26 yrs)	65.5%	171
2010 (25 yrs)	66.7%	180
2009 (24 yrs)	64.8%	176

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

64.8%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 176Avg Mileage 99,642Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.3%

2010

66.7%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 180Avg Mileage 97,098Top Failure Suspension — 14.4%

2011

65.5%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 171Avg Mileage 102,820Top Failure Brakes — 18.1%

2012High Fail Rate

58.1%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 148Avg Mileage 102,105Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.0%

2013

66.9%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 145Avg Mileage 102,513Top Failure Brakes — 41.4%

2014

67.5%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 154Avg Mileage 98,257Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 39.6%

2015

73.5%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 147Avg Mileage 104,457Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.7%

2016

76.9%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 143Avg Mileage 103,998Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.0%

2017High Fail Rate

63.9%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 61Avg Mileage 98,638Top Failure Brakes — 49.2%

2018

80.0%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 40Avg Mileage 94,232Top Failure Body, chassis, structure — 20.0%

2019

68.2%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 44Avg Mileage 103,609Top Failure Brakes — 47.7%

2020

78.8%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 33Avg Mileage 111,533Top Failure Brakes — 24.2%

MOT results for 1985 Mercedes 380 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	24	64.8%	176	99,642	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.3%
2010	25	66.7%	180	97,098	Suspension — 14.4%
2011	26	65.5%	171	102,820	Brakes — 18.1%
2012	27	58.1%	148	102,105	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.0%
2013	28	66.9%	145	102,513	Brakes — 41.4%
2014	29	67.5%	154	98,257	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 39.6%
2015	30	73.5%	147	104,457	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.7%
2016	31	76.9%	143	103,998	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.0%
2017	32	63.9%	61	98,638	Brakes — 49.2%
2018	33	80.0%	40	94,232	Body, chassis, structure — 20.0%
2019	34	68.2%	44	103,609	Brakes — 47.7%
2020	35	78.8%	33	111,533	Brakes — 24.2%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1985 Mercedes 380, with age trends.

Brakes

26.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

25.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

23.4%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

18.0%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

17.1%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	18.2% (24 yrs)	24.2% (35 yrs)	+6.0%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985

← Back to Mercedes 380 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes 380 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes 380 cars manufactured in 1985 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 1,442 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.