1988 Mercedes 500 Sec — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age

38 years

Current Age

69.0%

Latest Pass Rate

442

Total Tests (All Years)

131,715 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 1988 Mercedes 500 Sec as it ages.

21 yrs64.5%

→ ↓2.0%

22 yrs62.5%

→ ↓1.3%

23 yrs61.2%

→ ↑7.7%

24 yrs68.9%

→ ↓5.1%

25 yrs63.8%

→ ↓2.7%

26 yrs61.1%

→ ↓9.8%

27 yrs51.3%

→ ↑17.7%

28 yrs69.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
21 yrs	64.5%	76
22 yrs	62.5%	72
23 yrs	61.2%	67
24 yrs	68.9%	45
25 yrs	63.8%	47
26 yrs	61.1%	54
27 yrs	51.3%	39
28 yrs	69.0%	42

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1988 Mercedes 500 Sec pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (28 yrs)	69%	42
2015 (27 yrs)	51.3%	39
2014 (26 yrs)	61.1%	54
2013 (25 yrs)	63.8%	47
2012 (24 yrs)	68.9%	45
2011 (23 yrs)	61.2%	67
2010 (22 yrs)	62.5%	72
2009 (21 yrs)	64.5%	76

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

64.5%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 76Avg Mileage 137,219Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.4%

2010High Fail Rate

62.5%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 72Avg Mileage 136,802Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.2%

2011High Fail Rate

61.2%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 67Avg Mileage 136,293Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.9%

2012

68.9%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 45Avg Mileage 138,442Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.0%

2013High Fail Rate

63.8%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 47Avg Mileage 135,553Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 46.8%

2014High Fail Rate

61.1%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 54Avg Mileage 139,122Top Failure Suspension — 61.1%

2015High Fail Rate

51.3%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 39Avg Mileage 136,994Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 64.1%

2016

69.0%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 42Avg Mileage 131,715Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.1%

MOT results for 1988 Mercedes 500 Sec by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	21	64.5%	76	137,219	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.4%
2010	22	62.5%	72	136,802	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.2%
2011	23	61.2%	67	136,293	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.9%
2012	24	68.9%	45	138,442	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.0%
2013	25	63.8%	47	135,553	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 46.8%
2014	26	61.1%	54	139,122	Suspension — 61.1%
2015	27	51.3%	39	136,994	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 64.1%
2016	28	69.0%	42	131,715	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.1%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1988 Mercedes 500 Sec, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

35.6%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

31.4%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

25.2%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

19.2%

— Consistent

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

15.5%

— 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	18.4% (21 yrs)	38.1% (28 yrs)	+19.7%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	14.5% (21 yrs)	31.0% (28 yrs)	+16.5%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	14.5% (21 yrs)	23.8% (28 yrs)	+9.3%	🔴 ↑
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions	15.8% (21 yrs)	14.3% (28 yrs)	-1.5%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993

← Back to Mercedes 500 Sec overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes 500 Sec page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes 500 Sec cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 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.