1989 Mercedes 500 Sec — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age

37 years

Current Age

70.9%

Latest Pass Rate

600

Total Tests (All Years)

130,883 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 1989 Mercedes 500 Sec as it ages.

20 yrs61.2%

→ ↑2.1%

21 yrs63.3%

→ ↑5.0%

22 yrs68.3%

→ ↑0.3%

23 yrs68.6%

→ ↑3.0%

24 yrs71.6%

→ ↓2.8%

25 yrs68.8%

→ ↓7.8%

26 yrs61.0%

→ ↑9.9%

27 yrs70.9%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
20 yrs	61.2%	98
21 yrs	63.3%	98
22 yrs	68.3%	82
23 yrs	68.6%	70
24 yrs	71.6%	74
25 yrs	68.8%	64
26 yrs	61.0%	59
27 yrs	70.9%	55

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1989 Mercedes 500 Sec pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (27 yrs)	70.9%	55
2015 (26 yrs)	61%	59
2014 (25 yrs)	68.8%	64
2013 (24 yrs)	71.6%	74
2012 (23 yrs)	68.6%	70
2011 (22 yrs)	68.3%	82
2010 (21 yrs)	63.3%	98
2009 (20 yrs)	61.2%	98

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

61.2%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 98Avg Mileage 135,484Top Failure Tyres — 18.4%

2010High Fail Rate

63.3%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 98Avg Mileage 135,897Top Failure Brakes — 23.5%

2011

68.3%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 82Avg Mileage 137,617Top Failure Brakes — 15.9%

2012

68.6%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 70Avg Mileage 131,217Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.6%

2013

71.6%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 74Avg Mileage 128,352Top Failure Suspension — 25.7%

2014

68.8%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 64Avg Mileage 130,503Top Failure Brakes — 50.0%

2015High Fail Rate

61.0%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 59Avg Mileage 135,357Top Failure Brakes — 42.4%

2016

70.9%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 55Avg Mileage 130,883Top Failure Brakes — 18.2%

MOT results for 1989 Mercedes 500 Sec by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	20	61.2%	98	135,484	Tyres — 18.4%
2010	21	63.3%	98	135,897	Brakes — 23.5%
2011	22	68.3%	82	137,617	Brakes — 15.9%
2012	23	68.6%	70	131,217	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.6%
2013	24	71.6%	74	128,352	Suspension — 25.7%
2014	25	68.8%	64	130,503	Brakes — 50.0%
2015	26	61.0%	59	135,357	Brakes — 42.4%
2016	27	70.9%	55	130,883	Brakes — 18.2%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1989 Mercedes 500 Sec, with age trends.

Brakes

25.3%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

18.7%

— Consistent

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

18.6%

— Consistent

Tyres

16.0%

↓ Decreases with age

Steering

14.4%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions	17.3% (20 yrs)	9.1% (27 yrs)	-8.2%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	11.2% (20 yrs)	18.2% (27 yrs)	+7.0%	🔴 ↑
Steering	12.2% (20 yrs)	10.9% (27 yrs)	-1.3%	⚪ —
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	14.3% (20 yrs)	14.5% (27 yrs)	+0.2%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993

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About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes 500 Sec cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 600 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.