1990 Mercedes 500 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1990 perform at MOT as they age

36 years

Current Age

81.6%

Latest Pass Rate

2,209

Total Tests (All Years)

83,947 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 1990 Mercedes 500 as it ages.

19 yrs66.8%

→ ↑5.7%

20 yrs72.5%

→ ↓0.1%

21 yrs72.4%

→ ↓5.1%

22 yrs67.3%

→ ↑8.3%

23 yrs75.6%

→ ↓4.5%

24 yrs71.1%

→ ↑3.7%

25 yrs74.8%

→ ↓6.9%

26 yrs67.9%

→ ↑5.8%

27 yrs73.7%

→ ↑8.8%

28 yrs82.5%

→ ↓7.0%

29 yrs75.5%

→ ↑6.1%

30 yrs81.6%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
19 yrs	66.8%	319
20 yrs	72.5%	291
21 yrs	72.4%	283
22 yrs	67.3%	251
23 yrs	75.6%	238
24 yrs	71.1%	218
25 yrs	74.8%	210
26 yrs	67.9%	196
27 yrs	73.7%	76
28 yrs	82.5%	40
29 yrs	75.5%	49
30 yrs	81.6%	38

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1990 Mercedes 500 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (30 yrs)	81.6%	38
2019 (29 yrs)	75.5%	49
2018 (28 yrs)	82.5%	40
2017 (27 yrs)	73.7%	76
2016 (26 yrs)	67.9%	196
2015 (25 yrs)	74.8%	210
2014 (24 yrs)	71.1%	218
2013 (23 yrs)	75.6%	238
2012 (22 yrs)	67.3%	251
2011 (21 yrs)	72.4%	283
2010 (20 yrs)	72.5%	291
2009 (19 yrs)	66.8%	319

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

66.8%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 319Avg Mileage 91,003Top Failure Brakes — 15.4%

2010

72.5%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 291Avg Mileage 96,471Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.1%

2011

72.4%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 283Avg Mileage 93,133Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.8%

2012

67.3%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 251Avg Mileage 90,397Top Failure Brakes — 16.3%

2013

75.6%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 238Avg Mileage 92,655Top Failure Brakes — 22.3%

2014

71.1%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 218Avg Mileage 93,032Top Failure Brakes — 38.5%

2015

74.8%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 210Avg Mileage 91,564Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.5%

2016

67.9%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 196Avg Mileage 91,848Top Failure Suspension — 29.1%

2017

73.7%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 76Avg Mileage 99,360Top Failure Brakes — 32.9%

2018

82.5%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 40Avg Mileage 84,559Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 15.0%

2019

75.5%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 49Avg Mileage 92,113Top Failure Suspension — 28.6%

2020

81.6%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 38Avg Mileage 83,947Top Failure Tyres — 15.8%

MOT results for 1990 Mercedes 500 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	19	66.8%	319	91,003	Brakes — 15.4%
2010	20	72.5%	291	96,471	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.1%
2011	21	72.4%	283	93,133	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.8%
2012	22	67.3%	251	90,397	Brakes — 16.3%
2013	23	75.6%	238	92,655	Brakes — 22.3%
2014	24	71.1%	218	93,032	Brakes — 38.5%
2015	25	74.8%	210	91,564	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.5%
2016	26	67.9%	196	91,848	Suspension — 29.1%
2017	27	73.7%	76	99,360	Brakes — 32.9%
2018	28	82.5%	40	84,559	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 15.0%
2019	29	75.5%	49	92,113	Suspension — 28.6%
2020	30	81.6%	38	83,947	Tyres — 15.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1990 Mercedes 500, with age trends.

Brakes

19.5%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

19.5%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

17.0%

— Consistent

Tyres

12.4%

↑ Increases with age

Steering

11.4%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	15.4% (19 yrs)	7.9% (30 yrs)	-7.5%	🟢 ↓
Tyres	11.0% (19 yrs)	15.8% (30 yrs)	+4.8%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	12.5% (19 yrs)	10.5% (30 yrs)	-2.0%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

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

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes 500 cars manufactured in 1990 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 2,209 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.