1997 Mercedes 500 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

75.8%

Latest Pass Rate

308

Total Tests (All Years)

91,060 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 20

This car: 75.8%

Average: 56.6%

✅ 19.2% above average (6824 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 Mercedes 500 as it ages.

12 yrs75.0%

→ ↓9.3%

13 yrs65.7%

→ ↑15.9%

14 yrs81.6%

→ ↓9.7%

15 yrs71.9%

→ ↑6.9%

16 yrs78.8%

→ ↓0.7%

17 yrs78.1%

→ ↑1.9%

18 yrs80.0%

→ ↓6.5%

19 yrs73.5%

→ ↑2.3%

20 yrs75.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	75.0%	36
13 yrs	65.7%	35
14 yrs	81.6%	38
15 yrs	71.9%	32
16 yrs	78.8%	33
17 yrs	78.1%	32
18 yrs	80.0%	35
19 yrs	73.5%	34
20 yrs	75.8%	33

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mercedes 500 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (20 yrs)	75.8%	33
2016 (19 yrs)	73.5%	34
2015 (18 yrs)	80%	35
2014 (17 yrs)	78.1%	32
2013 (16 yrs)	78.8%	33
2012 (15 yrs)	71.9%	32
2011 (14 yrs)	81.6%	38
2010 (13 yrs)	65.7%	35
2009 (12 yrs)	75%	36

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

75.0%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 36Avg Mileage 70,380Top Failure Brakes — 13.9%

2010

65.7%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 35Avg Mileage 79,753Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.7%

2011

81.6%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 38Avg Mileage 80,658Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.8%

2012

71.9%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 32Avg Mileage 82,165Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.6%

2013

78.8%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 33Avg Mileage 83,964Top Failure Brakes — 45.5%

2014

78.1%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 32Avg Mileage 84,365Top Failure Brakes — 25.0%

2015

80.0%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 35Avg Mileage 86,616Top Failure Brakes — 22.9%

2016

73.5%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 34Avg Mileage 87,324Top Failure Brakes — 32.4%

2017

75.8%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 33Avg Mileage 91,060Top Failure Brakes — 57.6%

MOT results for 1997 Mercedes 500 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	75.0%	36	70,380	Brakes — 13.9%
2010	13	65.7%	35	79,753	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.7%
2011	14	81.6%	38	80,658	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.8%
2012	15	71.9%	32	82,165	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.6%
2013	16	78.8%	33	83,964	Brakes — 45.5%
2014	17	78.1%	32	84,365	Brakes — 25.0%
2015	18	80.0%	35	86,616	Brakes — 22.9%
2016	19	73.5%	34	87,324	Brakes — 32.4%
2017	20	75.8%	33	91,060	Brakes — 57.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mercedes 500, with age trends.

Brakes

26.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

15.5%

— Consistent

Tyres

11.8%

— Consistent

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

11.5%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

10.8%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	13.9% (12 yrs)	57.6% (20 yrs)	+43.7%	🔴 ↑
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions	8.3% (12 yrs)	12.1% (20 yrs)	+3.8%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	8.3% (12 yrs)	9.1% (20 yrs)	+0.8%	⚪ —
Tyres	8.3% (12 yrs)	9.1% (20 yrs)	+0.8%	⚪ —

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 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 308 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.