1998 Mercedes 500 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

84.8%

Latest Pass Rate

405

Total Tests (All Years)

75,656 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 19

This car: 84.8%

Average: 55.4%

✅ 29.4% above average (7550 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1998 Mercedes 500 as it ages.

11 yrs80.4%

→ ↓7.1%

12 yrs73.3%

→ ↑8.0%

13 yrs81.3%

→ ↓0.9%

14 yrs80.4%

→ ↑1.8%

15 yrs82.2%

→ ↓14.1%

16 yrs68.1%

→ ↑17.0%

17 yrs85.1%

→ ↓15.3%

18 yrs69.8%

→ ↑15.0%

19 yrs84.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	80.4%	51
12 yrs	73.3%	45
13 yrs	81.3%	48
14 yrs	80.4%	46
15 yrs	82.2%	45
16 yrs	68.1%	47
17 yrs	85.1%	47
18 yrs	69.8%	43
19 yrs	84.8%	33

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Mercedes 500 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (19 yrs)	84.8%	33
2016 (18 yrs)	69.8%	43
2015 (17 yrs)	85.1%	47
2014 (16 yrs)	68.1%	47
2013 (15 yrs)	82.2%	45
2012 (14 yrs)	80.4%	46
2011 (13 yrs)	81.3%	48
2010 (12 yrs)	73.3%	45
2009 (11 yrs)	80.4%	51

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

80.4%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 51Avg Mileage 77,055Top Failure Brakes — 13.7%

2010

73.3%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 45Avg Mileage 76,331Top Failure Tyres — 15.6%

2011

81.3%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 48Avg Mileage 69,968Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 12.5%

2012

80.4%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 46Avg Mileage 72,688Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.0%

2013

82.2%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 45Avg Mileage 74,470Top Failure Brakes — 22.2%

2014

68.1%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 47Avg Mileage 79,753Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.0%

2015

85.1%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 47Avg Mileage 84,168Top Failure Brakes — 21.3%

2016

69.8%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 43Avg Mileage 82,961Top Failure Suspension — 27.9%

2017

84.8%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 33Avg Mileage 75,656Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.2%

MOT results for 1998 Mercedes 500 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	80.4%	51	77,055	Brakes — 13.7%
2010	12	73.3%	45	76,331	Tyres — 15.6%
2011	13	81.3%	48	69,968	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 12.5%
2012	14	80.4%	46	72,688	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.0%
2013	15	82.2%	45	74,470	Brakes — 22.2%
2014	16	68.1%	47	79,753	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.0%
2015	17	85.1%	47	84,168	Brakes — 21.3%
2016	18	69.8%	43	82,961	Suspension — 27.9%
2017	19	84.8%	33	75,656	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.2%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Mercedes 500, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

16.0%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

15.3%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

13.5%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

10.8%

↑ Increases with age

Driver's View of the Road

9.4%

↑ 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
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	3.9% (11 yrs)	15.2% (19 yrs)	+11.3%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	13.7% (11 yrs)	6.1% (19 yrs)	-7.6%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	5.9% (11 yrs)	12.1% (19 yrs)	+6.2%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	7.8% (11 yrs)	12.1% (19 yrs)	+4.3%	🔴 ↑

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 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 405 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.