1998 Mercedes C 220 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

72.7%

Latest Pass Rate

942

Total Tests (All Years)

161,933 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 18

This car: 72.7%

Average: 54.3%

✅ 18.4% above average (8383 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1998 Mercedes C 220 as it ages.

11 yrs54.2%

→ ↑8.9%

12 yrs63.1%

→ ↓4.2%

13 yrs58.9%

→ ↓10.1%

14 yrs48.8%

→ ↑9.2%

15 yrs58.0%

→ ↓5.4%

16 yrs52.6%

→ ↑14.1%

17 yrs66.7%

→ ↑6.0%

18 yrs72.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	54.2%	192
12 yrs	63.1%	176
13 yrs	58.9%	163
14 yrs	48.8%	129
15 yrs	58.0%	100
16 yrs	52.6%	78
17 yrs	66.7%	60
18 yrs	72.7%	44

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Mercedes C 220 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (18 yrs)	72.7%	44
2015 (17 yrs)	66.7%	60
2014 (16 yrs)	52.6%	78
2013 (15 yrs)	58%	100
2012 (14 yrs)	48.8%	129
2011 (13 yrs)	58.9%	163
2010 (12 yrs)	63.1%	176
2009 (11 yrs)	54.2%	192

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

54.2%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 192Avg Mileage 139,554Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.2%

2010High Fail Rate

63.1%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 176Avg Mileage 149,442Top Failure Suspension — 19.3%

2011High Fail Rate

58.9%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 163Avg Mileage 152,406Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.5%

2012High Fail Rate

48.8%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 129Avg Mileage 155,416Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.8%

2013High Fail Rate

58.0%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 100Avg Mileage 155,329Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 57.0%

2014High Fail Rate

52.6%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 78Avg Mileage 158,715Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 66.7%

2015

66.7%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 60Avg Mileage 153,232Top Failure Brakes — 38.3%

2016

72.7%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 44Avg Mileage 161,933Top Failure Suspension — 47.7%

MOT results for 1998 Mercedes C 220 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	54.2%	192	139,554	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.2%
2010	12	63.1%	176	149,442	Suspension — 19.3%
2011	13	58.9%	163	152,406	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.5%
2012	14	48.8%	129	155,416	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 31.8%
2013	15	58.0%	100	155,329	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 57.0%
2014	16	52.6%	78	158,715	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 66.7%
2015	17	66.7%	60	153,232	Brakes — 38.3%
2016	18	72.7%	44	161,933	Suspension — 47.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Mercedes C 220, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

35.6%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

33.2%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

31.5%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

22.0%

↑ Increases with age

Driver's View of the Road

11.8%

↑ 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
Suspension	15.6% (11 yrs)	47.7% (18 yrs)	+32.1%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	30.2% (11 yrs)	43.2% (18 yrs)	+13.0%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	21.4% (11 yrs)	31.8% (18 yrs)	+10.4%	🔴 ↑
Driver's View of the Road	8.3% (11 yrs)	13.6% (18 yrs)	+5.3%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes C 220 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes C 220 cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 942 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.