1997 Mercedes C 230k — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

60.2%

Latest Pass Rate

1,774

Total Tests (All Years)

132,564 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 19

This car: 60.2%

Average: 55.4%

✅ 4.8% above average (7550 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 Mercedes C 230k as it ages.

12 yrs60.3%

→ ↑0.4%

13 yrs60.7%

→ ↓4.3%

14 yrs56.4%

→ ↑1.9%

15 yrs58.3%

→ ↑1.3%

16 yrs59.6%

→ ↓0.6%

17 yrs59.0%

→ ↓7.7%

18 yrs51.3%

→ ↑8.9%

19 yrs60.2%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	60.3%	375
13 yrs	60.7%	328
14 yrs	56.4%	289
15 yrs	58.3%	230
16 yrs	59.6%	198
17 yrs	59.0%	144
18 yrs	51.3%	117
19 yrs	60.2%	93

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mercedes C 230k pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (19 yrs)	60.2%	93
2015 (18 yrs)	51.3%	117
2014 (17 yrs)	59%	144
2013 (16 yrs)	59.6%	198
2012 (15 yrs)	58.3%	230
2011 (14 yrs)	56.4%	289
2010 (13 yrs)	60.7%	328
2009 (12 yrs)	60.3%	375

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

60.3%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 375Avg Mileage 116,331Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.0%

2010High Fail Rate

60.7%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 328Avg Mileage 121,934Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.3%

2011High Fail Rate

56.4%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 289Avg Mileage 123,519Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.6%

2012High Fail Rate

58.3%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 230Avg Mileage 125,947Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.3%

2013High Fail Rate

59.6%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 198Avg Mileage 129,072Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 49.0%

2014High Fail Rate

59.0%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 144Avg Mileage 128,726Top Failure Brakes — 50.7%

2015High Fail Rate

51.3%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 117Avg Mileage 133,341Top Failure Brakes — 61.5%

2016High Fail Rate

60.2%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 93Avg Mileage 132,564Top Failure Suspension — 68.8%

MOT results for 1997 Mercedes C 230k by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	60.3%	375	116,331	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.0%
2010	13	60.7%	328	121,934	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.3%
2011	14	56.4%	289	123,519	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.6%
2012	15	58.3%	230	125,947	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.3%
2013	16	59.6%	198	129,072	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 49.0%
2014	17	59.0%	144	128,726	Brakes — 50.7%
2015	18	51.3%	117	133,341	Brakes — 61.5%
2016	19	60.2%	93	132,564	Suspension — 68.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mercedes C 230k, with age trends.

Brakes

37.6%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

33.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

32.3%

— Consistent

Tyres

29.5%

↑ Increases with age

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

13.6%

↑ 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	15.5% (12 yrs)	68.8% (19 yrs)	+53.3%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	17.6% (12 yrs)	59.1% (19 yrs)	+41.5%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	16.0% (12 yrs)	41.9% (19 yrs)	+25.9%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	24.0% (12 yrs)	26.9% (19 yrs)	+2.9%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

← Back to Mercedes C 230k overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes C 230k page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes C 230k cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 1,774 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.