2003 Mercedes C 230k — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 2003 perform at MOT as they age

23 years

Current Age

50.9%

Latest Pass Rate

4,580

Total Tests (All Years)

95,585 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 17

This car: 50.9%

Average: 53.5%

⚠️ 2.6% below average (9249 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 2003 Mercedes C 230k as it ages.

6 yrs66.6%

→ ↓6.5%

7 yrs60.1%

→ ↓2.5%

8 yrs57.6%

→ ↑3.6%

9 yrs61.2%

→ ↓4.0%

10 yrs57.2%

→ ↓1.2%

11 yrs56.0%

→ ↓2.1%

12 yrs53.9%

→ ↑1.3%

13 yrs55.2%

→ ↑0.4%

14 yrs55.6%

→ ↓9.1%

15 yrs46.5%

→ ↑2.1%

16 yrs48.6%

→ ↑2.3%

17 yrs50.9%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
6 yrs	66.6%	575
7 yrs	60.1%	562
8 yrs	57.6%	569
9 yrs	61.2%	549
10 yrs	57.2%	533
11 yrs	56.0%	518
12 yrs	53.9%	495
13 yrs	55.2%	455
14 yrs	55.6%	124
15 yrs	46.5%	71
16 yrs	48.6%	74
17 yrs	50.9%	55

Pass Rate Trend

How the 2003 Mercedes C 230k pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (17 yrs)	50.9%	55
2019 (16 yrs)	48.6%	74
2018 (15 yrs)	46.5%	71
2017 (14 yrs)	55.6%	124
2016 (13 yrs)	55.2%	455
2015 (12 yrs)	53.9%	495
2014 (11 yrs)	56%	518
2013 (10 yrs)	57.2%	533
2012 (9 yrs)	61.2%	549
2011 (8 yrs)	57.6%	569
2010 (7 yrs)	60.1%	562
2009 (6 yrs)	66.6%	575

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

66.6%

Age (yrs) 6Tests 575Avg Mileage 54,401Top Failure Tyres — 14.4%

2010High Fail Rate

60.1%

Age (yrs) 7Tests 562Avg Mileage 62,265Top Failure Tyres — 16.9%

2011High Fail Rate

57.6%

Age (yrs) 8Tests 569Avg Mileage 69,818Top Failure Suspension — 21.4%

2012High Fail Rate

61.2%

Age (yrs) 9Tests 549Avg Mileage 74,104Top Failure Suspension — 20.4%

2013High Fail Rate

57.2%

Age (yrs) 10Tests 533Avg Mileage 80,349Top Failure Suspension — 42.2%

2014High Fail Rate

56.0%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 518Avg Mileage 85,910Top Failure Suspension — 44.0%

2015High Fail Rate

53.9%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 495Avg Mileage 90,132Top Failure Suspension — 49.9%

2016High Fail Rate

55.2%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 455Avg Mileage 94,831Top Failure Suspension — 55.4%

2017High Fail Rate

55.6%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 124Avg Mileage 91,525Top Failure Suspension — 56.5%

2018High Fail Rate

46.5%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 71Avg Mileage 93,809Top Failure Suspension — 60.6%

2019High Fail Rate

48.6%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 74Avg Mileage 94,106Top Failure Brakes — 60.8%

2020High Fail Rate

50.9%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 55Avg Mileage 95,585Top Failure Suspension — 80.0%

MOT results for 2003 Mercedes C 230k by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	6	66.6%	575	54,401	Tyres — 14.4%
2010	7	60.1%	562	62,265	Tyres — 16.9%
2011	8	57.6%	569	69,818	Suspension — 21.4%
2012	9	61.2%	549	74,104	Suspension — 20.4%
2013	10	57.2%	533	80,349	Suspension — 42.2%
2014	11	56.0%	518	85,910	Suspension — 44.0%
2015	12	53.9%	495	90,132	Suspension — 49.9%
2016	13	55.2%	455	94,831	Suspension — 55.4%
2017	14	55.6%	124	91,525	Suspension — 56.5%
2018	15	46.5%	71	93,809	Suspension — 60.6%
2019	16	48.6%	74	94,106	Brakes — 60.8%
2020	17	50.9%	55	95,585	Suspension — 80.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 2003 Mercedes C 230k, with age trends.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

45.0%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

42.9%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

34.0%

↑ Increases with age

Visibility

29.1%

— Consistent

Tyres

27.3%

↑ 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	7.3% (6 yrs)	80.0% (17 yrs)	+72.7%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	11.7% (6 yrs)	80.0% (17 yrs)	+68.3%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	14.4% (6 yrs)	50.9% (17 yrs)	+36.5%	🔴 ↑

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 2003 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 4,580 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.