1998 Mercedes C 280 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

81.5%

Latest Pass Rate

2,488

Total Tests (All Years)

127,282 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1998 Mercedes C 280 as it ages.

11 yrs62.9%

→ ↑4.6%

12 yrs67.5%

→ ↓2.5%

13 yrs65.0%

→ ↑0.2%

14 yrs65.2%

→ ↑1.2%

15 yrs66.4%

→ ↓4.6%

16 yrs61.8%

→ ↓1.4%

17 yrs60.4%

→ ↑1.4%

18 yrs61.8%

→ ↓1.1%

19 yrs60.7%

→ ↑8.6%

20 yrs69.3%

→ ↓7.5%

21 yrs61.8%

→ ↑19.7%

22 yrs81.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	62.9%	380
12 yrs	67.5%	351
13 yrs	65.0%	329
14 yrs	65.2%	293
15 yrs	66.4%	247
16 yrs	61.8%	217
17 yrs	60.4%	187
18 yrs	61.8%	157
19 yrs	60.7%	122
20 yrs	69.3%	75
21 yrs	61.8%	76
22 yrs	81.5%	54

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Mercedes C 280 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (22 yrs)	81.5%	54
2019 (21 yrs)	61.8%	76
2018 (20 yrs)	69.3%	75
2017 (19 yrs)	60.7%	122
2016 (18 yrs)	61.8%	157
2015 (17 yrs)	60.4%	187
2014 (16 yrs)	61.8%	217
2013 (15 yrs)	66.4%	247
2012 (14 yrs)	65.2%	293
2011 (13 yrs)	65%	329
2010 (12 yrs)	67.5%	351
2009 (11 yrs)	62.9%	380

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

62.9%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 380Avg Mileage 103,427Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.7%

2010

67.5%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 351Avg Mileage 108,765Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.7%

2011

65.0%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 329Avg Mileage 109,613Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.7%

2012

65.2%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 293Avg Mileage 113,478Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.8%

2013

66.4%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 247Avg Mileage 115,318Top Failure Suspension — 44.5%

2014High Fail Rate

61.8%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 217Avg Mileage 119,225Top Failure Brakes — 51.2%

2015High Fail Rate

60.4%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 187Avg Mileage 120,388Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 49.7%

2016High Fail Rate

61.8%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 157Avg Mileage 121,608Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 49.0%

2017High Fail Rate

60.7%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 122Avg Mileage 122,336Top Failure Brakes — 47.5%

2018

69.3%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 75Avg Mileage 121,264Top Failure Brakes — 36.0%

2019High Fail Rate

61.8%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 76Avg Mileage 127,128Top Failure Suspension — 36.8%

2020

81.5%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 54Avg Mileage 127,282Top Failure Suspension — 22.2%

MOT results for 1998 Mercedes C 280 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	62.9%	380	103,427	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.7%
2010	12	67.5%	351	108,765	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.7%
2011	13	65.0%	329	109,613	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.7%
2012	14	65.2%	293	113,478	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.8%
2013	15	66.4%	247	115,318	Suspension — 44.5%
2014	16	61.8%	217	119,225	Brakes — 51.2%
2015	17	60.4%	187	120,388	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 49.7%
2016	18	61.8%	157	121,608	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 49.0%
2017	19	60.7%	122	122,336	Brakes — 47.5%
2018	20	69.3%	75	121,264	Brakes — 36.0%
2019	21	61.8%	76	127,128	Suspension — 36.8%
2020	22	81.5%	54	127,282	Suspension — 22.2%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Mercedes C 280, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

34.4%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

29.5%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

27.7%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

24.2%

— Consistent

Tyres

20.5%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	12.4% (11 yrs)	22.2% (22 yrs)	+9.8%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	12.9% (11 yrs)	18.5% (22 yrs)	+5.6%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	17.1% (11 yrs)	14.8% (22 yrs)	-2.3%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

← Back to Mercedes C 280 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes C 280 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes C 280 cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 2,488 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.