Mercedes C220 Elegance Cdi MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 88 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 15.9%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Mercedes C220 Elegance Cdi MOT Reliability Overview
The Mercedes C220 Elegance Cdi is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 88 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.1% and a failure rate of 15.9%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Mercedes C220 Elegance Cdi earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Mercedes C220 Elegance Cdi presents for MOT with approximately 80,331 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2008 models achieve the highest pass rate at 88.6%, while 2007 models have the lowest at 76.9%. This 11.7 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Mercedes C220 Elegance Cdi is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, affecting 12.5% of all tests. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. The second most common issue is Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions at 3.4%. Tyres rounds out the top three at 3.4%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 14.8% | 13 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.7% | 5 |
| 3 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 3.4% | 3 |
| 4 | Driver's View Of The Road | 2.3% | 2 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.3% | 2 |
| 6 | Suspension | 2.3% | 2 |
| 7 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 1.1% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 80,331 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps & Electrical | 1.84 | 14.8% | 13 |
| Tyres | 0.71 | 5.7% | 5 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.42 | 3.4% | 3 |
| Visibility | 0.28 | 2.3% | 2 |
| Brakes | 0.28 | 2.3% | 2 |
| Suspension | 0.28 | 2.3% | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 0.14 | 1.1% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Mercedes C220 Elegance Cdi has 80,331 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Mercedes C220 Elegance Cdi has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 1.98% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Mercedes C220 Elegance Cdi MOT Data
The Mercedes C220 Elegance Cdi is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 88 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 2 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.1% and a failure rate of 15.9%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Mercedes C220 Elegance Cdi owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and exhaust, fuel and emissions for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific C220 Elegance Cdi is likely to perform.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 12.5% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 12.5% of MOT failures on the Mercedes C220 Elegance Cdi. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 3.4% of failures
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions issues account for 3.4% of MOT failures on the Mercedes C220 Elegance Cdi. Emissions failures occur when exhaust gases exceed legal limits for carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), or particulate matter (diesel). Common causes include faulty oxygen sensors, clogged catalytic converters, or DPF issues on diesel vehicles. Typical repair costs: £100–1,000+. Pre-MOT check: If the engine management light is on, get it diagnosed before the MOT. For diesel cars, ensure the DPF has completed a regeneration cycle. Regular servicing and using premium fuel before the test can help.
Tyres — 3.4% of failures
Tyres issues account for 3.4% of MOT failures on the Mercedes C220 Elegance Cdi. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mercedes C220 Elegance Cdi?
Based on 88 (based on limited data) MOT tests in our database, the Mercedes C220 Elegance Cdi has an overall pass rate of 84.1% (15.9% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Mercedes C220 Elegance Cdi?
The top 3 reasons a Mercedes C220 Elegance Cdi fails its MOT are: 1. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (12.5%), 2. Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions (3.4%), 3. Tyres (3.4%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Mercedes C220 Elegance Cdi reliable?
With a 15.9% MOT failure rate, the C220 Elegance Cdi is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Mercedes C220 Elegance Cdi?
Based on failure data, focus on: Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (12.5%); Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions (3.4%); Tyres (3.4%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.