1996 Mercedes E 230 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age

30 years

Current Age

63.6%

Latest Pass Rate

7,732

Total Tests (All Years)

104,509 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 1996 Mercedes E 230 as it ages.

13 yrs52.2%

→ ↑1.3%

14 yrs53.5%

→ ↓1.2%

15 yrs52.3%

→ ↓2.6%

16 yrs49.7%

→ ↑4.1%

17 yrs53.8%

→ ↓0.6%

18 yrs53.2%

→ ↑4.8%

19 yrs58.0%

→ ↓2.7%

20 yrs55.3%

→ ↑7.4%

21 yrs62.7%

→ ↑3.1%

22 yrs65.8%

→ ↓9.9%

23 yrs55.9%

→ ↑7.7%

24 yrs63.6%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
13 yrs	52.2%	1,812
14 yrs	53.5%	1,565
15 yrs	52.3%	1,263
16 yrs	49.7%	974
17 yrs	53.8%	708
18 yrs	53.2%	541
19 yrs	58.0%	388
20 yrs	55.3%	309
21 yrs	62.7%	67
22 yrs	65.8%	38
23 yrs	55.9%	34
24 yrs	63.6%	33

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1996 Mercedes E 230 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (24 yrs)	63.6%	33
2019 (23 yrs)	55.9%	34
2018 (22 yrs)	65.8%	38
2017 (21 yrs)	62.7%	67
2016 (20 yrs)	55.3%	309
2015 (19 yrs)	58%	388
2014 (18 yrs)	53.2%	541
2013 (17 yrs)	53.8%	708
2012 (16 yrs)	49.7%	974
2011 (15 yrs)	52.3%	1,263
2010 (14 yrs)	53.5%	1,565
2009 (13 yrs)	52.2%	1,812

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

52.2%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 1,812Avg Mileage 115,887Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.0%

2010High Fail Rate

53.5%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 1,565Avg Mileage 120,532Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.6%

2011High Fail Rate

52.3%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 1,263Avg Mileage 121,077Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.0%

2012High Fail Rate

49.7%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 974Avg Mileage 120,274Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.3%

2013High Fail Rate

53.8%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 708Avg Mileage 119,856Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 68.9%

2014High Fail Rate

53.2%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 541Avg Mileage 114,254Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 72.3%

2015High Fail Rate

58.0%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 388Avg Mileage 112,576Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 59.5%

2016High Fail Rate

55.3%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 309Avg Mileage 115,367Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 68.3%

2017High Fail Rate

62.7%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 67Avg Mileage 101,549Top Failure Suspension — 35.8%

2018

65.8%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 38Avg Mileage 98,679Top Failure Suspension — 39.5%

2019High Fail Rate

55.9%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 34Avg Mileage 108,749Top Failure Tyres — 79.4%

2020High Fail Rate

63.6%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 33Avg Mileage 104,509Top Failure Brakes — 54.5%

MOT results for 1996 Mercedes E 230 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	13	52.2%	1,812	115,887	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.0%
2010	14	53.5%	1,565	120,532	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.6%
2011	15	52.3%	1,263	121,077	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.0%
2012	16	49.7%	974	120,274	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.3%
2013	17	53.8%	708	119,856	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 68.9%
2014	18	53.2%	541	114,254	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 72.3%
2015	19	58.0%	388	112,576	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 59.5%
2016	20	55.3%	309	115,367	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 68.3%
2017	21	62.7%	67	101,549	Suspension — 35.8%
2018	22	65.8%	38	98,679	Suspension — 39.5%
2019	23	55.9%	34	108,749	Tyres — 79.4%
2020	24	63.6%	33	104,509	Brakes — 54.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1996 Mercedes E 230, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

47.1%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

39.5%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

38.8%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

33.6%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

26.5%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	18.5% (13 yrs)	54.5% (24 yrs)	+36.0%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	21.1% (13 yrs)	36.4% (24 yrs)	+15.3%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	16.0% (13 yrs)	15.2% (24 yrs)	-0.8%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1995 1996 1997 1998

← Back to Mercedes E 230 overview

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

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes E 230 cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 7,732 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.