1997 Mercedes E 230 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

55.4%

Latest Pass Rate

10,781

Total Tests (All Years)

104,828 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 1997 Mercedes E 230 as it ages.

12 yrs57.3%

→ ↓3.7%

13 yrs53.6%

→ ↑0.2%

14 yrs53.8%

→ ↓1.8%

15 yrs52.0%

→ ↑2.6%

16 yrs54.6%

→ ↓0.8%

17 yrs53.8%

→ ↑1.6%

18 yrs55.4%

→ ↑4.0%

19 yrs59.4%

→ ↓2.2%

20 yrs57.2%

→ ↑12.6%

21 yrs69.8%

→ ↓7.3%

22 yrs62.5%

→ ↓7.1%

23 yrs55.4%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	57.3%	2,324
13 yrs	53.6%	2,077
14 yrs	53.8%	1,747
15 yrs	52.0%	1,361
16 yrs	54.6%	1,024
17 yrs	53.8%	782
18 yrs	55.4%	626
19 yrs	59.4%	475
20 yrs	57.2%	159
21 yrs	69.8%	86
22 yrs	62.5%	64
23 yrs	55.4%	56

Pass Rate Trend

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

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (23 yrs)	55.4%	56
2019 (22 yrs)	62.5%	64
2018 (21 yrs)	69.8%	86
2017 (20 yrs)	57.2%	159
2016 (19 yrs)	59.4%	475
2015 (18 yrs)	55.4%	626
2014 (17 yrs)	53.8%	782
2013 (16 yrs)	54.6%	1,024
2012 (15 yrs)	52%	1,361
2011 (14 yrs)	53.8%	1,747
2010 (13 yrs)	53.6%	2,077
2009 (12 yrs)	57.3%	2,324

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

57.3%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 2,324Avg Mileage 113,423Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.2%

2010High Fail Rate

53.6%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 2,077Avg Mileage 119,273Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.6%

2011High Fail Rate

53.8%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 1,747Avg Mileage 120,198Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.3%

2012High Fail Rate

52.0%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 1,361Avg Mileage 119,379Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.8%

2013High Fail Rate

54.6%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 1,024Avg Mileage 120,170Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 55.9%

2014High Fail Rate

53.8%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 782Avg Mileage 117,855Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 64.5%

2015High Fail Rate

55.4%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 626Avg Mileage 116,586Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 57.8%

2016High Fail Rate

59.4%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 475Avg Mileage 117,344Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 57.5%

2017High Fail Rate

57.2%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 159Avg Mileage 108,913Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 60.4%

2018

69.8%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 86Avg Mileage 109,783Top Failure Brakes — 41.9%

2019High Fail Rate

62.5%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 64Avg Mileage 104,991Top Failure Brakes — 57.8%

2020High Fail Rate

55.4%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 56Avg Mileage 104,828Top Failure Suspension — 96.4%

MOT results for 1997 Mercedes E 230 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	57.3%	2,324	113,423	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.2%
2010	13	53.6%	2,077	119,273	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.6%
2011	14	53.8%	1,747	120,198	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.3%
2012	15	52.0%	1,361	119,379	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.8%
2013	16	54.6%	1,024	120,170	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 55.9%
2014	17	53.8%	782	117,855	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 64.5%
2015	18	55.4%	626	116,586	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 57.8%
2016	19	59.4%	475	117,344	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 57.5%
2017	20	57.2%	159	108,913	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 60.4%
2018	21	69.8%	86	109,783	Brakes — 41.9%
2019	22	62.5%	64	104,991	Brakes — 57.8%
2020	23	55.4%	56	104,828	Suspension — 96.4%

Common MOT Failures

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

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

43.9%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

43.4%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

43.0%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

37.0%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

28.2%

↑ 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	18.2% (12 yrs)	96.4% (23 yrs)	+78.2%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	15.1% (12 yrs)	42.9% (23 yrs)	+27.8%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	18.1% (12 yrs)	33.9% (23 yrs)	+15.8%	🔴 ↑

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 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 10,781 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.