1998 Mercedes E 230 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

71.9%

Latest Pass Rate

513

Total Tests (All Years)

105,922 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for E 230

Compared to Average at Age 18

This car: 71.9%

Average: 54.3%

✅ 17.6% above average (8383 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1998 Mercedes E 230 as it ages.

11 yrs51.0%

→ ↑14.9%

12 yrs65.9%

→ ↓12.2%

13 yrs53.7%

→ ↑17.5%

14 yrs71.2%

→ ↓6.4%

15 yrs64.8%

→ ↑1.1%

16 yrs65.9%

→ ↓6.4%

17 yrs59.5%

→ ↑12.4%

18 yrs71.9%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	51.0%	102
12 yrs	65.9%	91
13 yrs	53.7%	82
14 yrs	71.2%	66
15 yrs	64.8%	54
16 yrs	65.9%	44
17 yrs	59.5%	42
18 yrs	71.9%	32

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Mercedes E 230 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2016 (18 yrs)	71.9%	32
2015 (17 yrs)	59.5%	42
2014 (16 yrs)	65.9%	44
2013 (15 yrs)	64.8%	54
2012 (14 yrs)	71.2%	66
2011 (13 yrs)	53.7%	82
2010 (12 yrs)	65.9%	91
2009 (11 yrs)	51%	102

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

51.0%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 102Avg Mileage 101,936Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.2%

2010

65.9%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 91Avg Mileage 104,427Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.1%

2011High Fail Rate

53.7%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 82Avg Mileage 108,066Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.8%

2012

71.2%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 66Avg Mileage 106,789Top Failure Suspension — 18.2%

2013High Fail Rate

64.8%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 54Avg Mileage 106,563Top Failure Suspension — 57.4%

2014

65.9%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 44Avg Mileage 105,154Top Failure Suspension — 88.6%

2015High Fail Rate

59.5%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 42Avg Mileage 101,506Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 50.0%

2016

71.9%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 32Avg Mileage 105,922Top Failure Suspension — 37.5%

MOT results for 1998 Mercedes E 230 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	51.0%	102	101,936	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.2%
2010	12	65.9%	91	104,427	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.1%
2011	13	53.7%	82	108,066	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.8%
2012	14	71.2%	66	106,789	Suspension — 18.2%
2013	15	64.8%	54	106,563	Suspension — 57.4%
2014	16	65.9%	44	105,154	Suspension — 88.6%
2015	17	59.5%	42	101,506	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 50.0%
2016	18	71.9%	32	105,922	Suspension — 37.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Mercedes E 230, with age trends.

Suspension

34.5%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

33.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Tyres

22.1%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

20.2%

— Consistent

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

16.1%

↑ 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	25.5% (11 yrs)	37.5% (18 yrs)	+12.0%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	38.2% (11 yrs)	31.3% (18 yrs)	-6.9%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	19.6% (11 yrs)	18.8% (18 yrs)	-0.8%	⚪ —
Driver's View of the Road	12.7% (11 yrs)	12.5% (18 yrs)	-0.2%	⚪ —

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 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2016, covering 513 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.