1996 Mercedes E 280 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age

30 years

Current Age

52.2%

Latest Pass Rate

3,183

Total Tests (All Years)

149,007 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 280 as it ages.

13 yrs57.7%

→ ↓1.7%

14 yrs56.0%

→ ↑2.2%

15 yrs58.2%

→ ↓3.7%

16 yrs54.5%

→ ↓0.2%

17 yrs54.3%

→ ↑3.7%

18 yrs58.0%

→ ↓1.1%

19 yrs56.9%

→ ↑3.0%

20 yrs59.9%

→ ↓1.6%

21 yrs58.3%

→ ↓3.2%

22 yrs55.1%

→ ↑3.4%

23 yrs58.5%

→ ↓6.3%

24 yrs52.2%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
13 yrs	57.7%	634
14 yrs	56.0%	555
15 yrs	58.2%	450
16 yrs	54.5%	382
17 yrs	54.3%	291
18 yrs	58.0%	231
19 yrs	56.9%	195
20 yrs	59.9%	157
21 yrs	58.3%	108
22 yrs	55.1%	69
23 yrs	58.5%	65
24 yrs	52.2%	46

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1996 Mercedes E 280 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (24 yrs)	52.2%	46
2019 (23 yrs)	58.5%	65
2018 (22 yrs)	55.1%	69
2017 (21 yrs)	58.3%	108
2016 (20 yrs)	59.9%	157
2015 (19 yrs)	56.9%	195
2014 (18 yrs)	58%	231
2013 (17 yrs)	54.3%	291
2012 (16 yrs)	54.5%	382
2011 (15 yrs)	58.2%	450
2010 (14 yrs)	56%	555
2009 (13 yrs)	57.7%	634

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

57.7%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 634Avg Mileage 118,969Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.8%

2010High Fail Rate

56.0%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 555Avg Mileage 123,192Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.4%

2011High Fail Rate

58.2%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 450Avg Mileage 125,636Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.3%

2012High Fail Rate

54.5%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 382Avg Mileage 125,540Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.2%

2013High Fail Rate

54.3%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 291Avg Mileage 123,842Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 58.1%

2014High Fail Rate

58.0%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 231Avg Mileage 130,067Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 46.3%

2015High Fail Rate

56.9%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 195Avg Mileage 128,764Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.3%

2016High Fail Rate

59.9%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 157Avg Mileage 128,826Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.4%

2017High Fail Rate

58.3%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 108Avg Mileage 142,813Top Failure Brakes — 44.4%

2018High Fail Rate

55.1%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 69Avg Mileage 145,702Top Failure Brakes — 50.7%

2019High Fail Rate

58.5%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 65Avg Mileage 149,062Top Failure Brakes — 63.1%

2020High Fail Rate

52.2%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 46Avg Mileage 149,007Top Failure Brakes — 76.1%

MOT results for 1996 Mercedes E 280 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	13	57.7%	634	118,969	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.8%
2010	14	56.0%	555	123,192	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.4%
2011	15	58.2%	450	125,636	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.3%
2012	16	54.5%	382	125,540	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.2%
2013	17	54.3%	291	123,842	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 58.1%
2014	18	58.0%	231	130,067	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 46.3%
2015	19	56.9%	195	128,764	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.3%
2016	20	59.9%	157	128,826	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.4%
2017	21	58.3%	108	142,813	Brakes — 44.4%
2018	22	55.1%	69	145,702	Brakes — 50.7%
2019	23	58.5%	65	149,062	Brakes — 63.1%
2020	24	52.2%	46	149,007	Brakes — 76.1%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1996 Mercedes E 280, with age trends.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

46.3%

↑ Increases with age

Noise, emissions and leaks

42.9%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

40.0%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

37.4%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

33.9%

↑ 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
Brakes	18.5% (13 yrs)	76.1% (24 yrs)	+57.6%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	18.3% (13 yrs)	45.7% (24 yrs)	+27.4%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	16.1% (13 yrs)	30.4% (24 yrs)	+14.3%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

← Back to Mercedes E 280 overview

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

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes E 280 cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 3,183 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.