1996 Mercedes E 300 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age

30 years

Current Age

64.4%

Latest Pass Rate

3,182

Total Tests (All Years)

185,081 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 300 as it ages.

13 yrs58.7%

→ ↓1.3%

14 yrs57.4%

→ ↓3.6%

15 yrs53.8%

→ ↑6.8%

16 yrs60.6%

→ ↓4.1%

17 yrs56.5%

→ ↑2.1%

18 yrs58.6%

→ ↑3.4%

19 yrs62.0%

→ ↑2.2%

20 yrs64.2%

→ ↑2.5%

21 yrs66.7%

→ ↓1.2%

22 yrs65.5%

→ ↓6.2%

23 yrs59.3%

→ ↑5.1%

24 yrs64.4%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
13 yrs	58.7%	688
14 yrs	57.4%	578
15 yrs	53.8%	470
16 yrs	60.6%	363
17 yrs	56.5%	271
18 yrs	58.6%	222
19 yrs	62.0%	184
20 yrs	64.2%	151
21 yrs	66.7%	93
22 yrs	65.5%	58
23 yrs	59.3%	59
24 yrs	64.4%	45

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1996 Mercedes E 300 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (24 yrs)	64.4%	45
2019 (23 yrs)	59.3%	59
2018 (22 yrs)	65.5%	58
2017 (21 yrs)	66.7%	93
2016 (20 yrs)	64.2%	151
2015 (19 yrs)	62%	184
2014 (18 yrs)	58.6%	222
2013 (17 yrs)	56.5%	271
2012 (16 yrs)	60.6%	363
2011 (15 yrs)	53.8%	470
2010 (14 yrs)	57.4%	578
2009 (13 yrs)	58.7%	688

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

58.7%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 688Avg Mileage 141,273Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.3%

2010High Fail Rate

57.4%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 578Avg Mileage 145,502Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.0%

2011High Fail Rate

53.8%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 470Avg Mileage 149,987Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.0%

2012High Fail Rate

60.6%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 363Avg Mileage 150,179Top Failure Brakes — 19.0%

2013High Fail Rate

56.5%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 271Avg Mileage 150,872Top Failure Suspension — 60.9%

2014High Fail Rate

58.6%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 222Avg Mileage 156,415Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 52.7%

2015High Fail Rate

62.0%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 184Avg Mileage 160,518Top Failure Suspension — 39.7%

2016High Fail Rate

64.2%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 151Avg Mileage 161,427Top Failure Suspension — 51.0%

2017

66.7%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 93Avg Mileage 193,054Top Failure Brakes — 50.5%

2018

65.5%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 58Avg Mileage 184,287Top Failure Suspension — 46.6%

2019High Fail Rate

59.3%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 59Avg Mileage 190,082Top Failure Brakes — 62.7%

2020High Fail Rate

64.4%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 45Avg Mileage 185,081Top Failure Brakes — 66.7%

MOT results for 1996 Mercedes E 300 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	13	58.7%	688	141,273	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.3%
2010	14	57.4%	578	145,502	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.0%
2011	15	53.8%	470	149,987	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.0%
2012	16	60.6%	363	150,179	Brakes — 19.0%
2013	17	56.5%	271	150,872	Suspension — 60.9%
2014	18	58.6%	222	156,415	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 52.7%
2015	19	62.0%	184	160,518	Suspension — 39.7%
2016	20	64.2%	151	161,427	Suspension — 51.0%
2017	21	66.7%	93	193,054	Brakes — 50.5%
2018	22	65.5%	58	184,287	Suspension — 46.6%
2019	23	59.3%	59	190,082	Brakes — 62.7%
2020	24	64.4%	45	185,081	Brakes — 66.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1996 Mercedes E 300, with age trends.

Brakes

39.9%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

38.4%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

34.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

26.1%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

20.2%

↓ Decreases 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	19.6% (13 yrs)	66.7% (24 yrs)	+47.1%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	18.8% (13 yrs)	33.3% (24 yrs)	+14.5%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	14.7% (13 yrs)	15.6% (24 yrs)	+0.9%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2012 2013 2014

← Back to Mercedes E 300 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes E 300 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes E 300 cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 3,182 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.