1997 Mercedes E 300 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

70.6%

Latest Pass Rate

9,935

Total Tests (All Years)

134,891 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 300 as it ages.

12 yrs58.7%

→ ↓2.7%

13 yrs56.0%

→ ↓1.5%

14 yrs54.5%

→ ↑0.9%

15 yrs55.4%

→ ↑1.8%

16 yrs57.2%

→ ↓3.1%

17 yrs54.1%

→ ↑4.5%

18 yrs58.6%

→ ↑2.2%

19 yrs60.8%

→ ↑2.7%

20 yrs63.5%

→ ↑2.6%

21 yrs66.1%

→ ↓7.9%

22 yrs58.2%

→ ↑12.4%

23 yrs70.6%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	58.7%	2,092
13 yrs	56.0%	1,832
14 yrs	54.5%	1,636
15 yrs	55.4%	1,278
16 yrs	57.2%	1,000
17 yrs	54.1%	795
18 yrs	58.6%	608
19 yrs	60.8%	431
20 yrs	63.5%	115
21 yrs	66.1%	59
22 yrs	58.2%	55
23 yrs	70.6%	34

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mercedes E 300 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (23 yrs)	70.6%	34
2019 (22 yrs)	58.2%	55
2018 (21 yrs)	66.1%	59
2017 (20 yrs)	63.5%	115
2016 (19 yrs)	60.8%	431
2015 (18 yrs)	58.6%	608
2014 (17 yrs)	54.1%	795
2013 (16 yrs)	57.2%	1,000
2012 (15 yrs)	55.4%	1,278
2011 (14 yrs)	54.5%	1,636
2010 (13 yrs)	56%	1,832
2009 (12 yrs)	58.7%	2,092

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

58.7%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 2,092Avg Mileage 135,356Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.9%

2010High Fail Rate

56.0%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 1,832Avg Mileage 140,222Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.8%

2011High Fail Rate

54.5%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 1,636Avg Mileage 145,032Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.4%

2012High Fail Rate

55.4%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 1,278Avg Mileage 143,289Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.8%

2013High Fail Rate

57.2%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 1,000Avg Mileage 143,514Top Failure Suspension — 59.0%

2014High Fail Rate

54.1%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 795Avg Mileage 144,912Top Failure Suspension — 57.5%

2015High Fail Rate

58.6%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 608Avg Mileage 145,905Top Failure Suspension — 52.5%

2016High Fail Rate

60.8%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 431Avg Mileage 144,663Top Failure Suspension — 63.3%

2017High Fail Rate

63.5%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 115Avg Mileage 150,900Top Failure Suspension — 72.2%

2018

66.1%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 59Avg Mileage 144,423Top Failure Brakes — 62.7%

2019High Fail Rate

58.2%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 55Avg Mileage 127,498Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 54.5%

2020

70.6%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 34Avg Mileage 134,891Top Failure Suspension — 76.5%

MOT results for 1997 Mercedes E 300 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	58.7%	2,092	135,356	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.9%
2010	13	56.0%	1,832	140,222	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.8%
2011	14	54.5%	1,636	145,032	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.4%
2012	15	55.4%	1,278	143,289	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.8%
2013	16	57.2%	1,000	143,514	Suspension — 59.0%
2014	17	54.1%	795	144,912	Suspension — 57.5%
2015	18	58.6%	608	145,905	Suspension — 52.5%
2016	19	60.8%	431	144,663	Suspension — 63.3%
2017	20	63.5%	115	150,900	Suspension — 72.2%
2018	21	66.1%	59	144,423	Brakes — 62.7%
2019	22	58.2%	55	127,498	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 54.5%
2020	23	70.6%	34	134,891	Suspension — 76.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mercedes E 300, with age trends.

Suspension

46.1%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

38.4%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

37.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

33.2%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, chassis, structure

23.5%

↓ 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
Suspension	21.2% (12 yrs)	76.5% (23 yrs)	+55.3%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	19.3% (12 yrs)	52.9% (23 yrs)	+33.6%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	15.2% (12 yrs)	11.8% (23 yrs)	-3.4%	🟢 ↓

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 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 9,935 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.