1998 Mercedes E 300 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

64.8%

Latest Pass Rate

22,057

Total Tests (All Years)

146,924 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 1998 Mercedes E 300 as it ages.

11 yrs59.1%

→ ↓1.4%

12 yrs57.7%

→ ↓0.7%

13 yrs57.0%

→ ↓0.1%

14 yrs56.9%

→ ↓0.9%

15 yrs56.0%

→ ↑1.9%

16 yrs57.9%

→ ↑0.4%

17 yrs58.3%

→ ↑1.7%

18 yrs60.0%

→ ↑0.2%

19 yrs60.2%

→ ↑4.4%

20 yrs64.6%

→ ↓5.3%

21 yrs59.3%

→ ↑5.5%

22 yrs64.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	59.1%	4,154
12 yrs	57.7%	3,797
13 yrs	57.0%	3,478
14 yrs	56.9%	2,920
15 yrs	56.0%	2,354
16 yrs	57.9%	1,931
17 yrs	58.3%	1,519
18 yrs	60.0%	1,180
19 yrs	60.2%	309
20 yrs	64.6%	175
21 yrs	59.3%	135
22 yrs	64.8%	105

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Mercedes E 300 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (22 yrs)	64.8%	105
2019 (21 yrs)	59.3%	135
2018 (20 yrs)	64.6%	175
2017 (19 yrs)	60.2%	309
2016 (18 yrs)	60%	1,180
2015 (17 yrs)	58.3%	1,519
2014 (16 yrs)	57.9%	1,931
2013 (15 yrs)	56%	2,354
2012 (14 yrs)	56.9%	2,920
2011 (13 yrs)	57%	3,478
2010 (12 yrs)	57.7%	3,797
2009 (11 yrs)	59.1%	4,154

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

59.1%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 4,154Avg Mileage 133,006Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.2%

2010High Fail Rate

57.7%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 3,797Avg Mileage 138,295Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.8%

2011High Fail Rate

57.0%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 3,478Avg Mileage 142,310Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.5%

2012High Fail Rate

56.9%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 2,920Avg Mileage 145,283Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.8%

2013High Fail Rate

56.0%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 2,354Avg Mileage 145,214Top Failure Brakes — 57.9%

2014High Fail Rate

57.9%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 1,931Avg Mileage 148,134Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 54.0%

2015High Fail Rate

58.3%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 1,519Avg Mileage 147,867Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 54.9%

2016High Fail Rate

60.0%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 1,180Avg Mileage 147,457Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 51.3%

2017High Fail Rate

60.2%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 309Avg Mileage 142,751Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.1%

2018High Fail Rate

64.6%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 175Avg Mileage 150,801Top Failure Brakes — 48.6%

2019High Fail Rate

59.3%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 135Avg Mileage 145,206Top Failure Suspension — 71.1%

2020High Fail Rate

64.8%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 105Avg Mileage 146,924Top Failure Brakes — 50.5%

MOT results for 1998 Mercedes E 300 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	59.1%	4,154	133,006	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.2%
2010	12	57.7%	3,797	138,295	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.8%
2011	13	57.0%	3,478	142,310	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.5%
2012	14	56.9%	2,920	145,283	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.8%
2013	15	56.0%	2,354	145,214	Brakes — 57.9%
2014	16	57.9%	1,931	148,134	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 54.0%
2015	17	58.3%	1,519	147,867	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 54.9%
2016	18	60.0%	1,180	147,457	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 51.3%
2017	19	60.2%	309	142,751	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.1%
2018	20	64.6%	175	150,801	Brakes — 48.6%
2019	21	59.3%	135	145,206	Suspension — 71.1%
2020	22	64.8%	105	146,924	Brakes — 50.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Mercedes E 300, with age trends.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

42.9%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

40.7%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

40.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

38.8%

— Consistent

Tyres

23.8%

↑ 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	18.9% (11 yrs)	50.5% (22 yrs)	+31.6%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	18.4% (11 yrs)	40.0% (22 yrs)	+21.6%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	16.3% (11 yrs)	22.9% (22 yrs)	+6.6%	🔴 ↑

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 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 22,057 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.