1996 Mercedes E 320 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age

30 years

Current Age

60.3%

Latest Pass Rate

6,863

Total Tests (All Years)

114,760 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 320 as it ages.

13 yrs62.0%

→ ↓1.6%

14 yrs60.4%

→ ↑0.1%

15 yrs60.5%

→ ↑1.1%

16 yrs61.6%

→ ↓3.6%

17 yrs58.0%

→ ↑1.9%

18 yrs59.9%

→ ↑2.0%

19 yrs61.9%

→ ↑5.6%

20 yrs67.5%

→ ↑2.5%

21 yrs70.0%

→ ↓5.3%

22 yrs64.7%

→ ↑1.3%

23 yrs66.0%

→ ↓5.7%

24 yrs60.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
13 yrs	62.0%	1,299
14 yrs	60.4%	1,131
15 yrs	60.5%	908
16 yrs	61.6%	729
17 yrs	58.0%	595
18 yrs	59.9%	529
19 yrs	61.9%	430
20 yrs	67.5%	375
21 yrs	70.0%	323
22 yrs	64.7%	190
23 yrs	66.0%	203
24 yrs	60.3%	151

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1996 Mercedes E 320 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (24 yrs)	60.3%	151
2019 (23 yrs)	66%	203
2018 (22 yrs)	64.7%	190
2017 (21 yrs)	70%	323
2016 (20 yrs)	67.5%	375
2015 (19 yrs)	61.9%	430
2014 (18 yrs)	59.9%	529
2013 (17 yrs)	58%	595
2012 (16 yrs)	61.6%	729
2011 (15 yrs)	60.5%	908
2010 (14 yrs)	60.4%	1,131
2009 (13 yrs)	62%	1,299

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

62.0%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 1,299Avg Mileage 111,676Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.5%

2010High Fail Rate

60.4%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 1,131Avg Mileage 113,904Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.9%

2011High Fail Rate

60.5%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 908Avg Mileage 113,378Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.8%

2012High Fail Rate

61.6%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 729Avg Mileage 113,376Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.1%

2013High Fail Rate

58.0%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 595Avg Mileage 113,668Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 46.9%

2014High Fail Rate

59.9%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 529Avg Mileage 113,550Top Failure Suspension — 45.2%

2015High Fail Rate

61.9%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 430Avg Mileage 110,882Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.7%

2016

67.5%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 375Avg Mileage 113,727Top Failure Suspension — 37.6%

2017

70.0%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 323Avg Mileage 115,151Top Failure Suspension — 33.7%

2018High Fail Rate

64.7%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 190Avg Mileage 110,782Top Failure Brakes — 38.4%

2019

66.0%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 203Avg Mileage 110,533Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 44.3%

2020High Fail Rate

60.3%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 151Avg Mileage 114,760Top Failure Brakes — 47.7%

MOT results for 1996 Mercedes E 320 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	13	62.0%	1,299	111,676	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.5%
2010	14	60.4%	1,131	113,904	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.9%
2011	15	60.5%	908	113,378	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.8%
2012	16	61.6%	729	113,376	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.1%
2013	17	58.0%	595	113,668	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 46.9%
2014	18	59.9%	529	113,550	Suspension — 45.2%
2015	19	61.9%	430	110,882	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.7%
2016	20	67.5%	375	113,727	Suspension — 37.6%
2017	21	70.0%	323	115,151	Suspension — 33.7%
2018	22	64.7%	190	110,782	Brakes — 38.4%
2019	23	66.0%	203	110,533	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 44.3%
2020	24	60.3%	151	114,760	Brakes — 47.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1996 Mercedes E 320, with age trends.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

39.2%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

31.3%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

31.0%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

28.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Noise, emissions and leaks

25.4%

↑ 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	17.3% (13 yrs)	47.7% (24 yrs)	+30.4%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	15.6% (13 yrs)	45.0% (24 yrs)	+29.4%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	15.6% (13 yrs)	27.8% (24 yrs)	+12.2%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes E 320 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes E 320 cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 6,863 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.