1998 Mercedes E 320 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

61.1%

Latest Pass Rate

5,977

Total Tests (All Years)

125,959 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 320 as it ages.

11 yrs59.0%

→ ↓2.9%

12 yrs56.1%

→ ↑0.2%

13 yrs56.3%

→ ↑1.2%

14 yrs57.5%

→ ↓3.1%

15 yrs54.4%

→ ↑2.8%

16 yrs57.2%

→ ↑4.3%

17 yrs61.5%

→ ↑2.2%

18 yrs63.7%

→ ↓3.1%

19 yrs60.6%

→ ↑3.5%

20 yrs64.1%

→ ↓3.9%

21 yrs60.2%

→ ↑0.9%

22 yrs61.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	59.0%	981
12 yrs	56.1%	939
13 yrs	56.3%	830
14 yrs	57.5%	730
15 yrs	54.4%	594
16 yrs	57.2%	488
17 yrs	61.5%	418
18 yrs	63.7%	342
19 yrs	60.6%	274
20 yrs	64.1%	153
21 yrs	60.2%	133
22 yrs	61.1%	95

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Mercedes E 320 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (22 yrs)	61.1%	95
2019 (21 yrs)	60.2%	133
2018 (20 yrs)	64.1%	153
2017 (19 yrs)	60.6%	274
2016 (18 yrs)	63.7%	342
2015 (17 yrs)	61.5%	418
2014 (16 yrs)	57.2%	488
2013 (15 yrs)	54.4%	594
2012 (14 yrs)	57.5%	730
2011 (13 yrs)	56.3%	830
2010 (12 yrs)	56.1%	939
2009 (11 yrs)	59%	981

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

59.0%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 981Avg Mileage 112,569Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.8%

2010High Fail Rate

56.1%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 939Avg Mileage 118,702Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.2%

2011High Fail Rate

56.3%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 830Avg Mileage 120,515Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.3%

2012High Fail Rate

57.5%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 730Avg Mileage 124,152Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.2%

2013High Fail Rate

54.4%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 594Avg Mileage 126,581Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 60.1%

2014High Fail Rate

57.2%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 488Avg Mileage 126,486Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 51.6%

2015High Fail Rate

61.5%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 418Avg Mileage 126,283Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.8%

2016High Fail Rate

63.7%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 342Avg Mileage 124,844Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 50.3%

2017High Fail Rate

60.6%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 274Avg Mileage 128,057Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 59.9%

2018High Fail Rate

64.1%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 153Avg Mileage 120,220Top Failure Suspension — 43.8%

2019High Fail Rate

60.2%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 133Avg Mileage 124,919Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 57.9%

2020High Fail Rate

61.1%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 95Avg Mileage 125,959Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 77.9%

MOT results for 1998 Mercedes E 320 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	59.0%	981	112,569	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.8%
2010	12	56.1%	939	118,702	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.2%
2011	13	56.3%	830	120,515	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.3%
2012	14	57.5%	730	124,152	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.2%
2013	15	54.4%	594	126,581	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 60.1%
2014	16	57.2%	488	126,486	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 51.6%
2015	17	61.5%	418	126,283	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.8%
2016	18	63.7%	342	124,844	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 50.3%
2017	19	60.6%	274	128,057	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 59.9%
2018	20	64.1%	153	120,220	Suspension — 43.8%
2019	21	60.2%	133	124,919	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 57.9%
2020	22	61.1%	95	125,959	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 77.9%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Mercedes E 320, with age trends.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

50.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

39.2%

— Consistent

Suspension

35.3%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

30.5%

↑ Increases with age

Noise, emissions and leaks

22.7%

↑ 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
Suspension	16.4% (11 yrs)	57.9% (22 yrs)	+41.5%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	15.5% (11 yrs)	44.2% (22 yrs)	+28.7%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	16.2% (11 yrs)	32.6% (22 yrs)	+16.4%	🔴 ↑

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 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 5,977 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.