1998 Mercedes E 55 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

66.1%

Latest Pass Rate

1,454

Total Tests (All Years)

133,108 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 55 as it ages.

11 yrs71.7%

→ ↓1.1%

12 yrs70.6%

→ ↓6.6%

13 yrs64.0%

→ ↓5.2%

14 yrs58.8%

→ ↑5.3%

15 yrs64.1%

→ ↓4.6%

16 yrs59.5%

→ ↑5.2%

17 yrs64.7%

→ ↑7.9%

18 yrs72.6%

→ ↑0.7%

19 yrs73.3%

→ ↓4.2%

20 yrs69.1%

→ ↓0.4%

21 yrs68.7%

→ ↓2.6%

22 yrs66.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	71.7%	187
12 yrs	70.6%	170
13 yrs	64.0%	175
14 yrs	58.8%	148
15 yrs	64.1%	142
16 yrs	59.5%	126
17 yrs	64.7%	119
18 yrs	72.6%	106
19 yrs	73.3%	90
20 yrs	69.1%	68
21 yrs	68.7%	67
22 yrs	66.1%	56

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Mercedes E 55 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (22 yrs)	66.1%	56
2019 (21 yrs)	68.7%	67
2018 (20 yrs)	69.1%	68
2017 (19 yrs)	73.3%	90
2016 (18 yrs)	72.6%	106
2015 (17 yrs)	64.7%	119
2014 (16 yrs)	59.5%	126
2013 (15 yrs)	64.1%	142
2012 (14 yrs)	58.8%	148
2011 (13 yrs)	64%	175
2010 (12 yrs)	70.6%	170
2009 (11 yrs)	71.7%	187

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

71.7%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 187Avg Mileage 103,892Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.4%

2010

70.6%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 170Avg Mileage 114,152Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.9%

2011High Fail Rate

64.0%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 175Avg Mileage 113,907Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 16.6%

2012High Fail Rate

58.8%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 148Avg Mileage 115,377Top Failure Brakes — 22.3%

2013High Fail Rate

64.1%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 142Avg Mileage 121,107Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.0%

2014High Fail Rate

59.5%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 126Avg Mileage 121,686Top Failure Brakes — 61.1%

2015High Fail Rate

64.7%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 119Avg Mileage 127,552Top Failure Suspension — 44.5%

2016

72.6%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 106Avg Mileage 128,702Top Failure Brakes — 40.6%

2017

73.3%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 90Avg Mileage 127,017Top Failure Suspension — 33.3%

2018

69.1%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 68Avg Mileage 127,813Top Failure Brakes — 36.8%

2019

68.7%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 67Avg Mileage 126,750Top Failure Tyres — 22.4%

2020

66.1%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 56Avg Mileage 133,108Top Failure Brakes — 60.7%

MOT results for 1998 Mercedes E 55 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	71.7%	187	103,892	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 14.4%
2010	12	70.6%	170	114,152	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.9%
2011	13	64.0%	175	113,907	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 16.6%
2012	14	58.8%	148	115,377	Brakes — 22.3%
2013	15	64.1%	142	121,107	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.0%
2014	16	59.5%	126	121,686	Brakes — 61.1%
2015	17	64.7%	119	127,552	Suspension — 44.5%
2016	18	72.6%	106	128,702	Brakes — 40.6%
2017	19	73.3%	90	127,017	Suspension — 33.3%
2018	20	69.1%	68	127,813	Brakes — 36.8%
2019	21	68.7%	67	126,750	Tyres — 22.4%
2020	22	66.1%	56	133,108	Brakes — 60.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Mercedes E 55, with age trends.

Brakes

31.6%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

26.4%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

25.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

25.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Tyres

21.2%

↑ 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	10.2% (11 yrs)	60.7% (22 yrs)	+50.5%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	8.0% (11 yrs)	26.8% (22 yrs)	+18.8%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	14.4% (11 yrs)	26.8% (22 yrs)	+12.4%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005

← Back to Mercedes E 55 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes E 55 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes E 55 cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 1,454 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.