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Pass Your MOT

1998 Mercedes E430 MOT Pass Rate

Pass rate for E430 models manufactured in 1998, based on 33 real MOT test results.

78.8%
Pass Rate
21.2%
Fail Rate
33
Total Tests
121,840
Avg Mileage

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

1998 Mercedes E430 MOT Analysis

The 1998 Mercedes E430 has an MOT pass rate of 78.8% based on 33 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 121,840 miles on the odometer. With a 21.2% failure rate, the 1998 E430 is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.

The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1998 Mercedes E430 is Tyres, responsible for 6.1% of failures. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs range from £50–200 per tyre. Body, chassis, structure is the second most common issue at 6.1%.

⚠ Based on limited data (33 tests)

Top failures specific to 1998 models only. The overall E430 page may show different rankings.

What Fails Most

What Fails on This Car?

Click a category to see specific failure items.

View as table
MOT failure categories ranked by failure rate
RankFailure CategoryRate (%)Count
1Tyres6.1%2
2Body, Chassis, Structure6.1%2

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 121,840 mi

For every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.

Tyres0.50% per 10K miBody & Structure0.50% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Tyres0.506.1%2
Body & Structure0.506.1%2

Mileage Statistics

121,840
Mean
65,046
Median
53,923
25th Percentile
280,191
75th Percentile
1.74% failures per 10K miles

Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.

About This Data

The 1998 Mercedes E430 has an MOT pass rate of 78.8% based on 33 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 121,840 miles on the odometer. With a 21.2% failure rate, the 1998 E430 is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.

If you own or are considering buying a 1998 Mercedes E430, you can expect reliable MOT performance overall. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to tyres: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating. With an average mileage of 121,840 miles, these vehicles are in the higher-mileage bracket where wear-related failures become more common.

Tyres — 6.1% of failures

Tyres issues account for 6.1% of MOT failures on 1998 Mercedes E430 models. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.

Body, chassis, structure — 6.1% of failures

Body, chassis, structure issues account for 6.1% of MOT failures on 1998 Mercedes E430 models. Body and structure failures include excessive corrosion, sharp edges, loose panels, and damage to the vehicle frame. Rust is the primary concern, especially on older vehicles or those exposed to road salt. Typical repair costs: £100–500+. Pre-MOT check: Inspect sills, wheel arches, door bottoms, and the chassis for rust. Surface rust is acceptable but structural corrosion or holes will fail. Check that all doors, bonnet, and boot close securely.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

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