1998 Mercedes S 280 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

67.2%

Latest Pass Rate

2,043

Total Tests (All Years)

111,502 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 S 280 as it ages.

11 yrs62.4%

→ ↓4.3%

12 yrs58.1%

→ ↑1.8%

13 yrs59.9%

→ ↓0.5%

14 yrs59.4%

→ ↑1.8%

15 yrs61.2%

→ ↓1.0%

16 yrs60.2%

→ ↑6.2%

17 yrs66.4%

→ ↑0.3%

18 yrs66.7%

→ ↓1.4%

19 yrs65.3%

→ ↓5.0%

20 yrs60.3%

→ ↑8.4%

21 yrs68.7%

→ ↓1.5%

22 yrs67.2%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	62.4%	311
12 yrs	58.1%	279
13 yrs	59.9%	262
14 yrs	59.4%	229
15 yrs	61.2%	196
16 yrs	60.2%	171
17 yrs	66.4%	143
18 yrs	66.7%	135
19 yrs	65.3%	121
20 yrs	60.3%	68
21 yrs	68.7%	67
22 yrs	67.2%	61

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Mercedes S 280 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (22 yrs)	67.2%	61
2019 (21 yrs)	68.7%	67
2018 (20 yrs)	60.3%	68
2017 (19 yrs)	65.3%	121
2016 (18 yrs)	66.7%	135
2015 (17 yrs)	66.4%	143
2014 (16 yrs)	60.2%	171
2013 (15 yrs)	61.2%	196
2012 (14 yrs)	59.4%	229
2011 (13 yrs)	59.9%	262
2010 (12 yrs)	58.1%	279
2009 (11 yrs)	62.4%	311

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

62.4%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 311Avg Mileage 103,647Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.2%

2010High Fail Rate

58.1%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 279Avg Mileage 106,869Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.2%

2011High Fail Rate

59.9%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 262Avg Mileage 110,401Top Failure Brakes — 20.2%

2012High Fail Rate

59.4%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 229Avg Mileage 110,048Top Failure Suspension — 22.3%

2013High Fail Rate

61.2%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 196Avg Mileage 110,433Top Failure Suspension — 49.0%

2014High Fail Rate

60.2%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 171Avg Mileage 112,229Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 56.7%

2015

66.4%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 143Avg Mileage 109,468Top Failure Brakes — 48.3%

2016

66.7%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 135Avg Mileage 111,554Top Failure Brakes — 40.7%

2017

65.3%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 121Avg Mileage 115,266Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.0%

2018High Fail Rate

60.3%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 68Avg Mileage 114,244Top Failure Brakes — 60.3%

2019

68.7%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 67Avg Mileage 113,963Top Failure Suspension — 56.7%

2020

67.2%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 61Avg Mileage 111,502Top Failure Brakes — 54.1%

MOT results for 1998 Mercedes S 280 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	62.4%	311	103,647	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.2%
2010	12	58.1%	279	106,869	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.2%
2011	13	59.9%	262	110,401	Brakes — 20.2%
2012	14	59.4%	229	110,048	Suspension — 22.3%
2013	15	61.2%	196	110,433	Suspension — 49.0%
2014	16	60.2%	171	112,229	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 56.7%
2015	17	66.4%	143	109,468	Brakes — 48.3%
2016	18	66.7%	135	111,554	Brakes — 40.7%
2017	19	65.3%	121	115,266	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.0%
2018	20	60.3%	68	114,244	Brakes — 60.3%
2019	21	68.7%	67	113,963	Suspension — 56.7%
2020	22	67.2%	61	111,502	Brakes — 54.1%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Mercedes S 280, with age trends.

Brakes

37.3%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

36.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

35.4%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

31.5%

↓ Decreases with age

Noise, emissions and leaks

19.4%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	19.0% (11 yrs)	54.1% (22 yrs)	+35.1%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	15.4% (11 yrs)	42.6% (22 yrs)	+27.2%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	11.6% (11 yrs)	31.1% (22 yrs)	+19.5%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

← Back to Mercedes S 280 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes S 280 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes S 280 cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 2,043 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.