1999 Mercedes S 280 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1999 perform at MOT as they age

27 years

Current Age

67.7%

Latest Pass Rate

872

Total Tests (All Years)

113,482 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 20

This car: 67.7%

Average: 56.6%

✅ 11.1% above average (6824 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1999 Mercedes S 280 as it ages.

10 yrs59.8%

→ ↑10.1%

11 yrs69.9%

→ ↓5.0%

12 yrs64.9%

→ ↓8.8%

13 yrs56.1%

→ ↑5.5%

14 yrs61.6%

→ ↑2.4%

15 yrs64.0%

→ ↑7.6%

16 yrs71.6%

→ ↓18.0%

17 yrs53.6%

→ ↑7.1%

18 yrs60.7%

→ ↓2.6%

19 yrs58.1%

→ ↑9.6%

20 yrs67.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
10 yrs	59.8%	127
11 yrs	69.9%	123
12 yrs	64.9%	111
13 yrs	56.1%	98
14 yrs	61.6%	86
15 yrs	64.0%	86
16 yrs	71.6%	67
17 yrs	53.6%	56
18 yrs	60.7%	56
19 yrs	58.1%	31
20 yrs	67.7%	31

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1999 Mercedes S 280 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2019 (20 yrs)	67.7%	31
2018 (19 yrs)	58.1%	31
2017 (18 yrs)	60.7%	56
2016 (17 yrs)	53.6%	56
2015 (16 yrs)	71.6%	67
2014 (15 yrs)	64%	86
2013 (14 yrs)	61.6%	86
2012 (13 yrs)	56.1%	98
2011 (12 yrs)	64.9%	111
2010 (11 yrs)	69.9%	123
2009 (10 yrs)	59.8%	127

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

59.8%

Age (yrs) 10Tests 127Avg Mileage 97,205Top Failure Brakes — 25.2%

2010

69.9%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 123Avg Mileage 100,171Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 17.1%

2011High Fail Rate

64.9%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 111Avg Mileage 102,880Top Failure Suspension — 20.7%

2012High Fail Rate

56.1%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 98Avg Mileage 103,712Top Failure Suspension — 24.5%

2013High Fail Rate

61.6%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 86Avg Mileage 104,970Top Failure Brakes — 48.8%

2014High Fail Rate

64.0%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 86Avg Mileage 107,037Top Failure Brakes — 53.5%

2015

71.6%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 67Avg Mileage 111,831Top Failure Brakes — 38.8%

2016High Fail Rate

53.6%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 56Avg Mileage 112,281Top Failure Brakes — 62.5%

2017High Fail Rate

60.7%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 56Avg Mileage 120,366Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.6%

2018High Fail Rate

58.1%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 31Avg Mileage 106,922Top Failure Suspension — 61.3%

2019

67.7%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 31Avg Mileage 113,482Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 51.6%

MOT results for 1999 Mercedes S 280 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	10	59.8%	127	97,205	Brakes — 25.2%
2010	11	69.9%	123	100,171	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 17.1%
2011	12	64.9%	111	102,880	Suspension — 20.7%
2012	13	56.1%	98	103,712	Suspension — 24.5%
2013	14	61.6%	86	104,970	Brakes — 48.8%
2014	15	64.0%	86	107,037	Brakes — 53.5%
2015	16	71.6%	67	111,831	Brakes — 38.8%
2016	17	53.6%	56	112,281	Brakes — 62.5%
2017	18	60.7%	56	120,366	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.6%
2018	19	58.1%	31	106,922	Suspension — 61.3%
2019	20	67.7%	31	113,482	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 51.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1999 Mercedes S 280, with age trends.

Brakes

35.9%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

35.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

33.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

28.4%

↑ Increases with age

Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems

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
Suspension	15.7% (10 yrs)	48.4% (20 yrs)	+32.7%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	25.2% (10 yrs)	32.3% (20 yrs)	+7.1%	🔴 ↑

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 1999 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2019, covering 872 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.