1997 Mercedes S 320 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

66.7%

Latest Pass Rate

2,261

Total Tests (All Years)

123,486 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 1997 Mercedes S 320 as it ages.

12 yrs61.4%

→ ↓3.5%

13 yrs57.9%

→ ↑4.1%

14 yrs62.0%

→ ↓2.6%

15 yrs59.4%

→ ↑1.2%

16 yrs60.6%

→ ↑0.5%

17 yrs61.1%

→ ↑3.8%

18 yrs64.9%

→ ↑3.5%

19 yrs68.4%

→ ↓2.5%

20 yrs65.9%

→ ↑11.7%

21 yrs77.6%

→ ↓8.4%

22 yrs69.2%

→ ↓2.5%

23 yrs66.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	61.4%	414
13 yrs	57.9%	373
14 yrs	62.0%	321
15 yrs	59.4%	251
16 yrs	60.6%	198
17 yrs	61.1%	162
18 yrs	64.9%	151
19 yrs	68.4%	136
20 yrs	65.9%	91
21 yrs	77.6%	58
22 yrs	69.2%	52
23 yrs	66.7%	54

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mercedes S 320 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (23 yrs)	66.7%	54
2019 (22 yrs)	69.2%	52
2018 (21 yrs)	77.6%	58
2017 (20 yrs)	65.9%	91
2016 (19 yrs)	68.4%	136
2015 (18 yrs)	64.9%	151
2014 (17 yrs)	61.1%	162
2013 (16 yrs)	60.6%	198
2012 (15 yrs)	59.4%	251
2011 (14 yrs)	62%	321
2010 (13 yrs)	57.9%	373
2009 (12 yrs)	61.4%	414

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

61.4%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 414Avg Mileage 108,897Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.0%

2010High Fail Rate

57.9%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 373Avg Mileage 114,657Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.8%

2011High Fail Rate

62.0%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 321Avg Mileage 114,941Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.9%

2012High Fail Rate

59.4%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 251Avg Mileage 114,025Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.9%

2013High Fail Rate

60.6%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 198Avg Mileage 112,224Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.5%

2014High Fail Rate

61.1%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 162Avg Mileage 109,698Top Failure Brakes — 58.0%

2015High Fail Rate

64.9%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 151Avg Mileage 113,203Top Failure Suspension — 47.7%

2016

68.4%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 136Avg Mileage 110,900Top Failure Brakes — 39.7%

2017

65.9%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 91Avg Mileage 115,808Top Failure Suspension — 36.3%

2018

77.6%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 58Avg Mileage 118,016Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 24.1%

2019

69.2%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 52Avg Mileage 114,420Top Failure Brakes — 50.0%

2020

66.7%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 54Avg Mileage 123,486Top Failure Suspension — 63.0%

MOT results for 1997 Mercedes S 320 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	61.4%	414	108,897	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.0%
2010	13	57.9%	373	114,657	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.8%
2011	14	62.0%	321	114,941	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.9%
2012	15	59.4%	251	114,025	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.9%
2013	16	60.6%	198	112,224	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.5%
2014	17	61.1%	162	109,698	Brakes — 58.0%
2015	18	64.9%	151	113,203	Suspension — 47.7%
2016	19	68.4%	136	110,900	Brakes — 39.7%
2017	20	65.9%	91	115,808	Suspension — 36.3%
2018	21	77.6%	58	118,016	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 24.1%
2019	22	69.2%	52	114,420	Brakes — 50.0%
2020	23	66.7%	54	123,486	Suspension — 63.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mercedes S 320, with age trends.

Suspension

33.3%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

32.7%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

31.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

30.1%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

18.1%

↑ 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% (12 yrs)	63.0% (23 yrs)	+46.6%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	16.4% (12 yrs)	55.6% (23 yrs)	+39.2%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	13.5% (12 yrs)	35.2% (23 yrs)	+21.7%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes S 320 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes S 320 cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 2,261 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.