1998 Mercedes S 320 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

61.3%

Latest Pass Rate

2,926

Total Tests (All Years)

116,535 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 320 as it ages.

11 yrs57.8%

→ ↓0.5%

12 yrs57.3%

→ ↑1.6%

13 yrs58.9%

→ ↓2.3%

14 yrs56.6%

→ ↑2.9%

15 yrs59.5%

→ ↑0.5%

16 yrs60.0%

→ ↑2.3%

17 yrs62.3%

→ ↑0.5%

18 yrs62.8%

→ ↑3.3%

19 yrs66.1%

→ ↑4.2%

20 yrs70.3%

→ ↓15.8%

21 yrs54.5%

→ ↑6.8%

22 yrs61.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	57.8%	498
12 yrs	57.3%	431
13 yrs	58.9%	392
14 yrs	56.6%	334
15 yrs	59.5%	274
16 yrs	60.0%	250
17 yrs	62.3%	231
18 yrs	62.8%	199
19 yrs	66.1%	115
20 yrs	70.3%	74
21 yrs	54.5%	66
22 yrs	61.3%	62

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Mercedes S 320 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (22 yrs)	61.3%	62
2019 (21 yrs)	54.5%	66
2018 (20 yrs)	70.3%	74
2017 (19 yrs)	66.1%	115
2016 (18 yrs)	62.8%	199
2015 (17 yrs)	62.3%	231
2014 (16 yrs)	60%	250
2013 (15 yrs)	59.5%	274
2012 (14 yrs)	56.6%	334
2011 (13 yrs)	58.9%	392
2010 (12 yrs)	57.3%	431
2009 (11 yrs)	57.8%	498

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

57.8%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 498Avg Mileage 116,392Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.7%

2010High Fail Rate

57.3%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 431Avg Mileage 115,241Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.8%

2011High Fail Rate

58.9%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 392Avg Mileage 115,540Top Failure Brakes — 21.9%

2012High Fail Rate

56.6%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 334Avg Mileage 115,796Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.5%

2013High Fail Rate

59.5%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 274Avg Mileage 114,624Top Failure Brakes — 59.1%

2014High Fail Rate

60.0%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 250Avg Mileage 115,733Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.2%

2015High Fail Rate

62.3%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 231Avg Mileage 116,438Top Failure Brakes — 48.5%

2016High Fail Rate

62.8%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 199Avg Mileage 116,600Top Failure Brakes — 56.8%

2017

66.1%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 115Avg Mileage 120,907Top Failure Brakes — 48.7%

2018

70.3%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 74Avg Mileage 118,098Top Failure Brakes — 44.6%

2019High Fail Rate

54.5%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 66Avg Mileage 118,911Top Failure Brakes — 95.5%

2020High Fail Rate

61.3%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 62Avg Mileage 116,535Top Failure Brakes — 66.1%

MOT results for 1998 Mercedes S 320 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	57.8%	498	116,392	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.7%
2010	12	57.3%	431	115,241	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 25.8%
2011	13	58.9%	392	115,540	Brakes — 21.9%
2012	14	56.6%	334	115,796	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.5%
2013	15	59.5%	274	114,624	Brakes — 59.1%
2014	16	60.0%	250	115,733	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.2%
2015	17	62.3%	231	116,438	Brakes — 48.5%
2016	18	62.8%	199	116,600	Brakes — 56.8%
2017	19	66.1%	115	120,907	Brakes — 48.7%
2018	20	70.3%	74	118,098	Brakes — 44.6%
2019	21	54.5%	66	118,911	Brakes — 95.5%
2020	22	61.3%	62	116,535	Brakes — 66.1%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Mercedes S 320, with age trends.

Brakes

45.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

42.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

38.5%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

32.5%

↓ Decreases with age

Noise, emissions and leaks

29.4%

↓ Decreases 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	20.3% (11 yrs)	66.1% (22 yrs)	+45.8%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	16.7% (11 yrs)	43.5% (22 yrs)	+26.8%	🔴 ↑

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 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 2,926 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.