2003 Mercedes S 320 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 2003 perform at MOT as they age

23 years

Current Age

69.3%

Latest Pass Rate

13,613

Total Tests (All Years)

140,224 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 17

This car: 69.3%

Average: 53.5%

✅ 15.8% above average (9249 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 2003 Mercedes S 320 as it ages.

6 yrs78.0%

→ ↓5.0%

7 yrs73.0%

→ ↓1.1%

8 yrs71.9%

→ ↓2.2%

9 yrs69.7%

→ ↓0.8%

10 yrs68.9%

→ ↓2.9%

11 yrs66.0%

→ ↑2.8%

12 yrs68.8%

→ ↓1.2%

13 yrs67.6%

→ ↓2.3%

14 yrs65.3%

→ ↓0.2%

15 yrs65.1%

→ ↑0.5%

16 yrs65.6%

→ ↑3.7%

17 yrs69.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
6 yrs	78.0%	1,583
7 yrs	73.0%	1,537
8 yrs	71.9%	1,518
9 yrs	69.7%	1,484
10 yrs	68.9%	1,365
11 yrs	66.0%	1,296
12 yrs	68.8%	1,252
13 yrs	67.6%	1,159
14 yrs	65.3%	902
15 yrs	65.1%	596
16 yrs	65.6%	511
17 yrs	69.3%	410

Pass Rate Trend

How the 2003 Mercedes S 320 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (17 yrs)	69.3%	410
2019 (16 yrs)	65.6%	511
2018 (15 yrs)	65.1%	596
2017 (14 yrs)	65.3%	902
2016 (13 yrs)	67.6%	1,159
2015 (12 yrs)	68.8%	1,252
2014 (11 yrs)	66%	1,296
2013 (10 yrs)	68.9%	1,365
2012 (9 yrs)	69.7%	1,484
2011 (8 yrs)	71.9%	1,518
2010 (7 yrs)	73%	1,537
2009 (6 yrs)	78%	1,583

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

78.0%

Age (yrs) 6Tests 1,583Avg Mileage 85,833Top Failure Tyres — 10.9%

2010

73.0%

Age (yrs) 7Tests 1,537Avg Mileage 97,263Top Failure Tyres — 12.3%

2011

71.9%

Age (yrs) 8Tests 1,518Avg Mileage 105,110Top Failure Tyres — 13.4%

2012

69.7%

Age (yrs) 9Tests 1,484Avg Mileage 115,186Top Failure Suspension — 15.0%

2013

68.9%

Age (yrs) 10Tests 1,365Avg Mileage 120,380Top Failure Brakes — 29.0%

2014

66.0%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 1,296Avg Mileage 123,465Top Failure Brakes — 36.9%

2015

68.8%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 1,252Avg Mileage 129,348Top Failure Brakes — 30.8%

2016

67.6%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 1,159Avg Mileage 135,559Top Failure Brakes — 37.7%

2017

65.3%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 902Avg Mileage 135,958Top Failure Brakes — 44.5%

2018

65.1%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 596Avg Mileage 139,712Top Failure Brakes — 53.0%

2019

65.6%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 511Avg Mileage 142,742Top Failure Brakes — 46.0%

2020

69.3%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 410Avg Mileage 140,224Top Failure Brakes — 35.9%

MOT results for 2003 Mercedes S 320 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	6	78.0%	1,583	85,833	Tyres — 10.9%
2010	7	73.0%	1,537	97,263	Tyres — 12.3%
2011	8	71.9%	1,518	105,110	Tyres — 13.4%
2012	9	69.7%	1,484	115,186	Suspension — 15.0%
2013	10	68.9%	1,365	120,380	Brakes — 29.0%
2014	11	66.0%	1,296	123,465	Brakes — 36.9%
2015	12	68.8%	1,252	129,348	Brakes — 30.8%
2016	13	67.6%	1,159	135,559	Brakes — 37.7%
2017	14	65.3%	902	135,958	Brakes — 44.5%
2018	15	65.1%	596	139,712	Brakes — 53.0%
2019	16	65.6%	511	142,742	Brakes — 46.0%
2020	17	69.3%	410	140,224	Brakes — 35.9%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 2003 Mercedes S 320, with age trends.

Brakes

29.5%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

26.2%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

23.7%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

21.5%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

17.0%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	6.6% (6 yrs)	35.1% (17 yrs)	+28.5%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	7.5% (6 yrs)	35.9% (17 yrs)	+28.4%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	10.9% (6 yrs)	23.4% (17 yrs)	+12.5%	🔴 ↑
Steering	3.2% (6 yrs)	8.3% (17 yrs)	+5.1%	🔴 ↑

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 2003 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 13,613 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.