1996 Mercedes S 500 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age

30 years

Current Age

64.4%

Latest Pass Rate

933

Total Tests (All Years)

115,319 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 1996 Mercedes S 500 as it ages.

13 yrs58.4%

→ ↑7.4%

14 yrs65.8%

→ ↑0.6%

15 yrs66.4%

→ ↓3.9%

16 yrs62.5%

→ ↑13.9%

17 yrs76.4%

→ ↓15.5%

18 yrs60.9%

→ ↑13.7%

19 yrs74.6%

→ ↓4.3%

20 yrs70.3%

→ ↓5.9%

21 yrs64.4%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
13 yrs	58.4%	185
14 yrs	65.8%	158
15 yrs	66.4%	122
16 yrs	62.5%	112
17 yrs	76.4%	89
18 yrs	60.9%	87
19 yrs	74.6%	71
20 yrs	70.3%	64
21 yrs	64.4%	45

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1996 Mercedes S 500 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (21 yrs)	64.4%	45
2016 (20 yrs)	70.3%	64
2015 (19 yrs)	74.6%	71
2014 (18 yrs)	60.9%	87
2013 (17 yrs)	76.4%	89
2012 (16 yrs)	62.5%	112
2011 (15 yrs)	66.4%	122
2010 (14 yrs)	65.8%	158
2009 (13 yrs)	58.4%	185

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

58.4%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 185Avg Mileage 107,873Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.2%

2010

65.8%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 158Avg Mileage 113,099Top Failure Suspension — 18.4%

2011

66.4%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 122Avg Mileage 114,330Top Failure Suspension — 18.0%

2012High Fail Rate

62.5%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 112Avg Mileage 114,459Top Failure Suspension — 22.3%

2013

76.4%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 89Avg Mileage 115,449Top Failure Suspension — 49.4%

2014High Fail Rate

60.9%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 87Avg Mileage 115,728Top Failure Suspension — 63.2%

2015

74.6%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 71Avg Mileage 114,693Top Failure Suspension — 50.7%

2016

70.3%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 64Avg Mileage 115,556Top Failure Suspension — 57.8%

2017High Fail Rate

64.4%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 45Avg Mileage 115,319Top Failure Suspension — 64.4%

MOT results for 1996 Mercedes S 500 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	13	58.4%	185	107,873	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.2%
2010	14	65.8%	158	113,099	Suspension — 18.4%
2011	15	66.4%	122	114,330	Suspension — 18.0%
2012	16	62.5%	112	114,459	Suspension — 22.3%
2013	17	76.4%	89	115,449	Suspension — 49.4%
2014	18	60.9%	87	115,728	Suspension — 63.2%
2015	19	74.6%	71	114,693	Suspension — 50.7%
2016	20	70.3%	64	115,556	Suspension — 57.8%
2017	21	64.4%	45	115,319	Suspension — 64.4%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1996 Mercedes S 500, with age trends.

Suspension

40.2%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

33.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

23.4%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

16.0%

↑ Increases with age

Driver's View of the Road

14.5%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	17.3% (13 yrs)	64.4% (21 yrs)	+47.1%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	20.5% (13 yrs)	60.0% (21 yrs)	+39.5%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	23.2% (13 yrs)	40.0% (21 yrs)	+16.8%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	13.5% (13 yrs)	28.9% (21 yrs)	+15.4%	🔴 ↑
Driver's View of the Road	13.5% (13 yrs)	15.6% (21 yrs)	+2.1%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes S 500 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes S 500 cars manufactured in 1996 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 933 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.