1997 Mercedes S 500 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

73.2%

Latest Pass Rate

644

Total Tests (All Years)

119,545 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 20

This car: 73.2%

Average: 56.6%

✅ 16.6% above average (6824 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 Mercedes S 500 as it ages.

12 yrs59.0%

→ ↓3.0%

13 yrs56.0%

→ ↑1.8%

14 yrs57.8%

→ ↑5.9%

15 yrs63.7%

→ ↓5.6%

16 yrs58.1%

→ ↑5.4%

17 yrs63.5%

→ ↑1.8%

18 yrs65.3%

→ ↑7.4%

19 yrs72.7%

→ ↑0.5%

20 yrs73.2%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	59.0%	117
13 yrs	56.0%	109
14 yrs	57.8%	90
15 yrs	63.7%	80
16 yrs	58.1%	62
17 yrs	63.5%	52
18 yrs	65.3%	49
19 yrs	72.7%	44
20 yrs	73.2%	41

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mercedes S 500 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (20 yrs)	73.2%	41
2016 (19 yrs)	72.7%	44
2015 (18 yrs)	65.3%	49
2014 (17 yrs)	63.5%	52
2013 (16 yrs)	58.1%	62
2012 (15 yrs)	63.7%	80
2011 (14 yrs)	57.8%	90
2010 (13 yrs)	56%	109
2009 (12 yrs)	59%	117

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

59.0%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 117Avg Mileage 111,959Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.5%

2010High Fail Rate

56.0%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 109Avg Mileage 119,149Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.6%

2011High Fail Rate

57.8%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 90Avg Mileage 114,979Top Failure Suspension — 23.3%

2012High Fail Rate

63.7%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 80Avg Mileage 115,592Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.0%

2013High Fail Rate

58.1%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 62Avg Mileage 111,707Top Failure Brakes — 58.1%

2014High Fail Rate

63.5%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 52Avg Mileage 107,922Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 61.5%

2015

65.3%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 49Avg Mileage 133,590Top Failure Brakes — 42.9%

2016

72.7%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 44Avg Mileage 118,218Top Failure Brakes — 43.2%

2017

73.2%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 41Avg Mileage 119,545Top Failure Suspension — 31.7%

MOT results for 1997 Mercedes S 500 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	59.0%	117	111,959	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.5%
2010	13	56.0%	109	119,149	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.6%
2011	14	57.8%	90	114,979	Suspension — 23.3%
2012	15	63.7%	80	115,592	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.0%
2013	16	58.1%	62	111,707	Brakes — 58.1%
2014	17	63.5%	52	107,922	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 61.5%
2015	18	65.3%	49	133,590	Brakes — 42.9%
2016	19	72.7%	44	118,218	Brakes — 43.2%
2017	20	73.2%	41	119,545	Suspension — 31.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mercedes S 500, with age trends.

Brakes

32.3%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

31.3%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

27.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Driver's View of the Road

18.8%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

17.7%

↑ 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
Driver's View of the Road	12.0% (12 yrs)	26.8% (20 yrs)	+14.8%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	18.8% (12 yrs)	31.7% (20 yrs)	+12.9%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	15.4% (12 yrs)	22.0% (20 yrs)	+6.6%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	20.5% (12 yrs)	14.6% (20 yrs)	-5.9%	🟢 ↓
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	26.5% (12 yrs)	22.0% (20 yrs)	-4.5%	🟢 ↓

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 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 644 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.