2003 Mercedes S 500 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 2003 perform at MOT as they age

23 years

Current Age

76.8%

Latest Pass Rate

2,987

Total Tests (All Years)

111,444 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 17

This car: 76.8%

Average: 53.5%

✅ 23.3% above average (9249 models compared)

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 2003 Mercedes S 500 as it ages.

6 yrs82.2%

→ ↓3.3%

7 yrs78.9%

→ ↓7.1%

8 yrs71.8%

→ ↑0.7%

9 yrs72.5%

→ ↓0.4%

10 yrs72.1%

→ ↑0.9%

11 yrs73.0%

→ ↓1.2%

12 yrs71.8%

→ ↓0.3%

13 yrs71.5%

→ ↓5.2%

14 yrs66.3%

→ ↑12.1%

15 yrs78.4%

→ ↑1.9%

16 yrs80.3%

→ ↓3.5%

17 yrs76.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
6 yrs	82.2%	332
7 yrs	78.9%	318
8 yrs	71.8%	333
9 yrs	72.5%	316
10 yrs	72.1%	323
11 yrs	73.0%	300
12 yrs	71.8%	287
13 yrs	71.5%	263
14 yrs	66.3%	178
15 yrs	78.4%	116
16 yrs	80.3%	122
17 yrs	76.8%	99

Pass Rate Trend

How the 2003 Mercedes S 500 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (17 yrs)	76.8%	99
2019 (16 yrs)	80.3%	122
2018 (15 yrs)	78.4%	116
2017 (14 yrs)	66.3%	178
2016 (13 yrs)	71.5%	263
2015 (12 yrs)	71.8%	287
2014 (11 yrs)	73%	300
2013 (10 yrs)	72.1%	323
2012 (9 yrs)	72.5%	316
2011 (8 yrs)	71.8%	333
2010 (7 yrs)	78.9%	318
2009 (6 yrs)	82.2%	332

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

82.2%

Age (yrs) 6Tests 332Avg Mileage 67,461Top Failure Tyres — 12.0%

2010

78.9%

Age (yrs) 7Tests 318Avg Mileage 78,438Top Failure Tyres — 13.5%

2011

71.8%

Age (yrs) 8Tests 333Avg Mileage 81,918Top Failure Tyres — 18.3%

2012

72.5%

Age (yrs) 9Tests 316Avg Mileage 88,343Top Failure Tyres — 12.3%

2013

72.1%

Age (yrs) 10Tests 323Avg Mileage 91,308Top Failure Tyres — 26.9%

2014

73.0%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 300Avg Mileage 98,297Top Failure Tyres — 31.7%

2015

71.8%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 287Avg Mileage 101,716Top Failure Brakes — 28.6%

2016

71.5%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 263Avg Mileage 106,488Top Failure Brakes — 34.6%

2017

66.3%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 178Avg Mileage 104,999Top Failure Brakes — 50.6%

2018

78.4%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 116Avg Mileage 102,017Top Failure Brakes — 30.2%

2019

80.3%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 122Avg Mileage 104,520Top Failure Brakes — 41.8%

2020

76.8%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 99Avg Mileage 111,444Top Failure Brakes — 30.3%

MOT results for 2003 Mercedes S 500 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	6	82.2%	332	67,461	Tyres — 12.0%
2010	7	78.9%	318	78,438	Tyres — 13.5%
2011	8	71.8%	333	81,918	Tyres — 18.3%
2012	9	72.5%	316	88,343	Tyres — 12.3%
2013	10	72.1%	323	91,308	Tyres — 26.9%
2014	11	73.0%	300	98,297	Tyres — 31.7%
2015	12	71.8%	287	101,716	Brakes — 28.6%
2016	13	71.5%	263	106,488	Brakes — 34.6%
2017	14	66.3%	178	104,999	Brakes — 50.6%
2018	15	78.4%	116	102,017	Brakes — 30.2%
2019	16	80.3%	122	104,520	Brakes — 41.8%
2020	17	76.8%	99	111,444	Brakes — 30.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 2003 Mercedes S 500, with age trends.

Brakes

24.5%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

20.2%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

18.6%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

18.1%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

11.6%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	6.0% (6 yrs)	30.3% (17 yrs)	+24.3%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	12.0% (6 yrs)	28.3% (17 yrs)	+16.3%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	3.3% (6 yrs)	15.2% (17 yrs)	+11.9%	🔴 ↑

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 2003 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 2,987 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.