1997 Mercedes Sl 320 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

71.8%

Latest Pass Rate

4,912

Total Tests (All Years)

97,528 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 1997 Mercedes Sl 320 as it ages.

12 yrs77.2%

→ ↓1.4%

13 yrs75.8%

→ ↑2.6%

14 yrs78.4%

→ ↓3.2%

15 yrs75.2%

→ ↓0.5%

16 yrs74.7%

→ ↑0.1%

17 yrs74.8%

→ ↑2.1%

18 yrs76.9%

→ ↓0.7%

19 yrs76.2%

→ ↓0.2%

20 yrs76.0%

→ ↓6.4%

21 yrs69.6%

→ ↑5.4%

22 yrs75.0%

→ ↓3.2%

23 yrs71.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	77.2%	593
13 yrs	75.8%	579
14 yrs	78.4%	583
15 yrs	75.2%	557
16 yrs	74.7%	518
17 yrs	74.8%	520
18 yrs	76.9%	506
19 yrs	76.2%	487
20 yrs	76.0%	196
21 yrs	69.6%	135
22 yrs	75.0%	128
23 yrs	71.8%	110

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Mercedes Sl 320 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (23 yrs)	71.8%	110
2019 (22 yrs)	75%	128
2018 (21 yrs)	69.6%	135
2017 (20 yrs)	76%	196
2016 (19 yrs)	76.2%	487
2015 (18 yrs)	76.9%	506
2014 (17 yrs)	74.8%	520
2013 (16 yrs)	74.7%	518
2012 (15 yrs)	75.2%	557
2011 (14 yrs)	78.4%	583
2010 (13 yrs)	75.8%	579
2009 (12 yrs)	77.2%	593

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

77.2%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 593Avg Mileage 73,188Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 12.1%

2010

75.8%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 579Avg Mileage 76,412Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.8%

2011

78.4%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 583Avg Mileage 79,769Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 10.6%

2012

75.2%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 557Avg Mileage 82,589Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 12.9%

2013

74.7%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 518Avg Mileage 83,305Top Failure Brakes — 24.3%

2014

74.8%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 520Avg Mileage 86,395Top Failure Brakes — 24.4%

2015

76.9%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 506Avg Mileage 87,735Top Failure Brakes — 25.9%

2016

76.2%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 487Avg Mileage 87,187Top Failure Brakes — 29.2%

2017

76.0%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 196Avg Mileage 95,825Top Failure Brakes — 33.7%

2018

69.6%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 135Avg Mileage 97,801Top Failure Brakes — 28.1%

2019

75.0%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 128Avg Mileage 96,486Top Failure Brakes — 29.7%

2020

71.8%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 110Avg Mileage 97,528Top Failure Brakes — 35.5%

MOT results for 1997 Mercedes Sl 320 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	77.2%	593	73,188	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 12.1%
2010	13	75.8%	579	76,412	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.8%
2011	14	78.4%	583	79,769	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 10.6%
2012	15	75.2%	557	82,589	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 12.9%
2013	16	74.7%	518	83,305	Brakes — 24.3%
2014	17	74.8%	520	86,395	Brakes — 24.4%
2015	18	76.9%	506	87,735	Brakes — 25.9%
2016	19	76.2%	487	87,187	Brakes — 29.2%
2017	20	76.0%	196	95,825	Brakes — 33.7%
2018	21	69.6%	135	97,801	Brakes — 28.1%
2019	22	75.0%	128	96,486	Brakes — 29.7%
2020	23	71.8%	110	97,528	Brakes — 35.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Mercedes Sl 320, with age trends.

Brakes

22.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

22.6%

— Consistent

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

17.7%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

12.8%

↑ Increases with age

Noise, emissions and leaks

11.4%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	5.7% (12 yrs)	30.0% (23 yrs)	+24.3%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	11.6% (12 yrs)	35.5% (23 yrs)	+23.9%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	9.1% (12 yrs)	12.7% (23 yrs)	+3.6%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

← Back to Mercedes Sl 320 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Mercedes Sl 320 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes Sl 320 cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 4,912 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.