1998 Mercedes Sl 500 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age

28 years

Current Age

85.1%

Latest Pass Rate

1,582

Total Tests (All Years)

79,349 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 1998 Mercedes Sl 500 as it ages.

11 yrs79.2%

→ ↓3.4%

12 yrs75.8%

→ ↑5.7%

13 yrs81.5%

→ ↓5.5%

14 yrs76.0%

→ ↓0.1%

15 yrs75.9%

→ ↑1.8%

16 yrs77.7%

→ ↓0.0%

17 yrs77.7%

→ ↑1.1%

18 yrs78.8%

→ ↑1.6%

19 yrs80.4%

→ ↑4.3%

20 yrs84.7%

→ ↓12.6%

21 yrs72.1%

→ ↑13.0%

22 yrs85.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
11 yrs	79.2%	168
12 yrs	75.8%	165
13 yrs	81.5%	173
14 yrs	76.0%	167
15 yrs	75.9%	162
16 yrs	77.7%	157
17 yrs	77.7%	148
18 yrs	78.8%	156
19 yrs	80.4%	92
20 yrs	84.7%	59
21 yrs	72.1%	68
22 yrs	85.1%	67

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1998 Mercedes Sl 500 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (22 yrs)	85.1%	67
2019 (21 yrs)	72.1%	68
2018 (20 yrs)	84.7%	59
2017 (19 yrs)	80.4%	92
2016 (18 yrs)	78.8%	156
2015 (17 yrs)	77.7%	148
2014 (16 yrs)	77.7%	157
2013 (15 yrs)	75.9%	162
2012 (14 yrs)	76%	167
2011 (13 yrs)	81.5%	173
2010 (12 yrs)	75.8%	165
2009 (11 yrs)	79.2%	168

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

79.2%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 168Avg Mileage 64,227Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 10.7%

2010

75.8%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 165Avg Mileage 67,215Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 16.4%

2011

81.5%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 173Avg Mileage 68,148Top Failure Tyres — 7.5%

2012

76.0%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 167Avg Mileage 70,799Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 12.6%

2013

75.9%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 162Avg Mileage 74,391Top Failure Brakes — 29.6%

2014

77.7%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 157Avg Mileage 76,145Top Failure Brakes — 19.7%

2015

77.7%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 148Avg Mileage 80,757Top Failure Brakes — 26.4%

2016

78.8%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 156Avg Mileage 78,709Top Failure Brakes — 28.2%

2017

80.4%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 92Avg Mileage 75,063Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.6%

2018

84.7%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 59Avg Mileage 80,003Top Failure Suspension — 11.9%

2019

72.1%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 68Avg Mileage 78,117Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 22.1%

2020

85.1%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 67Avg Mileage 79,349Top Failure Suspension — 26.9%

MOT results for 1998 Mercedes Sl 500 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	11	79.2%	168	64,227	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 10.7%
2010	12	75.8%	165	67,215	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 16.4%
2011	13	81.5%	173	68,148	Tyres — 7.5%
2012	14	76.0%	167	70,799	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 12.6%
2013	15	75.9%	162	74,391	Brakes — 29.6%
2014	16	77.7%	157	76,145	Brakes — 19.7%
2015	17	77.7%	148	80,757	Brakes — 26.4%
2016	18	78.8%	156	78,709	Brakes — 28.2%
2017	19	80.4%	92	75,063	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.6%
2018	20	84.7%	59	80,003	Suspension — 11.9%
2019	21	72.1%	68	78,117	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 22.1%
2020	22	85.1%	67	79,349	Suspension — 26.9%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1998 Mercedes Sl 500, with age trends.

Brakes

15.7%

— Consistent

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

14.7%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

14.6%

↓ Decreases with age

Tyres

12.2%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

10.7%

↑ 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
Suspension	3.6% (11 yrs)	26.9% (22 yrs)	+23.3%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	7.1% (11 yrs)	16.4% (22 yrs)	+9.3%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	6.5% (11 yrs)	9.0% (22 yrs)	+2.5%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

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

About This Data

This page shows how Mercedes Sl 500 cars manufactured in 1998 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 1,582 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.