2003 Mercedes Sl 500 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 2003 perform at MOT as they age

23 years

Current Age

79.0%

Latest Pass Rate

11,668

Total Tests (All Years)

74,158 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Compared to Average at Age 17

This car: 79.0%

Average: 53.5%

✅ 25.5% above average (9249 models compared)

How This Car Ages

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

6 yrs84.0%

→ ↓0.7%

7 yrs83.3%

→ ↓0.8%

8 yrs82.5%

→ ↓4.2%

9 yrs78.3%

→ ↑0.5%

10 yrs78.8%

→ ↓2.2%

11 yrs76.6%

→ ↓0.4%

12 yrs76.2%

→ ↑1.9%

13 yrs78.1%

→ ↓1.0%

14 yrs77.1%

→ ↓2.3%

15 yrs74.8%

→ ↑2.0%

16 yrs76.8%

→ ↑2.2%

17 yrs79.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
6 yrs	84.0%	1,120
7 yrs	83.3%	1,081
8 yrs	82.5%	1,146
9 yrs	78.3%	1,122
10 yrs	78.8%	1,088
11 yrs	76.6%	1,097
12 yrs	76.2%	1,083
13 yrs	78.1%	1,055
14 yrs	77.1%	942
15 yrs	74.8%	643
16 yrs	76.8%	677
17 yrs	79.0%	614

Pass Rate Trend

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

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (17 yrs)	79%	614
2019 (16 yrs)	76.8%	677
2018 (15 yrs)	74.8%	643
2017 (14 yrs)	77.1%	942
2016 (13 yrs)	78.1%	1,055
2015 (12 yrs)	76.2%	1,083
2014 (11 yrs)	76.6%	1,097
2013 (10 yrs)	78.8%	1,088
2012 (9 yrs)	78.3%	1,122
2011 (8 yrs)	82.5%	1,146
2010 (7 yrs)	83.3%	1,081
2009 (6 yrs)	84%	1,120

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

84.0%

Age (yrs) 6Tests 1,120Avg Mileage 38,304Top Failure Tyres — 7.8%

2010

83.3%

Age (yrs) 7Tests 1,081Avg Mileage 44,007Top Failure Tyres — 8.0%

2011

82.5%

Age (yrs) 8Tests 1,146Avg Mileage 47,689Top Failure Suspension — 8.6%

2012

78.3%

Age (yrs) 9Tests 1,122Avg Mileage 53,224Top Failure Suspension — 10.9%

2013

78.8%

Age (yrs) 10Tests 1,088Avg Mileage 55,970Top Failure Suspension — 22.2%

2014

76.6%

Age (yrs) 11Tests 1,097Avg Mileage 58,562Top Failure Suspension — 23.5%

2015

76.2%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 1,083Avg Mileage 62,835Top Failure Suspension — 23.0%

2016

78.1%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 1,055Avg Mileage 66,883Top Failure Suspension — 21.5%

2017

77.1%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 942Avg Mileage 67,868Top Failure Suspension — 26.4%

2018

74.8%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 643Avg Mileage 69,897Top Failure Brakes — 25.0%

2019

76.8%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 677Avg Mileage 71,762Top Failure Suspension — 29.0%

2020

79.0%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 614Avg Mileage 74,158Top Failure Suspension — 25.9%

MOT results for 2003 Mercedes Sl 500 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	6	84.0%	1,120	38,304	Tyres — 7.8%
2010	7	83.3%	1,081	44,007	Tyres — 8.0%
2011	8	82.5%	1,146	47,689	Suspension — 8.6%
2012	9	78.3%	1,122	53,224	Suspension — 10.9%
2013	10	78.8%	1,088	55,970	Suspension — 22.2%
2014	11	76.6%	1,097	58,562	Suspension — 23.5%
2015	12	76.2%	1,083	62,835	Suspension — 23.0%
2016	13	78.1%	1,055	66,883	Suspension — 21.5%
2017	14	77.1%	942	67,868	Suspension — 26.4%
2018	15	74.8%	643	69,897	Brakes — 25.0%
2019	16	76.8%	677	71,762	Suspension — 29.0%
2020	17	79.0%	614	74,158	Suspension — 25.9%

Common MOT Failures

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

Suspension

18.9%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

13.9%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

13.5%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

6.8%

— Consistent

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

6.3%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	5.4% (6 yrs)	25.9% (17 yrs)	+20.5%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	3.9% (6 yrs)	17.1% (17 yrs)	+13.2%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	7.8% (6 yrs)	13.8% (17 yrs)	+6.0%	🔴 ↑

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 2003 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 11,668 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.