2000 · 24 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2000 Mercedes-Benz Cl 500 MOT pass rate and common faults

136 MOT tests in 2024. 69.1% passed first time, compared with 61.5% for all cars the same age.

112Well above average
Passed first time69.1%
Failed or needed repairs30.9%
Typical mileage at test109,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 136 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault4.4%
  2. Position lamp: not working3.7%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.9%
    10 marked dangerous
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.9%
    5 marked dangerous
  5. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits2.2%
  6. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.2%
  7. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.2%
  8. Seat belts - prescribed areas: prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced2.2%
  9. Service brake imbalance: across an axle1.5%
  10. Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush1.5%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics16.2%
  2. Brakes13.2%
  3. Suspension11.0%
  4. Emissions & leaks8.1%
  5. Seat belts & airbags7.4%
  6. Tyres7.4%
  7. Body & chassis5.1%
  8. Steering2.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded19.1%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm16.9%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine16.2%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn8.8%
  5. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play8.1%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: srs malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

All Cl 500 years2001 Cl 500 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2000 Mercedes-Benz Cl 500?

In 2024, 69.1% of 2000 Mercedes-Benz Cl 500 cars passed their MOT first time, across 136 tests. The average for all 24-year-old cars was 61.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2000 Mercedes-Benz Cl 500?

The most common failure reasons were srs malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault; position lamp: not working; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2000 Mercedes-Benz Cl 500 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 112, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).