2005 · 19 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2005 Mercedes-Benz SL MOT pass rate and common faults

1,086 MOT tests in 2024. 81.3% passed first time, compared with 56.5% for all cars the same age.

144Well above average
Passed first time81.3%
Failed or needed repairs18.7%
Typical mileage at test73,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,086 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.3%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn1.7%
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded1.4%
  4. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.3%
    26 marked dangerous
  5. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.2%
  6. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.1%
  7. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.1%
  8. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm0.9%
    17 marked dangerous
  9. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick0.9%
    13 marked dangerous
  10. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn0.8%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension8.7%
  2. Brakes7.0%
  3. Tyres5.4%
  4. Lights & electrics4.1%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)2.6%
  6. Emissions & leaks1.3%
  7. Number plates & VIN0.7%
  8. Steering0.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm9.9%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded8.9%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened8.0%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure6.5%
  5. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine5.5%

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: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2004 SLAll SL years2006 SL →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL?

In 2024, 81.3% of 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,086 tests. The average for all 19-year-old cars was 56.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 144, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).