2006 · 18 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2006 Mercedes-Benz SL MOT pass rate and common faults

779 MOT tests in 2024. 80.1% passed first time, compared with 56.1% for all cars the same age.

143Well above average
Passed first time80.1%
Failed or needed repairs19.9%
Typical mileage at test72,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 779 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.5%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.2%
  3. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.9%
    25 marked dangerous
  4. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.8%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.8%
    23 marked dangerous
  6. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.4%
  7. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.2%
  8. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded1.2%
  9. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.0%
  10. Washers: not working0.8%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension8.9%
  2. Brakes6.7%
  3. Tyres6.0%
  4. Lights & electrics3.7%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.2%
  6. Emissions & leaks2.7%
  7. Steering0.8%
  8. Seat belts & airbags0.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm12.2%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded9.2%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure7.8%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened7.7%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick6.9%

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.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL?

In 2024, 80.1% of 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL cars passed their MOT first time, across 779 tests. The average for all 18-year-old cars was 56.1%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 143, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).