2005 · 19 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK MOT pass rate and common faults

4,657 MOT tests in 2024. 67.2% passed first time, compared with 56.5% for all cars the same age.

119Well above average
Passed first time67.2%
Failed or needed repairs32.8%
Typical mileage at test79,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 4,657 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken6.0%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.4%
  3. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened3.5%
  4. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.9%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.4%
  6. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.8%
  7. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded1.7%
  8. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.7%
    126 marked dangerous
  9. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.6%
  10. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault1.4%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension22.1%
  2. Lights & electrics12.5%
  3. Brakes10.6%
  4. Emissions & leaks6.5%
  5. Tyres5.6%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.6%
  7. Body & chassis2.1%
  8. Steering2.0%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm13.7%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded13.3%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure9.7%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened8.2%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn7.3%

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 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK?

In 2024, 67.2% of 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK cars passed their MOT first time, across 4,657 tests. The average for all 19-year-old cars was 56.5%.

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

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened. The biggest problem area was suspension.

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

Its MOT Rank score is 119, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).