2008 · 16 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2008 Mercedes-Benz SLK MOT pass rate and common faults

3,111 MOT tests in 2024. 68.2% passed first time, compared with 56.9% for all cars the same age.

120Well above average
Passed first time68.2%
Failed or needed repairs31.9%
Typical mileage at test72,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 3,111 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken7.8%
  2. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn6.2%
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.0%
  4. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.6%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.1%
    97 marked dangerous
  6. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault1.7%
  7. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened1.5%
  8. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.3%
  9. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.2%
    55 marked dangerous
  10. Position lamp: not working1.1%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension21.1%
  2. Brakes11.9%
  3. Lights & electrics8.9%
  4. Tyres5.5%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.1%
  6. Emissions & leaks2.9%
  7. Seat belts & airbags2.0%
  8. Body & chassis1.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded17.2%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm13.8%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure10.0%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened7.7%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn7.2%

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 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLK?

In 2024, 68.2% of 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLK cars passed their MOT first time, across 3,111 tests. The average for all 16-year-old cars was 56.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLK?

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 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLK reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 120, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).