2005 · 19 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class MOT pass rate and common faults

8,799 MOT tests in 2024. 57.9% passed first time, compared with 56.5% for all cars the same age.

102Above average
Passed first time57.9%
Failed or needed repairs42.1%
Typical mileage at test117,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 8,799 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn9.5%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.5%
  3. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect4.1%
  4. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction3.6%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.6%
    503 marked dangerous
  6. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.5%
  7. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.2%
  8. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.4%
  9. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.2%
  10. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.1%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension31.9%
  2. Lights & electrics24.2%
  3. Brakes16.6%
  4. Emissions & leaks12.1%
  5. Tyres8.4%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.2%
  7. Steering4.9%
  8. Body & chassis3.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm19.4%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded19.0%
  3. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened15.3%
  4. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened11.4%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened9.6%

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: suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. 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 C-Class?

In 2024, 57.9% of 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class cars passed their MOT first time, across 8,799 tests. The average for all 19-year-old cars was 56.5%.

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

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; coil spring: fractured or broken; headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 102, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).