2005 · 19 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK MOT pass rate and common faults

3,889 MOT tests in 2024. 60.8% passed first time, compared with 56.5% for all cars the same age.

108Above average
Passed first time60.8%
Failed or needed repairs39.2%
Typical mileage at test104,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 3,889 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn7.2%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken6.7%
  3. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect4.2%
  4. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction3.4%
  5. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.7%
  6. SRS malfunction indicator lamp: warning lamp indicates a fault2.6%
  7. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.4%
  8. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.4%
    184 marked dangerous
  9. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.3%
  10. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.1%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension27.2%
  2. Lights & electrics21.6%
  3. Brakes14.6%
  4. Emissions & leaks8.5%
  5. Tyres7.2%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.6%
  7. Steering4.1%
  8. Seat belts & airbags3.3%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm17.1%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded17.0%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened8.5%
  4. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine8.1%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn7.7%

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 CLK?

In 2024, 60.8% of 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK cars passed their MOT first time, across 3,889 tests. The average for all 19-year-old cars was 56.5%.

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

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 CLK reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 108, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).