2006 · 18 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT pass rate and common faults

3,598 MOT tests in 2024. 66.6% passed first time, compared with 56.1% for all cars the same age.

119Well above average
Passed first time66.6%
Failed or needed repairs33.4%
Typical mileage at test131,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 3,598 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn7.3%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.7%
    228 marked dangerous
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.2%
  4. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play3.1%
  5. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.6%
    141 marked dangerous
  6. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.3%
  7. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.1%
  8. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.6%
  9. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.5%
    66 marked dangerous
  10. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.4%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension17.3%
  2. Brakes14.0%
  3. Lights & electrics12.4%
  4. Tyres9.6%
  5. Emissions & leaks6.0%
  6. Steering4.4%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.8%
  8. Body & chassis2.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded22.3%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm21.0%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine10.4%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn8.9%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.8%

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.

← 2005 E-ClassAll E-Class years2007 E-Class →

Questions

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

In 2024, 66.6% of 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars passed their MOT first time, across 3,598 tests. The average for all 18-year-old cars was 56.1%.

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

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 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).