2005 · 19 years old at test · Diesel mostly

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

508 MOT tests in 2024. 68.7% passed first time, compared with 56.5% for all cars the same age.

122Well above average
Passed first time68.7%
Failed or needed repairs31.3%
Typical mileage at test118,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 508 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.5%
  2. Side repeaters: not working4.3%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.3%
    32 marked dangerous
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.1%
    18 marked dangerous
  5. Position lamp: not working3.0%
  6. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.8%
  7. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.2%
  8. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.2%
  9. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.0%
  10. Rigid brake pipes: leaking on a hydraulic braking system1.6%
    10 marked dangerous

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics22.4%
  2. Brakes15.4%
  3. Suspension14.8%
  4. Tyres5.9%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)3.7%
  6. Steering3.1%
  7. Body & chassis2.6%
  8. Seat belts & airbags2.0%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm17.7%
  2. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded17.1%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick10.8%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.6%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure8.5%

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 S-Class?

In 2024, 68.7% of 2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars passed their MOT first time, across 508 tests. The average for all 19-year-old cars was 56.5%.

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

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn; side repeaters: not working; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

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

Its MOT Rank score is 122, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).