2017 · 7 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2017 Mercedes-Benz SL MOT pass rate and common faults

631 MOT tests in 2024. 90.6% passed first time, compared with 79.8% for all cars the same age.

114Well above average
Passed first time90.6%
Failed or needed repairs9.4%
Typical mileage at test28,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 631 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.7%
    20 marked dangerous
  2. Tyres - condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure1.4%
    13 marked dangerous
  3. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.1%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn1.1%
  5. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction0.8%
  6. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure0.6%
    7 marked dangerous
  7. Tyres - condition: has a lump, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure0.5%
    3 marked dangerous
  8. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm0.3%
    3 marked dangerous
  9. Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits0.3%
  10. Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits0.3%

Problem areas

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

  1. Tyres5.9%
  2. Emissions & leaks2.1%
  3. Suspension1.4%
  4. Lights & electrics1.1%
  5. Brakes0.8%
  6. Wheels0.3%
  7. Number plates & VIN0.2%
  8. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)0.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm10.0%
  2. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure6.2%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords3.0%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.9%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.7%

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: tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

← 2016 SLAll SL years2018 SL →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2017 Mercedes-Benz SL?

In 2024, 90.6% of 2017 Mercedes-Benz SL cars passed their MOT first time, across 631 tests. The average for all 7-year-old cars was 79.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2017 Mercedes-Benz SL?

The most common failure reasons were tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed; tyres - condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure; tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords. The biggest problem area was tyres.

Is the 2017 Mercedes-Benz SL reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 114, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).