1998 · 26 years old at test · Petrol mostly

1998 Mercedes-Benz SLK MOT pass rate and common faults

920 MOT tests in 2024. 66.5% passed first time, compared with 64.9% for all cars the same age.

102Above average
Passed first time66.5%
Failed or needed repairs33.5%
Typical mileage at test89,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 920 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Stop lamp: not working6.7%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken2.7%
  3. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.7%
  4. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.3%
  5. Position lamp: not working2.0%
  6. Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits1.4%
  7. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded1.4%
  8. All direction indicators: not working1.4%
  9. Lamp: inoperative1.3%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics32.1%
  2. Brakes9.2%
  3. Suspension7.6%
  4. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.8%
  5. Emissions & leaks5.4%
  6. Tyres5.0%
  7. Body & chassis3.5%
  8. Steering1.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded16.3%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm13.0%
  3. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure11.1%
  4. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened10.7%
  5. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened7.7%

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: stop lamp: not working. 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 1998 Mercedes-Benz SLK?

In 2024, 66.5% of 1998 Mercedes-Benz SLK cars passed their MOT first time, across 920 tests. The average for all 26-year-old cars was 64.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 1998 Mercedes-Benz SLK?

The most common failure reasons were stop lamp: not working; coil spring: fractured or broken; headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 1998 Mercedes-Benz SLK reliable at MOT time?

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