Mercedes-Benz 500: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Mercedes-Benz 500 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 7.8 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 942 individual Mercedes-Benz 500 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate84.5%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+7.8 points
Tests analysed942
Average mileage at test100,469 miles
Average year of manufacture1989
Reliability rank1,276 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 84.5% first-time pass rate means roughly 16 in every 100 Mercedes-Benz 500s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Mercedes-Benz 500 tested had covered 100,469 miles and was built around 1989.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a Mercedes-Benz 500 bought as a repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Mercedes-Benz 500 rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see what damaged Mercedes-Benz 500s actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz 500

  1. Fuel system leaking excessively or a risk of fire, 0.7% of tests (15.27x the national rate for this defect)
  2. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 1.4% of tests (4.71x the national rate for this defect)
  3. An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1% of tests (2.99x the national rate for this defect)
  4. Audible warning inoperative, 0.6% of tests (2.86x the national rate for this defect)
  5. Warning device shows system malfunction, 0.8% of tests (2.5x the national rate for this defect)
  6. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.4% of tests (1.77x the national rate for this defect)
  7. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.1% of tests (1.37x the national rate for this defect)
  8. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 1.8% of tests
  9. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1% of tests
  10. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 1% of tests

From 2,473 DVSA-tracked Mercedes-Benz 500 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 2.05% of these flagged Mercedes-Benz 500 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

Other Mercedes-Benz models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate