Petrol Mercedes-Benz S-Class: MOT pass rate
84.8% of petrol Mercedes-Benz S-Class pass the MOT first time, measured across 6,835 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 81,126.
Petrol against the other Mercedes-Benz S-Class versions
| Fuel | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 85.2% | 17,692 |
| Petrol | 84.8% | 6,835 |
| Hybrid | 90.2% | 899 |
| All Mercedes-Benz S-Class | 85.2% | 25,599 |
Why the fuel type changes the number
Petrol cars avoid the DPF and emissions failures that catch diesels, and usually fail on the same consumables as any other car.
On the Mercedes-Benz S-Class specifically, hybrid is the strongest at 90.2%, and this petrol version sits 0.4 points below the 85.2% model average.
What it means if you are buying one
There is little to choose between fuel types on this model, so decide on running costs and mileage rather than MOT record. Check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.
Mileage is part of the answer
The average petrol Mercedes-Benz S-Class had covered 81,126 miles at test, against 99,135 for the diesel and 68,241 for the hybrid. That is above average, the point where suspension bushes, drop links and exhaust corrosion start showing up as advisories before they become failures.
Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.
Other Mercedes-Benz S-Class fuel types
- Diesel Mercedes-Benz S-Class - 85.2%
- Hybrid Mercedes-Benz S-Class - 90.2%