Mercedes-Benz 310
VanFrom 448 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired and a body or cab insecure. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 25 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 25 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 25 |
| a body or cab insecure | 24 |
| brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 22 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 18 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 18 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 17 |
| service brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 17 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 16 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 15 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 45.2% of failures are serious: 32.5% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 12.7% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £122.
Typical mileage
Half of all 310s tested had between 108,283 and 199,313 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 164,912 median miles, the 310 has 0.019 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Mercedes-Benz models
Common questions
What is the Mercedes-Benz 310 MOT pass rate?
The Mercedes-Benz 310 has a 68.5% MOT pass rate based on 448 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz 310?
The most common MOT failure on the Mercedes-Benz 310 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 25 failures. Other common issues include the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired.
What is the typical mileage of a Mercedes-Benz 310 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mercedes-Benz 310 is 164,912 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 108,283 and 199,313 miles.
Buying a used 310?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 68.5% pass rate and an average repair bill of £122 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
Van insurance works differently to car insurance. Make sure you're comparing like-for-like quotes for your use case. Compare van insurance.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.