Mercedes-Benz 320
From 1,145 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements and brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 46 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 46 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 21 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 20 |
| lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements | 19 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 15 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 15 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 15 |
| a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 14 |
| 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 | 14 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 14 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 49.2% of failures are serious: 49.2% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 0% 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 £115.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 80.8% while Diesel versions pass at 75.6%, a 5 percentage point gap.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 76.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2007 | 81.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2006 | 75.2% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 1993 | 79.9% | emissions levels exceed default limits, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
Typical mileage
Half of all 320s tested had between 97,490 and 163,465 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 123,511 median miles, the 320 has 0.018 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Mercedes-Benz models
Common questions
What is the Mercedes-Benz 320 MOT pass rate?
The Mercedes-Benz 320 has a 78.3% MOT pass rate based on 1,145 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz 320?
The most common MOT failure on the Mercedes-Benz 320 is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 46 failures. Other common issues include tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements.
What is the typical mileage of a Mercedes-Benz 320 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mercedes-Benz 320 is 123,511 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 97,490 and 163,465 miles.
Buying a used 320?
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 78.3% pass rate and an average repair bill of £115 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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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.