Mercedes-Benz 500
From 2,447 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements and emissions levels exceed default limits. The top issue, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, caused 57 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 57 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 41 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 32 |
| a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated | 29 |
| 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 | 25 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 25 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 24 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 22 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 20 |
| 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 | 19 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. Only 15% of 500 failures are serious (safety or roadside), below the 44.4% average. When this car fails its MOT, it's more likely to be lights, wipers, or emissions than something dangerous. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £68.
Mercedes-Benz 500 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 100 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 6 newly registered, a net loss of 94. At this rate, roughly 42.1 years until none remain. Now at 40.8% of its peak (9,928 in 1994 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 1,412 | 2,634 | +2 | -8 | -6 |
| 2025 Q2 | 1,387 | 2,665 | +2 | -0 | +2 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,193 | 2,857 | +2 | -20 | -18 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,226 | 2,842 | +0 | -72 | -72 |
| 2024 Q3 | 1,415 | 2,725 | +2 | -0 | +3 |
| 2024 Q2 | 1,398 | 2,739 | +0 | -0 | +58 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,232 | 2,847 | +1 | -85 | -84 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,267 | 2,896 | +1 | -19 | -18 |
6 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 Sl Auto | Gas | 609 | 46% |
| 500Sl-32 Auto | Gas | 249 | 19% |
| 500 Sec Auto | Gas | 207 | 16% |
| 560 Sec Auto | Petrol | 108 | 8% |
| 500 Sel Auto | Gas | 92 | 7% |
| 500 Se Auto | Gas | 67 | 5% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 86% | a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 1992 | 81.4% | lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 1991 | 85.2% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 1990 | 82.4% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, warning device shows system malfunction |
5 earlier years
| 1989 | 85.5% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
| 1988 | 82.1% | a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
| 1987 | 80% | a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1986 | 82.8% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 1985 | 91.1% | 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, emissions levels exceed default limits |
Typical mileage
Half of all 500s tested had between 55,308 and 130,794 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 88,543 median miles, the 500 has 0.017 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Mercedes-Benz models
Common questions
What is the Mercedes-Benz 500 MOT pass rate?
The Mercedes-Benz 500 has a 84.6% MOT pass rate based on 2,447 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz 500?
The most common MOT failure on the Mercedes-Benz 500 is a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, which caused 57 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
How many Mercedes-Benz 500s are on UK roads?
There are 1,412 Mercedes-Benz 500s currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,634 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mercedes-Benz 500 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mercedes-Benz 500 is 88,543 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 55,308 and 130,794 miles.
Buying a used 500?
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 84.6% pass rate and an average repair bill of £68 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
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.