Mercedes-Benz Cl
From 2,739 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 tyre seriously damaged, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded. The top issue, a tyre seriously damaged, caused 70 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 tyre seriously damaged | 70 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 44 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 35 |
| warning device shows system malfunction | 28 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 27 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 24 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 21 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 21 |
| engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction | 20 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 18 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 57.1% of Cl failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 6.5% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £105.
Mercedes-Benz Cl on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 104 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 2 newly registered, a net loss of 102. At this rate, roughly 36.5 years until none remain. Now at 71.6% of its peak (5,308 in 2011 Q2).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 2,136 | 1,662 | +0 | -18 | -18 |
| 2025 Q2 | 2,156 | 1,660 | +1 | -9 | -8 |
| 2025 Q1 | 2,150 | 1,674 | +1 | -22 | -21 |
| 2024 Q4 | 2,195 | 1,650 | +0 | -55 | -55 |
| 2024 Q3 | 2,355 | 1,545 | +0 | -54 | -54 |
| 2024 Q2 | 2,424 | 1,530 | +1 | -31 | -30 |
| 2024 Q1 | 2,442 | 1,542 | +0 | -74 | -74 |
| 2023 Q4 | 2,511 | 1,547 | +0 | -36 | -36 |
9 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cl500 Auto | Petrol | 799 | 39% |
| Cl 500 Auto | Petrol | 441 | 21% |
| Cl500 Blueefficiency Auto | Petrol | 307 | 15% |
| Cl63 Amg Auto | Petrol | 135 | 7% |
| Cl600 Auto | Petrol | 100 | 5% |
| Cl55 Amg Auto | Petrol | 85 | 4% |
| Cl63 Amg V8 Biturbo Auto | Petrol | 74 | 4% |
| Cl55 Amg Komp Auto | Petrol | 68 | 3% |
| Cl 600 Auto | Petrol | 60 | 3% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 87.4% | a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2013 | 83.7% | a tyre seriously damaged, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2012 | 92.4% | a tyre seriously damaged, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2011 | 87% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated |
7 earlier years
| 2010 | 87.4% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2009 | 80.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2008 | 85.2% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2007 | 87.3% | a tyre seriously damaged, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2004 | 84% | engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2003 | 83.3% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2002 | 82.3% | a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
Typical mileage
Half of all Cls tested had between 64,863 and 108,068 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 82,418 median miles, the Cl has 0.018 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Mercedes-Benz models
Common questions
What is the Mercedes-Benz Cl MOT pass rate?
The Mercedes-Benz Cl has a 84.8% MOT pass rate based on 2,739 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Mercedes-Benz Cl?
The most common MOT failure on the Mercedes-Benz Cl is a tyre seriously damaged, which caused 70 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Mercedes-Benz Cls are on UK roads?
There are 2,136 Mercedes-Benz Cls currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,662 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Mercedes-Benz Cl at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Mercedes-Benz Cl is 82,418 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 64,863 and 108,068 miles.
Buying a used Cl?
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 84.8% pass rate and an average repair bill of £105 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.