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Mercedes-benz 240 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Mercedes-benz 240 car check

Is the Mercedes-benz 240 reliable? We analysed 3,907 real MOT tests across 579 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,907 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
70.6%
Typical Mileage
142,433mi
Annual Mileage
2,300mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
51yrs

The Mercedes-benz 240 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mercedes-benz 240.

Mercedes-benz 240 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Mercedes-benz 240. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Mercedes-benz 240 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Mercedes-benz 240 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

79%
2005
79.7%
2004
71.2%
2003
77.9%
1999
73.8%
1998
69%
1989
57.8%
1988
63.6%
1987
70.5%
1986
68.9%
1985
66.2%
1984
71.1%
1983
68.4%
1982
71.8%
1981
76.1%
1980
67.5%
1979
74.5%
1976
67.9%
1975

Mercedes-benz 240 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Mercedes-benz 240 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 405
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 172
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 141
Brake pipe excessively corroded 124
Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 123
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 119
Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 111
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 104
position lamp(s) not working 84
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 80

Mercedes-benz 240 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Mercedes-benz 240 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
589 mi/yr
Typical
2,300 mi/yr
Average
4,188 mi/yr
Heavy usage
6,009 mi/yr

Mercedes-benz 240 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mercedes-benz 240 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2005 62 79.0% 60,556 86,438 111,885
2004 79 79.7% 51,400 79,182 135,663
2003 52 71.2% 58,293 70,241 134,744
1999 140 77.9% 62,546 88,460 114,463
1998 65 73.8% 54,021 76,411 94,971
1989 84 69.0% 148,132 185,395 221,850
1988 64 57.8% 159,706 239,504 264,363
1987 99 63.6% 11,542 114,218 186,176
1986 61 70.5% 138,251 168,770 202,295
1985 518 68.9% 135,588 171,090 236,504
1984 553 66.2% 121,817 166,474 218,495
1983 519 71.1% 126,077 185,949 229,163
1982 528 68.4% 104,486 154,463 202,597
1981 209 71.8% 76,054 129,803 173,205
1980 138 76.1% 84,321 173,364 206,736
1979 80 67.5% 62,491 124,948 186,986
1976 94 74.5% 13,978 54,674 87,676
1975 78 67.9% 5,042 63,126 79,671

How Long Does a Mercedes-benz 240 Last?

Based on 579 Mercedes-benz 240 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
26.8 years
Median
26.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
51 years

Mercedes-benz 240 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Mercedes-benz 240 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
142,433 mi
75th Percentile
203,542 mi
95th Percentile
296,056 mi
Max Recorded
718,509 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Mercedes-benz 240

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2004

79.7% MOT pass rate from 79 tests

Year to avoid
1988

57.8% MOT pass rate from 64 tests

The best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz 240 is 2004, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 79.7% across 79 tests. The 1988 model year has the lowest pass rate at 57.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Mercedes-benz 240 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Mercedes-benz 240 THIS CAR 70.6% 3,907 142,433 mi 51 yrs
Mercedes-benz C 77.6% 8,031,355 77,082 mi 32 yrs
Mercedes-benz E 79.4% 4,722,746 83,960 mi 33 yrs
Mercedes-benz A-class 77.6% 4,204,702 57,023 mi 28 yrs
Ccm 644 Ds 82.4% 2,401 7,124 mi 24 yrs

Compared to the Mercedes-benz C (77.6% pass rate) and the Mercedes-benz E (79.4% pass rate), the Mercedes-benz 240 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Mercedes-benz 240?

The Mercedes-benz 240 has an overall MOT pass rate of 70.6% across 3,907 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Mercedes-benz 240 are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (405 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (172), and parking brake: efficiency below requirements (141). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Mercedes-benz 240 owner drives around 2,300 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Mercedes-benz 240 models stay on UK roads for around 51 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Mercedes-benz 240 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mercedes-benz 240 reliable?
Based on 3,907 MOT tests, the Mercedes-benz 240 has a 70.6% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Mercedes-benz 240?
The most common MOT failures are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Mercedes-benz 240 do per year?
The typical Mercedes-benz 240 does around 2,300 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Mercedes-benz 240 last?
Most Mercedes-benz 240 models stay on UK roads for around 51 years based on our analysis of 579 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Mercedes-benz 240?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Mercedes-benz 240?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz 240 is 2004 with a 79.7% pass rate across 79 tests.