Mercedes-benz 320 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Mercedes-benz 320 car check
Is the Mercedes-benz 320 reliable? We analysed 26,334 real MOT tests across 2,283 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Mercedes-benz 320? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Mercedes-benz 320 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pipe excessively corroded and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mercedes-benz 320.
Mercedes-benz 320 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Mercedes-benz 320. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Mercedes-benz 320 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Mercedes-benz 320 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Mercedes-benz 320 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Mercedes-benz 320 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Mercedes-benz 320 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Mercedes-benz 320 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Mercedes-benz 320 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mercedes-benz 320 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 763 | 75.2% | 63,980 | 90,960 | 124,894 |
| 2008 | 1,415 | 80.2% | 63,845 | 91,538 | 125,157 |
| 2007 | 2,425 | 79.3% | 60,480 | 91,701 | 124,930 |
| 2006 | 2,502 | 77.9% | 58,250 | 90,263 | 125,350 |
| 2005 | 1,258 | 76.3% | 63,810 | 96,100 | 133,327 |
| 2004 | 802 | 75.7% | 59,832 | 93,006 | 129,920 |
| 2003 | 742 | 77.9% | 54,434 | 84,117 | 123,770 |
| 2002 | 845 | 75.6% | 62,388 | 88,769 | 118,176 |
| 2001 | 1,229 | 75.9% | 63,260 | 88,794 | 126,570 |
| 2000 | 2,023 | 75.6% | 66,271 | 93,722 | 123,541 |
| 1999 | 1,121 | 75.6% | 70,322 | 92,993 | 123,321 |
| 1998 | 855 | 71.6% | 66,331 | 92,832 | 124,895 |
| 1997 | 341 | 69.2% | 87,290 | 108,099 | 136,620 |
| 1996 | 207 | 70.0% | 69,080 | 118,801 | 142,958 |
| 1995 | 526 | 74.5% | 103,222 | 124,309 | 151,183 |
| 1994 | 767 | 79.9% | 69,913 | 93,255 | 137,484 |
| 1993 | 7,631 | 74.0% | 93,023 | 125,098 | 159,008 |
| 1992 | 759 | 74.6% | 100,167 | 130,372 | 167,968 |
How Long Does a Mercedes-benz 320 Last?
Based on 2,283 Mercedes-benz 320 vehicles on UK roads.
Mercedes-benz 320 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Mercedes-benz 320 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Mercedes-benz 320
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
80.2% MOT pass rate from 1,415 tests
69.2% MOT pass rate from 341 tests
The best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz 320 is 2008, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 80.2% across 1,415 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 69.2% — 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 320 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-benz 320 THIS CAR | 75.9% | 26,334 | 103,850 mi | 34 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 |
| BMW X2 | 86.9% | 40,660 | 31,833 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Mercedes-benz C (77.6% pass rate) and the Mercedes-benz E (79.4% pass rate), the Mercedes-benz 320 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Mercedes-benz 320 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Mercedes-benz 320Should you buy a used Mercedes-benz 320?
The Mercedes-benz 320 has an overall MOT pass rate of 75.9% across 26,334 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Mercedes-benz 320 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (956 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (672), and parking brake: efficiency below requirements (303). 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 320 owner drives around 4,844 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 320 models stay on UK roads for around 34 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.