Mercedes-benz Cl 500 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Mercedes-benz Cl 500 car check
Is the Mercedes-benz Cl 500 reliable? We analysed 69,232 real MOT tests across 4,285 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Mercedes-benz Cl 500? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Mercedes-benz Cl 500 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 tyre has ply or cords exposed. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mercedes-benz Cl 500.
Mercedes-benz Cl 500 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Mercedes-benz Cl 500. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Mercedes-benz Cl 500 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Mercedes-benz Cl 500 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Mercedes-benz Cl 500 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Mercedes-benz Cl 500 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Mercedes-benz Cl 500 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Mercedes-benz Cl 500 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Mercedes-benz Cl 500 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mercedes-benz Cl 500 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 582 | 84.0% | 36,782 | 53,011 | 70,248 |
| 2011 | 1,083 | 84.0% | 31,802 | 53,171 | 80,046 |
| 2010 | 1,922 | 82.9% | 34,486 | 56,399 | 81,572 |
| 2009 | 2,969 | 81.3% | 39,276 | 59,706 | 83,117 |
| 2008 | 2,785 | 82.6% | 41,500 | 64,112 | 88,098 |
| 2007 | 5,658 | 82.6% | 41,350 | 65,052 | 90,600 |
| 2006 | 1,390 | 79.1% | 46,125 | 71,563 | 99,366 |
| 2005 | 4,944 | 80.1% | 43,524 | 69,191 | 96,006 |
| 2004 | 5,717 | 79.8% | 47,596 | 73,518 | 99,956 |
| 2003 | 7,530 | 78.9% | 49,750 | 75,647 | 102,963 |
| 2002 | 12,055 | 77.5% | 56,032 | 81,220 | 108,408 |
| 2001 | 8,906 | 77.4% | 58,294 | 82,160 | 106,232 |
| 2000 | 11,100 | 75.1% | 63,781 | 87,159 | 112,325 |
| 1999 | 403 | 72.5% | 64,632 | 86,070 | 99,918 |
| 1998 | 848 | 73.2% | 74,512 | 98,685 | 127,578 |
| 1997 | 895 | 73.4% | 82,116 | 99,061 | 122,364 |
| 1996 | 285 | 73.0% | 64,940 | 95,537 | 121,470 |
How Long Does a Mercedes-benz Cl 500 Last?
Based on 4,285 Mercedes-benz Cl 500 vehicles on UK roads.
Mercedes-benz Cl 500 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Mercedes-benz Cl 500 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 Cl 500
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
84.0% MOT pass rate from 1,083 tests
72.5% MOT pass rate from 403 tests
The best year to buy a used Mercedes-benz Cl 500 is 2011, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.0% across 1,083 tests. The 1999 model year has the lowest pass rate at 72.5% — 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 Cl 500 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-benz Cl 500 THIS CAR | 78.6% | 69,232 | 76,407 mi | 29 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 |
| Honda Concerto | 65.7% | 64,368 | 87,424 mi | 37 yrs |
Compared to the Mercedes-benz C (77.6% pass rate) and the Mercedes-benz E (79.4% pass rate), the Mercedes-benz Cl 500 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Mercedes-benz Cl 500 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 Cl 500Should you buy a used Mercedes-benz Cl 500?
The Mercedes-benz Cl 500 has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.6% across 69,232 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 Cl 500 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (3,209 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (902), and tyre has ply or cords exposed (877). 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 Cl 500 owner drives around 4,114 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 Cl 500 models stay on UK roads for around 29 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.