CarVerify

Free Car Check

450 SL

1988 Mercedes-benz 420

Grey Petrol 4196cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires16 Mar 2027
Tests18 (15 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate83.3%

Mileage

64,109 mi
Last recorded64,109 miles
Recorded on17 Mar 2026
Typical for 1988 Mercedes-benz 420101,568 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Mercedes-benz
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

Registration450 SL
MakeMercedes-benz
Model420
Year1988
ColourGrey
Fuel typePetrol
Engine4,196cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

15 pass 3 fail
Pass 17 Mar 2026 64,109 miles
Pass 10 Jun 2021 63,921 miles
Pass 8 Feb 2019 63,524 miles

Nearside Front Sub-frame pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Sub-frame pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 19 Dec 2017 63,524 miles

Nearside Front Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 12 Dec 2016 63,145 miles

Nearside Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 10 Nov 2015 62,309 miles

Nearside Front Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 12 Nov 2014 62,066 miles
Fail 7 Nov 2014 62,048 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Offside Headlamp aim too far to the right (1.8)

Pass 19 Nov 2013 61,565 miles
Fail 11 Nov 2013 61,532 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Vehicle's internal headlight adjuster altered to recheck lights

Pass 8 Nov 2012 60,745 miles
Pass 22 Oct 2011 60,079 miles
Pass 22 Oct 2010 59,547 miles

Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

oil leaks from engine and rear differential.

slight corrosion to nearside jacking points.

Pass 13 Oct 2009 58,042 miles
Pass 11 Aug 2008 57,265 miles

Front Steering damper slight oil seepage (2.2.C.1f)

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

engine oil leak.

Pass 9 Aug 2007 56,768 miles

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

slight oil leak from rear differential.

Fail 9 Aug 2007 56,768 miles

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

slight oil leak from rear differential.

Pass 12 Jul 2006 52,624 miles

How Reliable is the Mercedes-benz 420?

Based on 24,311 MOT tests across 2,343 vehicles.

75.7%
Pass Rate
809
Miles/Year
40
Year Lifespan
2,343
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 647
Brake pipe excessively corroded 577
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 565
brake binding 530
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 479
Full Mercedes-benz 420 reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

450 SL is a 1988 Mercedes-benz 420 in Grey with a 4,196cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 83.3%.

Across all 1988 Mercedes-benz 420 models, the average MOT pass rate is 75.3% with a typical mileage of 101,568 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Mercedes-benz 420 fails its MOT is suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 647 recorded failures. If you're considering buying 450 SL, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mercedes-benz 420 typically stays on UK roads for around 40 years. At 38 years old, this Mercedes-benz 420 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of 450 SL?

You can check the full history of 450 SL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was 450 SL registered?

450 SL is a 1988 Mercedes-benz 420, first registered on 27 January 1988.

Is 450 SL safe to buy?

The MOT history for 450 SL shows 18 tests with a 83.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does 450 SL have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on 450 SL. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.