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685 CLA

1972 Mercedes-benz C

Green Petrol 3947cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires20 May 2027
Tests25 (22 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate88%

Mileage

164,412 mi
Last recorded164,412 miles
Recorded on21 May 2026
Typical for 1972 Mercedes-benz C68,264 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Mercedes-benz
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

Registration685 CLA
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelC
Year1972
ColourGreen
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,947cc

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

22 pass 3 fail
Pass 21 May 2026 164,412 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Pass 18 Jun 2025 62,319 miles
Pass 11 Apr 2025 164,030 miles
Pass 26 Jun 2024 58,647 miles
Pass 17 Jan 2024 163,285 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 27 Jun 2023 50,337 miles
Pass 27 Jan 2023 162,180 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play drag link (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 6 Jul 2022 46,661 miles
Fail 30 Jun 2022 46,485 miles

Nearside Rear Inner Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords 2mm (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Offside Front Inner Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Nearside Front Inner Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Inner Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 2mm (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 25 Jan 2022 161,934 miles

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Rear Prop shaft bearing has slight play (6.1.7 (b) (i))

brake test not done due to condition of rear brakes

Fail 19 Jan 2022 161,932 miles

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Service brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.2.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Rear Prop shaft bearing has slight play (6.1.7 (b) (i))

brake test not done due to condition of rear brakes

Pass 12 Jul 2021 42,479 miles
Pass 4 Sep 2020 39,038 miles
Pass 5 Aug 2020 161,557 miles
Pass 26 Jun 2018 161,478 miles
Pass 17 Jun 2017 161,360 miles
Pass 28 Jun 2016 161,025 miles
Fail 27 Jun 2016 161,024 miles

Ball joint has excessive play drop arm (2.2.B.1f)

Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar vehicle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (7.1.4)

Pass 20 May 2014 160,924 miles
Pass 21 May 2013 160,848 miles
Pass 3 May 2012 160,539 miles
Pass 21 Apr 2011 160,258 miles
Pass 24 Apr 2010 159,587 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Pass 17 Apr 2009
Pass 9 Apr 2008 156,112 miles

How Reliable is the Mercedes-benz C?

Based on 8,031,355 MOT tests across 683,668 vehicles.

77.6%
Pass Rate
6,412
Miles/Year
32
Year Lifespan
683,668
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 240,078
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 76,831
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 67,503
Brake pipe excessively corroded 66,298
coil spring broken 61,560
Full Mercedes-benz C reliability report

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685 CLA is a 1972 Mercedes-benz C in Green with a 3,947cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 88%.

Across all 1972 Mercedes-benz C models, the average MOT pass rate is 72.1% with a typical mileage of 68,264 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Mercedes-benz C fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 240,078 recorded failures. If you're considering buying 685 CLA, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mercedes-benz C typically stays on UK roads for around 32 years. At 54 years old, this Mercedes-benz C is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of 685 CLA?

You can check the full history of 685 CLA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was 685 CLA registered?

685 CLA is a 1972 Mercedes-benz C, first registered on 31 December 1972.

Is 685 CLA safe to buy?

The MOT history for 685 CLA shows 25 tests with a 88% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does 685 CLA 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 685 CLA. 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.