CarVerify

Free Car Check

78 TU

1973 Mercedes-benz Sl

Maroon Petrol 2799cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires11 Feb 2027
Tests20 (13 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate65%

Mileage

30,700 mi
Last recorded30,700 miles
Recorded on12 Feb 2026
Typical for 1973 Mercedes-benz Sl93,304 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

Registration78 TU
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSl
Year1973
ColourMaroon
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,799cc

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

13 pass 7 fail
Pass 12 Feb 2026 30,700 miles
Pass 2 Dec 2020 19,236 miles
Pass 20 Mar 2018 17,674 miles
Pass 17 May 2016 17,600 miles
Pass 12 May 2015 17,366 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

rear axle oil leak

Fail 12 May 2015 17,366 miles

Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

rear axle oil leak

Fail 7 Apr 2015 17,345 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Rear Fuel hose leaking (7.2.3)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Front passenger door does not latch securely closed (6.2.B.1a)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

rear axle oil leak

Pass 12 Jul 2013 17,201 miles

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 6 Jul 2012 17,070 miles
Pass 8 Jul 2011 16,907 miles

Nearside Front position lamp(s) deteriorated, but still visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Nearside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 28 Jun 2010 16,256 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Fail 15 Jun 2010 10,255 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is inadequately repaired (2.4.A.3)

Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Pass 12 Feb 2009 15,798 miles
Fail 10 Feb 2009 15,971 miles

Centre Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Offside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a upper wishbone bearing (2.5.B.1a)

Pass 11 Feb 2008 15,292 miles
Fail 7 Feb 2008 15,289 miles

Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion (6.1.C.1)

Nearside Front Shock absorber has an excessively worn shock absorber pivot (2.7.4)

Pass 6 Mar 2007 14,962 miles
Fail 7 Feb 2007 14,953 miles

Front Bootlid cannot be secured in the closed position (6.4.1)

Indicator switch faulty (1.4.A.1)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 9 Feb 2006 14,697 miles
Fail 6 Feb 2006 14,687 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

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

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

How Reliable is the Mercedes-benz Sl?

Based on 528,820 MOT tests across 35,553 vehicles.

83.4%
Pass Rate
2,023
Miles/Year
43
Year Lifespan
35,553
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 8,801
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 3,812
Brake pipe excessively corroded 3,463
Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords 3,077
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 2,767
Full Mercedes-benz Sl 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

78 TU is a 1973 Mercedes-benz Sl in Maroon with a 2,799cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65%.

Across all 1973 Mercedes-benz Sl models, the average MOT pass rate is 71.0% with a typical mileage of 93,304 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Mercedes-benz Sl fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 8,801 recorded failures. If you're considering buying 78 TU, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mercedes-benz Sl typically stays on UK roads for around 43 years. At 53 years old, this Mercedes-benz Sl is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of 78 TU?

You can check the full history of 78 TU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was 78 TU registered?

78 TU is a 1973 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 1 November 1973.

Is 78 TU safe to buy?

The MOT history for 78 TU shows 20 tests with a 65% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does 78 TU 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 78 TU. 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.