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987 RAF

1996 Mercedes-benz Sl

Blue Petrol 4973cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires18 Mar 2027
Tests25 (18 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate72%

Mileage

80,688 mi
Last recorded80,688 miles
Recorded on18 Mar 2026
Typical for 1996 Mercedes-benz Sl82,468 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

Registration987 RAF
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSl
Year1996
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine4,973cc

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

18 pass 7 fail
Pass 18 Mar 2026 80,688 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Front to rear. (1.1.11 (c))

Fail 10 Mar 2026 80,685 miles

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake pipe leaking on a hydraulic braking system (1.1.11 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 10 Mar 2025 78,012 miles
Pass 19 Mar 2024 74,751 miles
Fail 19 Mar 2024 74,747 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 9 Jan 2023 74,452 miles
Fail 9 Jan 2023 74,452 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Pass 19 Nov 2021 73,009 miles
Fail 12 Nov 2021 73,005 miles

Emissions not tested (8.2.1.2 (d))

Nearside Exhaust catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard (8.2.1.1 (a))

Offside Exhaust catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard (8.2.1.1 (a))

Pass 25 Sep 2020 69,937 miles

Front Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 10 Aug 2019 68,987 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin Both sides. (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Front Coil spring corroded Both sides. (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Rear Coil spring corroded Both sides. (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Fail 10 Aug 2019 68,987 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin Both sides. (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Front Coil spring corroded Both sides. (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Rear Coil spring corroded Both sides. (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively Both sides. (3.4 (b) (ii))

Pass 24 Aug 2018 67,059 miles

Coil spring corroded All Around (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre Profile Worn

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 26 Aug 2017 64,750 miles
Pass 8 Sep 2016 64,249 miles
Pass 5 Sep 2015 63,882 miles

Nearside rear brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

rear parking (secondary) brake imbalance requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.6b)

Fail 5 Sep 2015 63,882 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside rear brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

rear parking (secondary) brake imbalance requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.6b)

Pass 4 Sep 2014 63,116 miles

Nearside Rear Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 9 Aug 2013 62,659 miles
Pass 23 Jul 2012 61,565 miles
Fail 13 Jun 2011 60,140 miles

Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Pass 13 Jun 2011 60,140 miles
Pass 20 May 2010 58,073 miles
Pass 4 Jun 2009 58,884 miles
Pass 9 Apr 2008 38,129 miles

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

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987 RAF is a 1996 Mercedes-benz Sl in Blue with a 4,973cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72%.

Across all 1996 Mercedes-benz Sl models, the average MOT pass rate is 82.3% with a typical mileage of 82,468 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 987 RAF, 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 30 years old, this Mercedes-benz Sl is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of 987 RAF?

You can check the full history of 987 RAF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was 987 RAF registered?

987 RAF is a 1996 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 30 December 1996.

Is 987 RAF safe to buy?

The MOT history for 987 RAF shows 25 tests with a 72% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does 987 RAF 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 987 RAF. 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.