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A3 SXL

1989 Mercedes-benz Sl

Red Petrol 3000cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 Jul 2027
Tests25 (20 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate80%

Mileage

118,850 mi
Last recorded118,850 miles
Recorded on29 Jul 2026
Typical for 1989 Mercedes-benz Sl79,304 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationA3 SXL
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSl
Year1989
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,000cc

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

20 pass 5 fail
Pass 29 Jul 2026 118,850 miles

Front Coil spring corroded BOTH (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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 (1.1.11 (c))

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

Pass 21 Jul 2025 118,160 miles

Front Coil spring corroded BOTH (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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 (1.1.11 (c))

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

Pass 17 Jul 2024 117,811 miles
Pass 10 Mar 2023 116,886 miles

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

Nearside Rear Outer Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 12 Mar 2022 115,743 miles

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

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 5 Feb 2021 115,338 miles
Pass 24 Apr 2019 114,594 miles
Pass 2 May 2018 113,112 miles
Fail 18 Apr 2018 113,061 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Pass 20 Apr 2017 112,121 miles

o/s/f tyre worn outer edge

Fail 20 Apr 2017 112,121 miles

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

o/s/f tyre worn outer edge

Pass 21 Apr 2016 108,009 miles
Fail 23 Apr 2015 107,385 miles

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

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Pass 23 Apr 2015 107,385 miles
Pass 4 Mar 2014 105,019 miles
Pass 6 Mar 2013 103,692 miles
Pass 7 Mar 2012 102,831 miles
Pass 10 Mar 2011 101,327 miles
Fail 8 Mar 2011 101,315 miles

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

Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

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

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

Pass 3 Mar 2010 98,963 miles
Pass 6 Mar 2009 98,095 miles
Pass 13 Feb 2008 95,618 miles
Pass 7 Mar 2007 93,656 miles
Fail 19 Feb 2007 93,641 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

play in nearside track rod end

rear exhaust silencer starting to leak

Pass 15 Feb 2006 91,973 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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A3 SXL is a 1989 Mercedes-benz Sl in Red with a 3,000cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80%.

Across all 1989 Mercedes-benz Sl models, the average MOT pass rate is 79.4% with a typical mileage of 79,304 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 A3 SXL, 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 37 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 A3 SXL?

You can check the full history of A3 SXL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was A3 SXL registered?

A3 SXL is a 1989 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 1 August 1989.

Is A3 SXL safe to buy?

The MOT history for A3 SXL shows 25 tests with a 80% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A3 SXL 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 A3 SXL. 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.