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A8 ALW

1997 Mercedes-benz Sl

Green Petrol 4973cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires20 May 2027
Tests30 (19 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate63.3%

Mileage

181,106 mi
Last recorded181,106 miles
Recorded on21 May 2026
Typical for 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl79,403 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationA8 ALW
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSl
Year1997
ColourGreen
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

19 pass 11 fail
Pass 21 May 2026 181,106 miles
Fail 21 May 2026 181,106 miles

Nearside Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Offside Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Pass 30 Dec 2024 180,511 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 4 Jan 2024 179,685 miles
Fail 6 Dec 2023 179,201 miles

Driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism not functioning as intended. (6.2.5 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Rear Fuel pipe leaking (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 7 Oct 2022 178,488 miles

Nearside Front Steering arm deformed but serviceable (2.1.3 (c) (i))

Pass 5 Oct 2021 177,289 miles
Fail 2 Sep 2021 177,276 miles

Offside Headlamp light intensity severely reduced (4.1.4 (a))

Offside Steering locking device ineffective adjustment lube lock nut (2.1.3 (d))

Offside Rear Tyre obviously under inflated (5.2.3 (l))

Pass 26 Jun 2020 175,809 miles

n/s/f tyre has repair to side wall

Fail 16 Jun 2020 175,804 miles

Brake cable guide defective and affecting operation return spring (1.1.15 (d))

Nearside Brake pipe excessively corroded front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Macpherson strut top bush or bearing has excessive wear or free play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Brake pipe excessively corroded front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Macpherson strut top bush or bearing has excessive wear or free play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

n/s/f tyre has repair to side wall

Pass 15 Jul 2019 172,602 miles
Fail 24 May 2019 172,250 miles

Offside Front Inner Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Outer Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Brake fluid warning lamp illuminated (1.1.10 (f))

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))

Rear fog lamp switch not operating in accordance with the requirements not illuminating (4.5.3 (a) (i))

Pass 14 Apr 2018 163,301 miles

Nearside Brake pipe slightly corroded front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened front (2.4.G.1)

Offside Brake pipe slightly corroded front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened front (2.4.G.1)

Fail 14 Apr 2018 163,301 miles

Nearside Brake pipe slightly corroded front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened front (2.4.G.1)

Offside Brake pipe slightly corroded front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened front (2.4.G.1)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 15 Oct 2016 154,431 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 3 Oct 2015 144,633 miles

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

Fail 3 Oct 2015 144,633 miles

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

Offside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Pass 19 Jun 2014 134,722 miles
Fail 12 Jun 2014 134,722 miles

An item not tested (Manual)

Pass 13 Jun 2013 128,161 miles

Engine (nearside) excessive oil leak

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Pass 10 Apr 2012 120,636 miles
Pass 16 Mar 2011 109,600 miles
Fail 16 Mar 2011 109,600 miles

Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement (7.2.4b)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high and too far to the left. (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 16 Mar 2010 95,216 miles

Both front tyres worn unevenly

Fail 16 Mar 2010 95,216 miles

Both front tyres worn unevenly

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

Pass 13 Mar 2009 79,846 miles
Fail 13 Mar 2009 79,846 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Nearside front tyre wearing unevenly

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

Pass 6 Mar 2008 72,660 miles
Pass 13 Mar 2007 62,339 miles
Pass 16 Mar 2006 54,176 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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A8 ALW is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl in Green with a 4,973cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 30 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.3%.

Across all 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl models, the average MOT pass rate is 81.5% with a typical mileage of 79,403 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 A8 ALW, 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 29 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 A8 ALW?

You can check the full history of A8 ALW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was A8 ALW registered?

A8 ALW is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 5 April 1997.

Is A8 ALW safe to buy?

The MOT history for A8 ALW shows 30 tests with a 63.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A8 ALW 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 A8 ALW. 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.