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B5 FSL

1996 Mercedes-benz Sl

Red Petrol 3199cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires7 May 2027
Tests22 (21 pass, 1 fail)
Pass rate95.5%

Mileage

118,354 mi
Last recorded118,354 miles
Recorded on14 Apr 2026
Typical for 1996 Mercedes-benz Sl82,468 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationB5 FSL
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSl
Year1996
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,199cc

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

21 pass 1 fail
Pass 14 Apr 2026 118,354 miles
Pass 8 May 2025 115,872 miles

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

Pass 11 Jun 2024 113,050 miles

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

Rear Axle leak

Pass 17 Jul 2023 112,454 miles
Pass 21 Jul 2022 109,708 miles
Pass 26 Jul 2021 106,925 miles

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

Rear Fluid leak, but not excessive differential (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 29 Jul 2020 103,895 miles
Pass 21 Jun 2019 101,099 miles

Front Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush BOTH ! Damper Top Mounts Are Splitting (5.3.2 (c))

Pass 29 May 2018 96,568 miles
Pass 20 Jun 2017 92,490 miles

Brake pedal rubber worn through on one side.

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

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component Reservoir/Pump (2.3.3b)

Fail 19 Jun 2017 92,490 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Brake pedal rubber worn through on one side.

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

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component Reservoir/Pump (2.3.3b)

Pass 15 Jun 2016 88,258 miles

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

Pass 18 Jun 2015 84,281 miles

Both front tyres wearing bald on shoulders.

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

Oil leak

Oil leak from rear axle differential.

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 18 Jun 2014 80,159 miles
Pass 21 Jun 2013 75,675 miles
Pass 21 Jun 2012 73,194 miles
Pass 5 Apr 2011 69,787 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

unable to check door sills correctly due to plastic sill covers fitted

Pass 19 Apr 2010 65,310 miles
Pass 21 Apr 2009 61,515 miles

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

inner sidewall damage n/s rear tyre ?run flat

parking brake travel long

unable to check door sills correctly due to plastic sill covers fitted

wear o/s front tyre

Pass 17 Apr 2008 57,805 miles

slight split brake pedal rubber

unable to check door sills correctly due to plastic sill covers fitted

Pass 23 Apr 2007 54,924 miles

slight damage to n/s/r tyre, may have been run flat

Pass 19 Apr 2006 51,883 miles

both front indicators starting to show white light

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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B5 FSL is a 1996 Mercedes-benz Sl in Red with a 3,199cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 95.5%.

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 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 B5 FSL, 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 B5 FSL?

You can check the full history of B5 FSL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was B5 FSL registered?

B5 FSL is a 1996 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 30 December 1996.

Is B5 FSL safe to buy?

The MOT history for B5 FSL shows 22 tests with a 95.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does B5 FSL 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 B5 FSL. 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.