CarVerify

Free Car Check

B5 SSV

1998 Mercedes-benz S-class

Black Petrol 4196cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires30 Jul 2026
Tests17 (12 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate70.6%

Mileage

140,248 mi
Last recorded140,248 miles
Recorded on31 Jul 2025
Typical for 1998 Mercedes-benz S-class103,785 mi

Above 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

RegistrationB5 SSV
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelS-class
Year1998
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine4,196cc

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

12 pass 5 fail
Pass 31 Jul 2025 140,248 miles
Pass 11 Apr 2024 140,088 miles
Pass 2 Mar 2023 139,839 miles
Fail 12 Aug 2022 139,839 miles

Brake pedal has insufficient reserve travel (1.1.2 (a))

Front Brake disc significantly and obviously worn both side (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Body panel corroded and likely to cause injury wheel arch (6.2.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Other passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle or inside (6.2.3 (a))

Offside Front Body panel corroded and likely to cause injury wheel arch (6.2.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Driver's door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Rear Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Front suspension component corroded both side

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

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

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

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

Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Rear suspension component corroded

Pass 29 Nov 2018 131,987 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 12 Oct 2017 123,277 miles
Pass 12 Oct 2016 114,875 miles

Fuel pipes from tank corroded

Fail 6 Oct 2016 114,840 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.B.1c)

Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Fuel pipes from tank corroded

Pass 28 Nov 2012 111,413 miles

Nearside Rear Sub-frame has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Sub-frame has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Fail 28 Nov 2012 111,413 miles

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

Nearside Rear Sub-frame has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Sub-frame has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 30 Nov 2011 104,523 miles
Pass 5 Oct 2010 97,983 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

Nearside Rear Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Front Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Fail 5 Oct 2010 97,983 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

Nearside Rear Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Front Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

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

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Pass 13 Aug 2009 90,915 miles

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

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

Pass 2 Oct 2007 90,595 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

Offside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

Pass 20 Jul 2006 56,857 miles
Fail 30 Mar 2006 36,805 miles

Nearside Front coil spring fractured (2.4.C.1a)

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

How Reliable is the Mercedes-benz S-class?

Based on 692,220 MOT tests across 62,130 vehicles.

80.6%
Pass Rate
6,086
Miles/Year
39
Year Lifespan
62,130
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 25,613
Brake pipe excessively corroded 8,895
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 6,706
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 6,018
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 5,811
Full Mercedes-benz S-class 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

B5 SSV is a 1998 Mercedes-benz S-class in Black with a 4,196cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 17 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 70.6%.

Across all 1998 Mercedes-benz S-class models, the average MOT pass rate is 72.8% with a typical mileage of 103,785 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 S-class fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 25,613 recorded failures. If you're considering buying B5 SSV, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mercedes-benz S-class typically stays on UK roads for around 39 years. At 28 years old, this Mercedes-benz S-class is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of B5 SSV?

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

What year was B5 SSV registered?

B5 SSV is a 1998 Mercedes-benz S-class, first registered on 31 December 1998.

Is B5 SSV safe to buy?

The MOT history for B5 SSV shows 17 tests with a 70.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does B5 SSV 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 SSV. 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.