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BNZ 501

1997 Mercedes-benz Sl

Green Petrol 3199cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires25 May 2027
Tests20 (14 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate70%

Mileage

126,208 mi
Last recorded126,208 miles
Recorded on26 May 2026
Typical for 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl79,403 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationBNZ 501
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSl
Year1997
ColourGreen
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

14 pass 6 fail
Pass 26 May 2026 126,208 miles

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened nearside and offside (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced jacking point (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Rear Upper Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive nearside and offside coil spring mountings (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Side repeater slightly discoloured nearside and offside (4.4.3 (a))

Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt nearside and offside (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Pass 14 May 2025 118,901 miles

Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Both sides (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 14 May 2025 118,901 miles

Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Both sides (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 30 Jan 2019 118,565 miles

Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Rear corroded (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Fail 30 Jan 2019 118,565 miles

Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Rear corroded (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 22 Nov 2017 118,502 miles

Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules all (3.6.B.4e)

Brake hose slightly deteriorated all (3.6.B.4d)

Brake pipe slightly corroded all (3.6.B.2c)

Fuel Pipe/s corroded all

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

exhaust centre & rear deteriorated

general underside corrosion

Pass 16 Nov 2016 118,462 miles

Brake hose slightly deteriorated all (3.6.B.4d)

Brake pipe slightly corroded all (3.6.B.2c)

fuel pipes corroded

general underside corrosion

rear tyres close to limit & on edges

Pass 12 Nov 2015 118,322 miles

both rear brake hoses deteriorated

centre stop light permanently disconnected

fuel pipes corroded

rear brake pipes corroded

Pass 9 Sep 2014 116,736 miles

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

Temporary fuel cap fitted

o/s/r tyre is cut on the side wall.

Pass 5 Sep 2013 110,843 miles

Oil leak

Fail 30 Aug 2013 110,687 miles

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

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

Oil leak

Pass 27 Jul 2012 105,826 miles

Oil leak

Fail 16 Jul 2012 105,782 miles

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Oil leak

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

Pass 29 Jul 2011 102,761 miles

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

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

Pass 29 Jul 2010 97,637 miles

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

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

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

Pass 3 Aug 2009 93,015 miles

n/s rear veiw mirror cracked

Fail 31 Jul 2009 93,015 miles

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

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

n/s rear veiw mirror cracked

Pass 18 Mar 2008 92,707 miles
Fail 27 Dec 2007 91,283 miles

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Pass 28 Nov 2006 77,028 miles

Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Offside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

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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BNZ 501 is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl in Green with a 3,199cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 70%.

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 BNZ 501, 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 BNZ 501?

You can check the full history of BNZ 501 by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was BNZ 501 registered?

BNZ 501 is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is BNZ 501 safe to buy?

The MOT history for BNZ 501 shows 20 tests with a 70% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does BNZ 501 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 BNZ 501. 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.