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C161 VBC

1986 Mercedes-benz 230

Blue Petrol 2299cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires12 May 2027
Tests19 (13 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate68.4%

Mileage

161,112 mi
Last recorded161,112 miles
Recorded on13 May 2026
Typical for 1986 Mercedes-benz 230112,152 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationC161 VBC
MakeMercedes-benz
Model230
Year1986
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,299cc

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

13 pass 6 fail
Pass 13 May 2026 161,112 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Lower Steering column flexible coupling is slightly deteriorated (2.2.2 (c))

Nearside Rear Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b))

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Rear Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated all 4 (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Fail 13 May 2026 161,108 miles

Front Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 1 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Lower Steering column flexible coupling is slightly deteriorated (2.2.2 (c))

Nearside Rear Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b))

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Rear Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated all 4 (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Pass 7 Nov 2024 160,852 miles

Nearside Rear Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Nearside Rear Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Offside Rear Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Pass 21 Jul 2021 160,780 miles

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

Nearside Front Inner Steering column universal joint has slight wear or play (2.2.2 (c))

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive chassis (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Nearside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive door sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear rear seat belt cut

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

Offside Rear Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Fail 14 Jul 2021 160,779 miles

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

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

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength door sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Rear fog lamp tell-tale not working (4.9.1 (a) (ii))

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

Nearside Front Inner Steering column universal joint has slight wear or play (2.2.2 (c))

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive chassis (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Nearside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive door sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear rear seat belt cut

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

Offside Rear Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Pass 17 Jul 2020 160,406 miles
Pass 28 Aug 2018 159,194 miles
Pass 26 Jul 2017 158,797 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Pass 4 Aug 2016 154,374 miles

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

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

parking brake performance just met legal requirements

Pass 5 Jan 2016 153,456 miles
Pass 5 Feb 2015 143,922 miles
Pass 6 Mar 2014 135,609 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Fail 6 Mar 2014 135,609 miles

Rear Fluid suspension has no suspension movement (2.4.D.5)

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Pass 7 Feb 2013 132,055 miles
Fail 5 Nov 2011 132,030 miles

Nearside Front rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Offside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

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

Fail 24 Jan 2009 132,002 miles

Front registration plate delaminated (6.3.1d)

Nearside Front Body has a sharp edge caused by damage (6.1.C.1)

Nearside Rear Body has a sharp edge caused by damage (6.1.C.1)

Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Body has a sharp edge caused by damage (6.1.C.1)

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear Body has a sharp edge caused by damage (6.1.C.1)

Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Registration plate lamp not fitted (1.1.C.1b)

BRAKE FLIUD LEVEL GETTING LOW

N/S/R TYRE CUT OUT ON OUTTER EDGE

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

Offside Rear Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

REAR PADS GETTING LOW

Pass 13 Apr 2007 127,246 miles
Pass 7 Jul 2006 124,913 miles
Fail 17 Jun 2006 124,913 miles

Nearside Rear Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

How Reliable is the Mercedes-benz 230?

Based on 68,016 MOT tests across 8,576 vehicles.

71.8%
Pass Rate
1,918
Miles/Year
62
Year Lifespan
8,576
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Brake pipe excessively corroded 2,934
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 2,565
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 2,276
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 1,500
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 1,463
Full Mercedes-benz 230 reliability report

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C161 VBC is a 1986 Mercedes-benz 230 in Blue with a 2,299cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68.4%.

Across all 1986 Mercedes-benz 230 models, the average MOT pass rate is 71.1% with a typical mileage of 112,152 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 230 fails its MOT is brake pipe excessively corroded, accounting for 2,934 recorded failures. If you're considering buying C161 VBC, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mercedes-benz 230 typically stays on UK roads for around 62 years. At 40 years old, this Mercedes-benz 230 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of C161 VBC?

You can check the full history of C161 VBC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C161 VBC registered?

C161 VBC is a 1986 Mercedes-benz 230, first registered on 15 April 1986.

Is C161 VBC safe to buy?

The MOT history for C161 VBC shows 19 tests with a 68.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C161 VBC 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 C161 VBC. 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.