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C171 ETS

1997 Mercedes-benz Sprinter

White Diesel 2874cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires23 Oct 2026
Tests28 (20 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

168,715 mi
Last recorded168,715 miles
Recorded on24 Oct 2025
Typical for 1997 Mercedes-benz Sprinter182,387 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationC171 ETS
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSprinter
Year1997
ColourWhite
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,874cc

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

20 pass 8 fail
Pass 24 Oct 2025 168,715 miles

Nearside Front All direction indicators slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 13 Oct 2025 168,697 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Leaf spring fractured (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front All direction indicators slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 15 Oct 2024 166,800 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Fail 11 Oct 2024 166,789 miles

Fuel system component leaking (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Fail 31 Jul 2024 166,773 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

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

Nearside Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

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

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Pass 3 Aug 2023 164,400 miles

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

Rear exhaust rusty

Pass 4 Aug 2022 161,891 miles
Pass 29 Jul 2021 158,527 miles

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Pass 28 Jul 2020 155,033 miles
Pass 26 Jul 2019 152,794 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 1 Aug 2018 150,097 miles
Pass 2 Aug 2017 147,655 miles

Nearside Front Upper Brake pipe slightly corroded 2 Brake pipes have slight corrosion in engine bay N/S/F (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Inner Body has slight corrosion Slight corrosion at N/S/R Inner sill near rear spring hanger (6.1.B.2)

Offside Rear Inner Body has slight corrosion O/S/R inner sill has slight corrosion rear spring hanger (6.1.B.2)

Pass 14 Jul 2016 145,235 miles

Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush both 'D' rubbers (2.4.G.2)

Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush both (2.4.G.2)

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

Nearside Obligatory mirror damaged, but not seriously affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 2mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit 3mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit below 3mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside outer sill corroded

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

Pass 29 Jul 2015 142,371 miles

Nearside Obligatory mirror damaged, but not seriously affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

both rear brake hoses perished

offside outer sill corroded

Pass 15 Jul 2014 136,419 miles

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

both inner and outer sill corroded

both rear shocks weak

front pads wearing thin

rear brake pads wearing thin

Pass 17 Jul 2013 129,786 miles

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

both front shocks weak

both rear shocks weak and deteriorated rubbers

n/s/r wheel bearing slightly noisey

o/s/f lower ball joint has uplift

various metal brake pipes corroded

Pass 23 Jul 2012 121,858 miles

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

Shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect (2.7.5)

Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Pass 2 Aug 2011 115,505 miles

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

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

nearside front indicator lense missing

offside main beam is too low

Fail 29 Jul 2011 115,505 miles

Front registration plate insecure (6.3.1b)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear Valve stem seriously damaged (4.1.D.1e)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the left. (1.8)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

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

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

Rear registration plate insecure (6.3.1b)

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

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

nearside front indicator lense missing

offside main beam is too low

Pass 27 Apr 2010 112,250 miles
Fail 27 Apr 2010 112,250 miles

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Fail 7 Apr 2010 11,897 miles

Front registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

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

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) DANGEROUS

n/s/f sill area corroded

Pass 16 Apr 2009 103,354 miles
Pass 12 Apr 2008 97,217 miles
Pass 17 Apr 2007 94,483 miles

Nail in nearside front tyre

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

front number plate slightly deteriorated.

Fail 11 Apr 2007 94,476 miles

Nearside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Offside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Nail in nearside front tyre

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

front number plate slightly deteriorated.

Pass 10 Dec 2005 89,590 miles
Fail 3 Dec 2005 89,510 miles

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

Windscreen has damage to the swept area in excess of a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

How Reliable is the Mercedes-benz Sprinter?

Based on 4,037,050 MOT tests across 408,496 vehicles.

71.9%
Pass Rate
10,964
Miles/Year
30
Year Lifespan
408,496
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 175,127
position lamp(s) not working 92,747
Registration plate lamp not working 78,072
Brake pipe excessively corroded 69,976
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 68,847
Full Mercedes-benz Sprinter reliability report

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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.

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C171 ETS is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sprinter in White with a 2,874cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71.4%.

Across all 1997 Mercedes-benz Sprinter models, the average MOT pass rate is 62.9% with a typical mileage of 182,387 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Mercedes-benz Sprinter fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 175,127 recorded failures. If you're considering buying C171 ETS, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mercedes-benz Sprinter typically stays on UK roads for around 30 years. At 29 years old, this Mercedes-benz Sprinter is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of C171 ETS?

You can check the full history of C171 ETS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C171 ETS registered?

C171 ETS is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sprinter, first registered on 10 January 1997.

Is C171 ETS safe to buy?

The MOT history for C171 ETS shows 28 tests with a 71.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C171 ETS 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 C171 ETS. 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.