CarVerify

Free Car Check

C20 ART

1997 Mercedes-benz 420

Blue Petrol 4196cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires6 Oct 2026
Tests16 (12 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

174,105 mi
Last recorded174,105 miles
Recorded on7 Oct 2025
Typical for 1997 Mercedes-benz 420148,404 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

RegistrationC20 ART
MakeMercedes-benz
Model420
Year1997
ColourBlue
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 4 fail
Pass 7 Oct 2025 174,105 miles

Nearside Front jacking point has some corrion

Rear boot panels has some corrosion

Fail 25 Sep 2025 174,097 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front jacking point has some corrion

Rear boot panels has some corrosion

Pass 8 Aug 2024 170,600 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing (5.3.2 (b))

Fail 1 Aug 2024 170,594 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low and too far to the right. (4.1.2 (a))

Fail 1 Nov 2019 170,553 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

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

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

Boot lid component corroded but not likely to cause injury (6.2.1 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

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

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

parking brake warning light on when parking brake is released

Pass 22 Sep 2018 169,954 miles

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

Vehicle has surface corrosion to various parts and places

Pass 3 Oct 2017 169,714 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 23 Aug 2016 169,221 miles

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

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

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

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

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion all (6.1.A.1)

Pass 19 Aug 2015 168,472 miles

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside rear wheel arch tapped up

Oil leak

Vehicle has corrosion to various parts and places

Pass 31 Jul 2014 167,107 miles

Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 6 Aug 2013 165,858 miles

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

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

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

Offside Front Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Fail 6 Aug 2013 165,858 miles

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

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

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

Offside Front Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

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

Pass 19 Jul 2012 164,986 miles
Pass 14 Jun 2011 161,728 miles
Pass 28 Jan 2008 159,161 miles
Pass 2 Jan 2007 150,787 miles

How Reliable is the Mercedes-benz 420?

Based on 24,311 MOT tests across 2,343 vehicles.

75.7%
Pass Rate
809
Miles/Year
40
Year Lifespan
2,343
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 647
Brake pipe excessively corroded 577
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 565
brake binding 530
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 479
Full Mercedes-benz 420 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

C20 ART is a 1997 Mercedes-benz 420 in Blue with a 4,196cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 16 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

Across all 1997 Mercedes-benz 420 models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.0% with a typical mileage of 148,404 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Mercedes-benz 420 fails its MOT is suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 647 recorded failures. If you're considering buying C20 ART, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mercedes-benz 420 typically stays on UK roads for around 40 years. At 29 years old, this Mercedes-benz 420 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of C20 ART?

You can check the full history of C20 ART by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C20 ART registered?

C20 ART is a 1997 Mercedes-benz 420, first registered on 10 October 1997.

Is C20 ART safe to buy?

The MOT history for C20 ART shows 16 tests with a 75% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C20 ART 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 C20 ART. 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.