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D684 ELM

1987 Mercedes-benz 420

Blue Petrol 4196cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires19 Aug 2026
Tests28 (19 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate67.9%

Mileage

156,690 mi
Last recorded156,690 miles
Recorded on20 Aug 2025
Typical for 1987 Mercedes-benz 420100,068 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Mercedes-benz
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationD684 ELM
MakeMercedes-benz
Model420
Year1987
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

19 pass 9 fail
Pass 20 Aug 2025 156,690 miles

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

Front Service brake binding but not excessively Both sides (1.2.1 (f))

Nearside Rear Outer Sill corroded

Nearside Rear Outer Wheel arch corroded

Offside Rear Outer Wheel arch corroded

Offside Rear Outer sill corroded

Rear Coil spring corroded Both sides (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Steering box slight play between sector shaft and the drop arm (2.1.3 (a) (ii))

Fail 20 Aug 2025 156,690 miles

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

Front Service brake binding but not excessively Both sides (1.2.1 (f))

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

Nearside Rear Outer Sill corroded

Nearside Rear Outer Wheel arch corroded

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

Offside Rear Outer Wheel arch corroded

Offside Rear Outer sill corroded

Rear Coil spring corroded Both sides (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Steering box slight play between sector shaft and the drop arm (2.1.3 (a) (ii))

Stop lamp(s) not working Both sides (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 1 Jul 2024 156,530 miles

N/S rear outer sill slightly corroded...

Nearside Rear N/S Rear wheel arch slightly corroded...

Offside Rear O/S Rear wheel arch slightly corroded...

Pass 2 Jun 2023 156,027 miles

Offside Front Vehicle structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Fail 26 May 2023 156,018 miles

Offside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

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

Offside Front Vehicle structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Pass 30 May 2022 155,952 miles

Both inner sills have corrosion

Both rear coils springs corroded

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

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

Rear diff misting oil

Pass 24 Apr 2021 155,563 miles
Pass 22 Apr 2020 155,071 miles

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

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 22 Apr 2020 155,071 miles

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

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 21 May 2019 154,651 miles

Fuel pipe chafing (6.1.3 (c) (i))

Fail 21 May 2019 154,651 miles

Fuel pipe chafing (6.1.3 (c) (i))

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

Pass 3 May 2018 148,893 miles

Rear Fuel pipe slightly chafed (7.2.2)

Fail 1 May 2018 148,892 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Front Direction indicators not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

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

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

Rear Fuel pipe slightly chafed (7.2.2)

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

Pass 24 May 2017 144,199 miles

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

Pass 28 Sep 2015 136,749 miles
Pass 26 Sep 2014 134,585 miles

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

Nearside Outer Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Oil leak

Fail 26 Sep 2014 134,584 miles

Nearside Direction indicator flashing more than 120 times a minute (1.4.A.2g)

Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

Nearside Outer Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Oil leak

Pass 11 Sep 2013 127,554 miles

Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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

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

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

Oil leak

Pass 13 Sep 2012 120,010 miles

Nearside Front coil spring worn (2.4.C.1b)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect (2.7.5)

Nearside Rear coil spring worn (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front coil spring worn (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect (2.7.5)

Offside Rear coil spring worn (2.4.C.1b)

Fail 13 Sep 2012 120,009 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside Front coil spring worn (2.4.C.1b)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect (2.7.5)

Nearside Rear coil spring worn (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front coil spring worn (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect (2.7.5)

Offside Rear coil spring worn (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 23 Jun 2011 110,859 miles

Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Fail 15 Jun 2011 110,856 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 22 Jun 2010 108,063 miles

Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Front Upper Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Offside Front Upper Sub-frame rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

Pass 23 Jun 2009 102,516 miles
Fail 1 Jun 2009 102,219 miles

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

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

Offside Front Direction indicator incomplete (1.5.A1b)

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

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

Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a) DANGEROUS

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

vehicle presenter be aware off/side rear under wheel/arch area has surface corrosion present would advise this treated with sealer

Pass 3 Jul 2008 99,734 miles

Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration (7.3.A.2c)

Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a seal (2.3.3b)

Pass 9 Jul 2007 93,440 miles
Pass 28 Jun 2006 86,171 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

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D684 ELM is a 1987 Mercedes-benz 420 in Blue with a 4,196cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 67.9%.

Across all 1987 Mercedes-benz 420 models, the average MOT pass rate is 75.9% with a typical mileage of 100,068 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 420 fails its MOT is suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 647 recorded failures. If you're considering buying D684 ELM, 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 39 years old, this Mercedes-benz 420 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of D684 ELM?

You can check the full history of D684 ELM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was D684 ELM registered?

D684 ELM is a 1987 Mercedes-benz 420, first registered on 31 December 1987.

Is D684 ELM safe to buy?

The MOT history for D684 ELM shows 28 tests with a 67.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does D684 ELM 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 D684 ELM. 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.