CarVerify

Free Car Check

D897 ELH

1986 Mercedes-benz Sl

Red Petrol 2962cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires11 May 2027
Tests26 (21 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate80.8%

Mileage

122,167 mi
Last recorded122,167 miles
Recorded on22 Apr 2026
Typical for 1986 Mercedes-benz Sl93,665 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 £14.99

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

RegistrationD897 ELH
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSl
Year1986
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,962cc

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

21 pass 5 fail
Pass 22 Apr 2026 122,167 miles
Pass 12 May 2025 121,923 miles

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

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

Fail 12 May 2025 121,923 miles

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

Nearside Front Shock absorbers insecurely attached (5.3.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

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

Offside Front Shock absorbers insecurely attached (5.3.2 (a) (i))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 11 Apr 2024 118,606 miles

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

Fail 4 Apr 2024 118,601 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust system insecure (6.1.2 (a))

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

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))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Windscreen wiper not working (3.4 (a))

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

Pass 9 Sep 2022 118,475 miles

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

Pass 20 Sep 2021 117,497 miles
Pass 15 Sep 2020 117,356 miles
Pass 25 Sep 2019 117,115 miles
Pass 4 Sep 2018 117,068 miles
Pass 5 Aug 2017 116,637 miles
Pass 13 Aug 2016 116,630 miles
Pass 17 Aug 2015 116,567 miles
Pass 23 Aug 2014 116,232 miles
Pass 24 Aug 2013 115,280 miles
Pass 31 Aug 2012 114,637 miles
Pass 19 Nov 2011 113,892 miles

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

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

Fail 19 Nov 2011 113,892 miles

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

Centre Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

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

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

engine leaking oil.

Pass 11 Feb 2011 112,750 miles

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

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

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

Fail 9 Feb 2011 112,750 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly damaged (2.2.D.2b)

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

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

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

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

Pass 20 Oct 2009 110,573 miles

ALL FOUR SPRINGS CORRODED

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

Pass 10 Jan 2009 110,340 miles
Pass 19 Dec 2007 110,104 miles
Pass 30 Dec 2006 109,634 miles

had seconhand parts fitted

Fail 27 Dec 2006 109,634 miles

Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Offside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

1 car has been havely oil srayed †2 slight hand brake travl †3 oil leak †4 front springs look rusty †5 all rear buseses look worn †6 seat belt worn †

Pass 7 Dec 2005 108,719 miles

corrosion in need of attention

exhaust leaking at manifold (poss gasket) also front section of exhaust rusted thin and leaking around bracket

front pads 4-5mm (ish)

lower performance ns handbrake

osf wheel bearing req regrease and adjust

tyre tread depths low osf 3mm, nsr 2mm, nsf 2.5mm.

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

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

D897 ELH is a 1986 Mercedes-benz Sl in Red with a 2,962cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80.8%.

Across all 1986 Mercedes-benz Sl models, the average MOT pass rate is 78.1% with a typical mileage of 93,665 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 D897 ELH, 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 40 years old, this Mercedes-benz Sl is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of D897 ELH?

You can check the full history of D897 ELH by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was D897 ELH registered?

D897 ELH is a 1986 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 10 November 1986.

Is D897 ELH safe to buy?

The MOT history for D897 ELH shows 26 tests with a 80.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does D897 ELH 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 D897 ELH. 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.