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E121 VFJ

1987 Mercedes-benz 420

Silver Petrol 4196cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires22 Jul 2026
Tests21 (15 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

118,142 mi
Last recorded118,142 miles
Recorded on23 Jul 2025
Typical for 1987 Mercedes-benz 420100,068 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationE121 VFJ
MakeMercedes-benz
Model420
Year1987
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine4,196cc

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MOT History

15 pass 6 fail
Pass 23 Jul 2025 118,142 miles

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

Fail 22 Jul 2025 118,142 miles

Service brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.2.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Fail 16 Jul 2025 118,098 miles

Service brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.2.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Pass 12 Jul 2024 114,520 miles

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

Pass 31 May 2023 108,375 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened both front discs (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened both sides (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Rear Service brake binding but not excessively both rear brakes binding (1.2.1 (f))

Fail 16 May 2023 108,371 miles

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Valve stem seriously damaged (5.2.3 (j)) DANGEROUS

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened both front discs (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened both sides (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Rear Service brake binding but not excessively both rear brakes binding (1.2.1 (f))

Pass 28 Jun 2022 108,227 miles
Fail 28 Jun 2022 108,227 miles

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

Pass 19 May 2021 108,217 miles
Pass 11 May 2017 107,858 miles
Pass 4 May 2016 107,856 miles
Pass 23 Apr 2014 107,750 miles
Pass 23 Apr 2013 107,247 miles
Pass 30 Apr 2012 106,900 miles
Pass 5 May 2011 105,987 miles
Fail 4 May 2011 105,987 miles

Nearside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Pass 17 May 2010 105,121 miles
Fail 17 May 2010 105,121 miles

Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 5 May 2009 104,913 miles
Pass 30 May 2008 104,725 miles
Pass 31 Jul 2006 104,575 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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E121 VFJ is a 1987 Mercedes-benz 420 in Silver with a 4,196cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71.4%.

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 E121 VFJ, 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 E121 VFJ?

You can check the full history of E121 VFJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E121 VFJ registered?

E121 VFJ is a 1987 Mercedes-benz 420, first registered on 31 December 1987.

Is E121 VFJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for E121 VFJ shows 21 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 E121 VFJ 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 E121 VFJ. 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.