CarVerify

Free Car Check

E234 HGU

1988 Mercedes-benz 420

Black Petrol 4196cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires27 May 2027
Tests22 (16 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate72.7%

Mileage

100,384 mi
Last recorded100,384 miles
Recorded on28 May 2026
Typical for 1988 Mercedes-benz 420101,568 mi

Below or 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

RegistrationE234 HGU
MakeMercedes-benz
Model420
Year1988
ColourBlack
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

16 pass 6 fail
Pass 28 May 2026 100,384 miles
Pass 30 Apr 2025 100,200 miles
Pass 3 May 2024 100,194 miles
Pass 26 Jul 2023 100,188 miles
Pass 22 Apr 2022 99,822 miles

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 9 Apr 2021 99,747 miles

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

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

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Fail 8 Apr 2021 99,747 miles

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

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

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

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b) (ii))

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 3 Jul 2019 98,814 miles

Front Power steering pipe/hose slightly corroded (2.1.5 (g) (i))

Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Pass 7 Oct 2015 98,738 miles

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

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

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

Pass 18 Oct 2014 98,253 miles

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

Pass 11 Oct 2013 94,271 miles
Fail 11 Oct 2013 94,271 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 28 Mar 2013 94,073 miles

Brake Pad Warning Light Lights When Brakes Applied

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

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

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

Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

Fail 14 Mar 2013 94,070 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Nearside Front Upper Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Brake Pad Warning Light Lights When Brakes Applied

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

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

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

Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

Pass 22 Mar 2012 92,935 miles

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

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

Fail 21 Mar 2012 92,935 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 20 Sep 2010 90,793 miles

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

Pass 18 Jul 2008 87,548 miles
Fail 10 Jul 2008 87,539 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Fail 23 May 2007 86,818 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has a lump, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Pass 23 May 2007 86,818 miles
Pass 8 Jun 2006 83,908 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

E234 HGU is a 1988 Mercedes-benz 420 in Black with a 4,196cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72.7%.

Across all 1988 Mercedes-benz 420 models, the average MOT pass rate is 75.3% with a typical mileage of 101,568 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 E234 HGU, 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 38 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 E234 HGU?

You can check the full history of E234 HGU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E234 HGU registered?

E234 HGU is a 1988 Mercedes-benz 420, first registered on 24 March 1988.

Is E234 HGU safe to buy?

The MOT history for E234 HGU shows 22 tests with a 72.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E234 HGU 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 E234 HGU. 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.