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E385 SEL

1988 Mercedes-benz 420

Silver Petrol 4196cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires13 Jun 2026
Tests12 (8 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

131,860 mi
Last recorded131,860 miles
Recorded on10 Jul 2026
Typical for 1988 Mercedes-benz 420101,568 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

RegistrationE385 SEL
MakeMercedes-benz
Model420
Year1988
ColourSilver
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

8 pass 4 fail
Fail 10 Jul 2026 131,860 miles

Exhaust emits dense blue smoke at idle (8.2.1.2 (f))

Nearside Front Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced inner arch anti roll bar mounting (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Front Lower Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting cill to arch section (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Front Lower Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting cill to arch section (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Rear Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Offside Front Upper Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

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

Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced underbody (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Rear Window damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 14 Jun 2025 131,811 miles
Pass 2 Nov 2023 131,738 miles

Offside Rear wheel arch corroded

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Both front tyres (5.2.3 (e))

Underside and suspension components have light surface corrosion

Pass 19 Jan 2011 129,867 miles
Fail 19 Jan 2011 129,867 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b) DANGEROUS

Pass 22 Jan 2010 124,545 miles
Fail 21 Jan 2010 124,545 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

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

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

Pass 30 Jan 2009 119,652 miles

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

Fail 27 Jan 2009 119,652 miles

Nearside Front Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions (4.1.D.1f)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)

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

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

Pass 29 Oct 2007 116,906 miles

hand brake only just meets requirements

near side rear seat belt stiff at retracting

Pass 6 Nov 2006 111,467 miles
Pass 29 Nov 2005 108,806 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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E385 SEL is a 1988 Mercedes-benz 420 in Silver with a 4,196cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 12 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

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 E385 SEL, 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 E385 SEL?

You can check the full history of E385 SEL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E385 SEL registered?

E385 SEL is a 1988 Mercedes-benz 420, first registered on 25 May 1988.

Is E385 SEL safe to buy?

The MOT history for E385 SEL shows 12 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E385 SEL 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 E385 SEL. 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.