CarVerify

Free Car Check

E3 REA

1997 Mercedes-benz Sprinter

Silver Diesel 2874cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires8 Jun 2026
Tests28 (18 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate64.3%

Mileage

162,123 mi
Last recorded162,123 miles
Recorded on9 Jun 2025
Typical for 1997 Mercedes-benz Sprinter182,387 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

RegistrationE3 REA
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSprinter
Year1997
ColourSilver
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,874cc

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

18 pass 10 fail
Pass 9 Jun 2025 162,123 miles

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Nearside Side repeater lens defective which has no effect on emitted light (4.4.1 (b) (i))

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

play in steering column lower joint

Fail 29 Apr 2025 162,116 miles

Nearside Front Lower Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced rear of cab (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush excessively worn chassis (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

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

front anti-roll bar link bushes close to excessively worn

rear steel brake pipes corroded

slight play in nearside front wheel bearing

slight play in offside front shock absorber top mounting

Pass 13 Apr 2024 161,513 miles

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement D bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 13 Apr 2024 161,513 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement D bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 30 Mar 2023 160,166 miles

Nearside Rear Outer Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Rear Outer Nail in tyre ()

Pass 25 Mar 2022 151,416 miles
Fail 25 Mar 2022 151,416 miles

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 12 Feb 2021 155,128 miles
Fail 29 Jan 2021 155,104 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 20 Dec 2019 150,343 miles

Nearside Front Outer Cab or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security sill (6.2.2 (d) (i))

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

Pass 14 Dec 2018 142,481 miles
Pass 21 Nov 2017 133,024 miles
Fail 13 Nov 2017 132,802 miles

Brake pipe excessively corroded nearside front to rear, near nearside rear spring front hanger (3.6.B.2c)

Driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism not functioning as intended. (6.2.A.3)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar attachment bracket/mounting insecure (2.4.G.1)

Offside Rear Lower Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded nearside rear of cab (5.2.6)

chassis corroded within 30cm of rear spring mountings

exhaust front pipe holed and leaking

load insecure

load valve pivot bushes worn out

nearside front anti-roll bar chassis bush temp repair

nearside front brake pipe poorly secured

nearside rear anti-roll bar lower link bush in very poor condition

offside and nearside front lower ball joints worn

offside front anti-roll bar bush worn

offside front shock absorber top mounting prescribed area close to excessively corroded

rear anti-roll bar chassis bushes worn

side markers inoperative

slight play in offside front wheel bearing

steering column lower universal assembly worn on upper splines

Fail 7 Nov 2017 132,711 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases rear box (7.1.2)

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

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Registration plate lamp not fitted (1.1.C.1b)

Trailer electrical socket damaged so that lead cannot be securely connected (1.9.3b)

Brake pipe slightly corroded front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush close to excessive (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush close to excessive (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak ()

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

chassis corroded

Pass 19 Nov 2016 123,048 miles

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

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure has slight corrosion chassis (6.1.A.1)

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has slight corrosion chassis (6.1.A.1)

brake pedal has slight travel when held

Pass 16 Nov 2015 112,010 miles

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

Nearside Rear slight corrosion on rear chassis

Offside Rear slight corrosion on chassis

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

brake pedal has travel

Pass 15 Feb 2014 110,752 miles

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

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 10 Feb 2014 110,378 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

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

Power steering fluid level below minimum (2.3.1)

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

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 16 Apr 2012 101,925 miles
Pass 20 Apr 2011 105,516 miles
Pass 23 Apr 2010 102,809 miles
Pass 23 Apr 2009 94,160 miles
Pass 18 Apr 2008 915,637 miles
Fail 17 Apr 2008 915,637 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

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

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

Pass 20 Apr 2007 76,707 miles
Fail 17 Apr 2007 76,598 miles

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

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

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

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp excessively damaged so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.3.2d)

Fail 18 Apr 2006 55,786 miles

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 18 Apr 2006 55,786 miles

How Reliable is the Mercedes-benz Sprinter?

Based on 4,037,050 MOT tests across 408,496 vehicles.

71.9%
Pass Rate
10,964
Miles/Year
30
Year Lifespan
408,496
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 175,127
position lamp(s) not working 92,747
Registration plate lamp not working 78,072
Brake pipe excessively corroded 69,976
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 68,847
Full Mercedes-benz Sprinter 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

E3 REA is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sprinter in Silver with a 2,874cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.3%.

Across all 1997 Mercedes-benz Sprinter models, the average MOT pass rate is 62.9% with a typical mileage of 182,387 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Mercedes-benz Sprinter fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 175,127 recorded failures. If you're considering buying E3 REA, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mercedes-benz Sprinter typically stays on UK roads for around 30 years. At 29 years old, this Mercedes-benz Sprinter is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of E3 REA?

You can check the full history of E3 REA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E3 REA registered?

E3 REA is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sprinter, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is E3 REA safe to buy?

The MOT history for E3 REA shows 28 tests with a 64.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E3 REA 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 E3 REA. 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.