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E45 FSO

1988 Mercedes-benz 420

Grey Petrol 4196cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires30 Sep 2026
Tests30 (20 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

144,746 mi
Last recorded144,746 miles
Recorded on1 Oct 2025
Typical for 1988 Mercedes-benz 420101,568 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationE45 FSO
MakeMercedes-benz
Model420
Year1988
ColourGrey
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

20 pass 10 fail
Pass 1 Oct 2025 144,746 miles

Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge both (5.2.3 (e))

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

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

Offside Steering linkage ball joint has slight play central track arm (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing all 4 (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 6 Jun 2024 144,631 miles
Fail 29 Apr 2024 144,614 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

Exhaust emissions - engine idle speed too high (8.2.1.2 (e))

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

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

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing offside & nearside tyres slightly perished & cracking (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Nail in tyre ()

Oil leak, but not excessive minor oil leak from engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Exhaust mounting defective silencer inner rear mounting rubber split & detached (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 2 Feb 2023 144,315 miles
Pass 8 Nov 2021 143,936 miles
Fail 22 Oct 2021 143,922 miles

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

Coil spring corroded all 4 sides (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front tyre worn on outside edge

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

Pass 8 Oct 2020 143,742 miles

Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

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

Pass 1 Oct 2019 143,566 miles
Pass 10 Aug 2018 143,193 miles

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly damaged corroded (1.1.12 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly damaged corroded (1.1.12 (b) (i))

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Fail 10 Aug 2018 143,193 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly damaged corroded (1.1.12 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly damaged corroded (1.1.12 (b) (i))

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 18 Aug 2017 142,937 miles

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

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

Fail 20 Jun 2017 142,873 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (7.3.B.1b)

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

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

Pass 11 Jul 2016 142,072 miles

Windscreen has a large crack on the drivers side but not in the swept area

Fail 8 Jul 2016 142,072 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 9 Jun 2015 140,818 miles

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Fail 9 Jun 2015 140,818 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 10 Jul 2013 137,109 miles
Pass 6 Nov 2012 137,086 miles

Front registration plate delaminated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Nearside Front Sub-frame synthetic bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Upper Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

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

Offside Front Lower Trailing arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Fail 6 Nov 2012 137,086 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Front registration plate delaminated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Nearside Front Sub-frame synthetic bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Upper Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

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

Offside Front Lower Trailing arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 7 Jun 2012 136,877 miles
Pass 22 Nov 2011 136,737 miles
Pass 10 Jun 2011 136,162 miles
Pass 24 Nov 2010 135,710 miles

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

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

Fail 17 Nov 2010 135,710 miles

Braking system leaking (3.6.A.1)

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

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

Offside Front 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)

Brake hydraulic reservoir fluid close to minimum level (3.6.G.1b)

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

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

Pass 19 Jun 2009 133,870 miles

nearside front tyre starting to perish, no cords exposed.

offside front tyre starting to perish, no cords exposed.

offside rear tyre starting to perish, no cords exposed.

Fail 16 Jun 2009 133,864 miles

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

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

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

nearside front tyre starting to perish, no cords exposed.

offside front tyre starting to perish, no cords exposed.

offside rear tyre starting to perish, no cords exposed.

Pass 4 Jun 2008 133,383 miles
Fail 7 May 2008 133,383 miles

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

Nearside Rear brake caliper has restricted free movement (3.5.1k)

Pass 23 Nov 2006 132,830 miles
Pass 6 Dec 2005 132,179 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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E45 FSO is a 1988 Mercedes-benz 420 in Grey with a 4,196cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 30 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 E45 FSO, 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 E45 FSO?

You can check the full history of E45 FSO by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E45 FSO registered?

E45 FSO is a 1988 Mercedes-benz 420, first registered on 1 April 1988.

Is E45 FSO safe to buy?

The MOT history for E45 FSO shows 30 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 E45 FSO 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 E45 FSO. 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.