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E499 SEL

1988 Mercedes-benz 420

Silver Petrol 4196cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires27 Aug 2027
Tests26 (21 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate80.8%

Mileage

140,359 mi
Last recorded140,359 miles
Recorded on10 Aug 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
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationE499 SEL
MakeMercedes-benz
Model420
Year1988
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine4,196cc

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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

21 pass 5 fail
Pass 10 Aug 2026 140,359 miles
Pass 14 Aug 2025 139,431 miles
Pass 28 Aug 2024 138,673 miles

Central Front Oil leak, but not excessive minor oil leak (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Headlamp reflector slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Pass 8 Dec 2023 137,711 miles
Pass 23 Jan 2023 137,310 miles
Pass 13 Dec 2021 136,801 miles
Pass 22 Dec 2020 135,840 miles
Pass 5 Jun 2019 134,495 miles
Pass 21 May 2018 133,857 miles

Nearside Front corrosion to n/s/f shock absorber mounting

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

Rear prop coupling split

brake fluid dirty

drive belts split

front subframe bushes worn

front tyres cracking

fuel pump nosy

p/s fluid dirty

tracking out pulling to left

Pass 24 May 2017 133,281 miles
Pass 19 May 2016 132,540 miles
Fail 13 May 2016 132,524 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose bulging under pressure (3.6.B.3)

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

Offside Front Brake hose bulging under pressure (3.6.B.3)

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

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly chafed (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 14 May 2015 131,878 miles
Pass 1 May 2014 130,783 miles
Pass 30 Apr 2013 129,607 miles
Fail 26 Apr 2013 129,589 miles

Offside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering (6.1.A.1)

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

Pass 1 May 2012 128,899 miles
Pass 13 Apr 2011 127,755 miles
Fail 5 Apr 2011 127,755 miles

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

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

Pass 10 Sep 2010 126,192 miles
Fail 9 Sep 2010 126,188 miles

Centre Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Pass 12 Aug 2009 120,850 miles
Fail 17 Jul 2008 113,909 miles

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Pass 17 Jul 2008 113,909 miles
Pass 1 Aug 2007 105,666 miles
Pass 24 Jul 2006 99,145 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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E499 SEL is a 1988 Mercedes-benz 420 in Silver with a 4,196cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80.8%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 E499 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 E499 SEL?

You can check the full history of E499 SEL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E499 SEL registered?

E499 SEL is a 1988 Mercedes-benz 420, first registered on 29 June 1988.

Is E499 SEL safe to buy?

The MOT history for E499 SEL shows 26 tests with a 80.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E499 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 E499 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.