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F161 ECK

1989 Mercedes-benz 230

Blue Petrol 2299cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires9 Jul 2026
Tests30 (15 pass, 15 fail)
Pass rate50%

Mileage

78,214 mi
Last recorded78,214 miles
Recorded on10 Jul 2025
Typical for 1989 Mercedes-benz 230126,958 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationF161 ECK
MakeMercedes-benz
Model230
Year1989
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,299cc

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

15 pass 15 fail
Pass 10 Jul 2025 78,214 miles
Fail 9 May 2025 78,214 miles

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

Nearside Front Passenger's seat backrest cannot be secured in the upright position. (6.2.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Seat belt retracting mechanism defective (7.1.2 (e))

Offside Front Driver's seat backrest cannot be secured in the upright position. (6.2.5 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Seat belt buckle slightly damaged (7.1.2 (d))

Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 7 Jun 2024 77,842 miles

Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule both sides (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Nearside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

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

Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule both sides (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Rear Coil spring corroded both sides (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened around coil spring upper mountings (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel steering idler bushes on passenger side (2.3 (a) (i))

Fail 5 Jun 2024 77,840 miles

Nearside Front Seat belt retracting mechanism defective (7.1.2 (e))

Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule both sides (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Nearside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

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

Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule both sides (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Rear Coil spring corroded both sides (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened around coil spring upper mountings (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel steering idler bushes on passenger side (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 29 Mar 2023 77,831 miles
Fail 29 Mar 2023 77,831 miles

Nearside Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Seat belt retracting mechanism defective (7.1.2 (e))

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Pass 11 Nov 2020 76,445 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Items removed from driver's view prior to test ()

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Non obligatory mirror damaged ()

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area damaged but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box has slight leak (2.1.5 (a))

Fail 4 Nov 2020 76,420 miles

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

Passenger's seat backrest cannot be secured in the upright position. (6.2.6 (a) (i))

Driver's seat backrest cannot be secured in the upright position. (6.2.5 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Items removed from driver's view prior to test ()

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Non obligatory mirror damaged ()

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area damaged but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box has slight leak (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 8 May 2019 69,795 miles

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Fail 1 May 2019 69,795 miles

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 24 Apr 2018 65,633 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator damaged, but still visible from a reasonable distance (1.4.A.2e)

Nearside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Stop lamp damaged, but still visible from a reasonable distance (1.2.1d)

Fail 12 Apr 2018 65,633 miles

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

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

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

Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on (8.2.1b)

Nearside Front Direction indicator damaged, but still visible from a reasonable distance (1.4.A.2e)

Nearside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Stop lamp damaged, but still visible from a reasonable distance (1.2.1d)

Fail 23 Feb 2018

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

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

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

Nearside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

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

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 2nd silencer (7.1.2)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Windscreen wiper not operating over a large enough area to give an adequate view (8.2.1c)

Nearside Front Direction indicator damaged, but still visible from a reasonable distance (1.4.A.2e)

Offside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Rear Rear position lamp(s) has a product on the lens but not adversely affecting light output (1.1.A.3d)

Pass 2 Mar 2017 65,124 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator damaged, but still visible from a reasonable distance (1.4.A.2e)

Fail 2 Mar 2017 65,124 miles

rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Nearside Front Direction indicator damaged, but still visible from a reasonable distance (1.4.A.2e)

Fail 2 Mar 2017 65,124 miles

Offside Stop lamp emits other than a steady red light Lens Broken (1.2.1e)

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

rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Nearside Front Direction indicator damaged, but still visible from a reasonable distance (1.4.A.2e)

Pass 4 Mar 2016 61,068 miles
Fail 1 Mar 2016 61,068 miles

Driver's seat cannot be secured in the upright position. (6.2.A.2)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 26 Jun 2014 58,370 miles

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

Fail 23 Jun 2014 58,370 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

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

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

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

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

Offside Rear Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

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

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

Pass 11 Jan 2013 55,178 miles
Fail 11 Jan 2013 55,178 miles

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 6 May 2010 54,270 miles
Fail 5 May 2010 54,270 miles

Offside Front Brake hose leaking (3.6.A.1)

Offside Front Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

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

Pass 6 May 2009 51,320 miles
Fail 4 May 2009 51,320 miles

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

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

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

Rear Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (3.6.B.4e)

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

Pass 18 Mar 2008 39,767 miles
Pass 25 Apr 2007 38,510 miles
Fail 25 Apr 2007 38,510 miles

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

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

Pass 9 May 2006 36,907 miles

How Reliable is the Mercedes-benz 230?

Based on 68,016 MOT tests across 8,576 vehicles.

71.8%
Pass Rate
1,918
Miles/Year
62
Year Lifespan
8,576
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Brake pipe excessively corroded 2,934
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 2,565
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 2,276
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 1,500
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 1,463
Full Mercedes-benz 230 reliability report

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F161 ECK is a 1989 Mercedes-benz 230 in Blue with a 2,299cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 30 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 50%.

Across all 1989 Mercedes-benz 230 models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.8% with a typical mileage of 126,958 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 230 fails its MOT is brake pipe excessively corroded, accounting for 2,934 recorded failures. If you're considering buying F161 ECK, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mercedes-benz 230 typically stays on UK roads for around 62 years. At 37 years old, this Mercedes-benz 230 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of F161 ECK?

You can check the full history of F161 ECK by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was F161 ECK registered?

F161 ECK is a 1989 Mercedes-benz 230, first registered on 17 January 1989.

Is F161 ECK safe to buy?

The MOT history for F161 ECK shows 30 tests with a 50% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does F161 ECK 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 F161 ECK. 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.