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F543 HWB

1989 Mercedes-benz 420

Red Petrol 4196cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires7 Aug 2026
Tests24 (18 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

72,331 mi
Last recorded72,331 miles
Recorded on8 Aug 2025
Typical for 1989 Mercedes-benz 420104,245 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationF543 HWB
MakeMercedes-benz
Model420
Year1989
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine4,196cc
View full Mercedes-benz 420 reliability data

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MOT History

18 pass 6 fail
Pass 8 Aug 2025 72,331 miles

Front tyres cracking in tread

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

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive anti roll bar mounting point (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Fail 8 Aug 2025 72,331 miles

Central Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Emissions unable to be completed (8.2.1.2 (d))

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

Front tyres cracking in tread

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

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive anti roll bar mounting point (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 2 Jul 2024 72,226 miles
Pass 7 Jul 2023 71,922 miles
Pass 26 May 2021 71,661 miles

Offside parking brake low effort

Fail 25 May 2021 71,661 miles

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Windscreen wiper not working (3.4 (a))

Offside parking brake low effort

Fail 28 Apr 2021 71,638 miles

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

Brake performance not tested (1.2.1 (g))

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

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Pass 17 May 2019 70,648 miles
Pass 17 Apr 2018 70,579 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

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

Pass 22 May 2017 70,376 miles
Pass 27 May 2016 70,215 miles
Pass 13 May 2015 67,968 miles

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

Pass 8 May 2014 67,858 miles
Pass 10 Jul 2013 66,982 miles
Fail 8 Jul 2013 66,974 miles

Hazard warning lamps inoperative (1.4.B.1b)

Pass 25 Jul 2012 66,576 miles
Pass 18 Jul 2011 65,995 miles

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

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

Fail 11 Jul 2011 65,962 miles

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

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Pass 5 Jul 2010 64,557 miles

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

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 21 Jul 2009 64,152 miles
Fail 14 Jul 2009 64,152 miles

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Pass 9 May 2008 63,869 miles
Pass 19 Jan 2007 61,610 miles

Nearside 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)

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

Pass 26 Jan 2006 58,577 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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F543 HWB is a 1989 Mercedes-benz 420 in Red with a 4,196cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

Across all 1989 Mercedes-benz 420 models, the average MOT pass rate is 78.1% with a typical mileage of 104,245 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 F543 HWB, 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 37 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 F543 HWB?

You can check the full history of F543 HWB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was F543 HWB registered?

F543 HWB is a 1989 Mercedes-benz 420, first registered on 11 April 1989.

Is F543 HWB safe to buy?

The MOT history for F543 HWB shows 24 tests with a 75% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does F543 HWB 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 F543 HWB. 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.