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F851 BKU

1988 Mercedes-benz 260

Gold Petrol 2599cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires8 Aug 2026
Tests23 (16 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate69.6%

Mileage

97,233 mi
Last recorded97,233 miles
Recorded on9 Aug 2025
Typical for 1988 Mercedes-benz 260124,092 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

RegistrationF851 BKU
MakeMercedes-benz
Model260
Year1988
ColourGold
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,599cc

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

16 pass 7 fail
Pass 9 Aug 2025 97,233 miles
Pass 31 May 2024 96,880 miles
Fail 24 May 2024 96,880 miles

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

Front Windscreen wiper not working (3.4 (a))

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 13 Feb 2020 96,770 miles

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

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

Fail 8 Jan 2020 96,765 miles

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

Oil leaking excessively from transmission (8.4.1 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Rear brake disc warped

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

Rear Fluid leak, but not excessive diff (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 28 Oct 2019 96,761 miles

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 17 Oct 2018 88,710 miles

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

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

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

Pass 2 Oct 2017 81,077 miles

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

Nearside Rear Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Pass 20 Oct 2016 73,985 miles
Fail 20 Oct 2016 73,985 miles

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

Pass 12 Aug 2015 65,061 miles
Fail 12 Aug 2015 65,061 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 8 Aug 2014 64,465 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Fail 9 Aug 2013 64,342 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 9 Aug 2013 64,342 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Pass 10 Aug 2012 64,066 miles

Oil leak

fuel cap seal starting to split not enough to fail

Pass 9 Aug 2011 63,918 miles
Pass 18 Aug 2010 63,693 miles

fuel cap seal splitting not enough to fail

rear subframe and suspension arm bushes worn not enough to fail

Fail 10 Aug 2010 63,688 miles

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6) DANGEROUS

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

fuel cap seal splitting not enough to fail

rear subframe and suspension arm bushes worn not enough to fail

Pass 7 Aug 2009 63,409 miles

slight oil loss from engine and transmission

Pass 12 Aug 2008 63,240 miles
Pass 15 Aug 2007 62,877 miles

some rusting on rear metal brake pipes flex to three way junction

Pass 17 Aug 2006 626,196 miles

How Reliable is the Mercedes-benz 260?

Based on 18,212 MOT tests across 2,579 vehicles.

73.6%
Pass Rate
2,796
Miles/Year
40
Year Lifespan
2,579
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Brake pipe excessively corroded 853
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 841
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 413
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 403
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 361
Full Mercedes-benz 260 reliability report

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F851 BKU is a 1988 Mercedes-benz 260 in Gold with a 2,599cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 69.6%.

Across all 1988 Mercedes-benz 260 models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.9% with a typical mileage of 124,092 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 260 fails its MOT is brake pipe excessively corroded, accounting for 853 recorded failures. If you're considering buying F851 BKU, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mercedes-benz 260 typically stays on UK roads for around 40 years. At 38 years old, this Mercedes-benz 260 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of F851 BKU?

You can check the full history of F851 BKU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was F851 BKU registered?

F851 BKU is a 1988 Mercedes-benz 260, first registered on 1 September 1988.

Is F851 BKU safe to buy?

The MOT history for F851 BKU shows 23 tests with a 69.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does F851 BKU 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 F851 BKU. 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.