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FJ53 MJV

2003 Mercedes-benz Sl

Silver Petrol 3724cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires2 Jul 2026
Tests23 (17 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate73.9%

Mileage

141,559 mi
Last recorded141,559 miles
Recorded on3 Jul 2025
Typical for 2003 Mercedes-benz Sl53,586 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationFJ53 MJV
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSl
Year2003
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,724cc

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

17 pass 6 fail
Pass 3 Jul 2025 141,559 miles

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

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly twisted (1.1.12 (b) (i))

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

Offside Front Steering linkage ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly twisted (1.1.12 (b) (i))

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

Pass 11 Apr 2024 139,597 miles

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 11 Apr 2023 133,553 miles

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

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

Pass 5 Nov 2021 127,736 miles
Pass 12 Jun 2020 125,369 miles
Fail 5 Jun 2020 125,366 miles

Front Registration plate inscription illegible (0.1 (b))

Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 29 May 2019 121,578 miles

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

Fail 29 May 2019 121,578 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 29 May 2018 119,041 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Fail 25 May 2018 119,029 miles

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

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

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

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 11 May 2017 111,902 miles

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

Fail 8 May 2017 111,889 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

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

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

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

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

engine management light indicates a fault

Pass 5 May 2016 106,557 miles

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

corrosion to exhaust

rear suspension bushes deteriorating

Pass 12 Mar 2015 97,181 miles

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

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 3 Mar 2014 91,405 miles

Nearside Front Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Pass 13 Nov 2012 79,601 miles
Pass 3 Nov 2011 67,996 miles
Pass 16 Nov 2010 67,748 miles
Fail 1 Oct 2010 67,748 miles

Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

airbag light on

Fail 9 Apr 2009 55,041 miles

Airbag light on

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

Front number plate damaged

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 9 Apr 2009 55,041 miles

Airbag light on

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

Front number plate damaged

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Pass 8 Oct 2007 39,133 miles

srs light on dash

Pass 12 Sep 2006 27,167 miles

How Reliable is the Mercedes-benz Sl?

Based on 528,820 MOT tests across 35,553 vehicles.

83.4%
Pass Rate
2,023
Miles/Year
43
Year Lifespan
35,553
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 8,801
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 3,812
Brake pipe excessively corroded 3,463
Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords 3,077
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 2,767
Full Mercedes-benz Sl reliability report

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FJ53 MJV is a 2003 Mercedes-benz Sl in Silver with a 3,724cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 73.9%.

Across all 2003 Mercedes-benz Sl models, the average MOT pass rate is 83.5% with a typical mileage of 53,586 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 Sl fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 8,801 recorded failures. If you're considering buying FJ53 MJV, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mercedes-benz Sl typically stays on UK roads for around 43 years. At 23 years old, this Mercedes-benz Sl is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of FJ53 MJV?

You can check the full history of FJ53 MJV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was FJ53 MJV registered?

FJ53 MJV is a 2003 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 1 September 2003.

Is FJ53 MJV safe to buy?

The MOT history for FJ53 MJV shows 23 tests with a 73.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does FJ53 MJV 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 FJ53 MJV. 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.