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FTV 1

1997 Mercedes-benz S-class

Black Petrol 4973cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires22 Oct 2026
Tests26 (20 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate76.9%

Mileage

130,999 mi
Last recorded130,999 miles
Recorded on20 Oct 2025
Typical for 1997 Mercedes-benz S-class103,857 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

RegistrationFTV 1
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelS-class
Year1997
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine4,973cc

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

20 pass 6 fail
Pass 20 Oct 2025 130,999 miles

Offside Front Lower Steering box leaking oil (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Fail 20 Oct 2025 130,999 miles

Nearside Front All direction indicators incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Front All direction indicators incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Front Lower Steering box leaking oil (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Pass 18 Oct 2024 125,120 miles

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

Pass 14 Oct 2023 115,024 miles
Pass 22 Oct 2022 102,223 miles

Offside Rear Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Pass 23 Oct 2021 92,681 miles
Pass 6 Oct 2020 87,609 miles

Central Front Obligatory mirror slightly loose (3.3 (b) (i))

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

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

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

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

Pass 9 Apr 2019 77,133 miles
Pass 23 Mar 2018 65,601 miles
Pass 4 Apr 2017 54,401 miles
Fail 4 Apr 2017 54,397 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Pass 9 Mar 2016 150,036 miles
Pass 7 Mar 2015 140,816 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 9 Apr 2014 135,606 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Rear Stop lamp has light sources not illuminating, but not more than 50% (1.2.1b)

Pass 28 Mar 2013 134,045 miles
Pass 30 Mar 2012 131,484 miles
Fail 28 Mar 2012 131,484 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Pass 28 Mar 2011 123,173 miles

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

Pass 31 Mar 2010 113,954 miles
Pass 2 Mar 2009 99,798 miles
Fail 2 Mar 2009 99,798 miles

Offside Front Direction indicator incomplete (1.5.A1b)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 28 Mar 2008 91,667 miles
Fail 28 Mar 2008 91,667 miles

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 29 Mar 2007 83,702 miles
Fail 29 Mar 2007 83,702 miles

Offside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 15 Mar 2006 74,636 miles

How Reliable is the Mercedes-benz S-class?

Based on 692,220 MOT tests across 62,130 vehicles.

80.6%
Pass Rate
6,086
Miles/Year
39
Year Lifespan
62,130
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 25,613
Brake pipe excessively corroded 8,895
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 6,706
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 6,018
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 5,811
Full Mercedes-benz S-class reliability report

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FTV 1 is a 1997 Mercedes-benz S-class in Black with a 4,973cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76.9%.

Across all 1997 Mercedes-benz S-class models, the average MOT pass rate is 72.0% with a typical mileage of 103,857 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Mercedes-benz S-class fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 25,613 recorded failures. If you're considering buying FTV 1, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mercedes-benz S-class typically stays on UK roads for around 39 years. At 29 years old, this Mercedes-benz S-class is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of FTV 1?

You can check the full history of FTV 1 by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was FTV 1 registered?

FTV 1 is a 1997 Mercedes-benz S-class, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is FTV 1 safe to buy?

The MOT history for FTV 1 shows 26 tests with a 76.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does FTV 1 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 FTV 1. 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.