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G5 SFA

1996 Mercedes-benz Sl

Silver Petrol 4973cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires22 Jan 2027
Tests24 (20 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate83.3%

Mileage

129,646 mi
Last recorded129,646 miles
Recorded on23 Jan 2026
Typical for 1996 Mercedes-benz Sl82,468 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationG5 SFA
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSl
Year1996
ColourSilver
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 4 fail
Pass 23 Jan 2026 129,646 miles

Central rear exhuast box outer skin deteriorated

Front Oil leak but not excessive

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm+starting to perish/crack (5.2.3 (e))

Offside front tyre staring to perish/crack

Rear Upper Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both side (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 21 Jun 2024 128,265 miles
Pass 6 Jun 2023 125,962 miles
Fail 6 Jun 2023 125,962 miles

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

Pass 17 Jun 2022 123,474 miles
Fail 16 May 2022 123,220 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Center exhaust box outer skin corroded

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Pass 19 May 2021 121,387 miles

Offside Front road spring distorted and not fitting correctly

Pass 28 May 2020 120,220 miles

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))

Fail 28 May 2020 120,214 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

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))

Pass 6 Feb 2019 114,474 miles

nearside mirror missing.

service brake pedal travel is somewhat long.

Pass 9 Aug 2018 114,376 miles
Pass 7 Feb 2017 113,451 miles
Fail 6 Feb 2017 113,448 miles

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 25 Jan 2016 107,061 miles
Pass 6 Feb 2015 100,119 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 11 Feb 2014 95,494 miles
Pass 18 Feb 2013 90,600 miles

Nearside Front Steering pivot point has slight play (2.2.B.1g)

Oil leak

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

exhuast corroded and internal structure begging to fail

Pass 16 Feb 2012 86,331 miles

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

Nearside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

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

Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 15 Feb 2011 81,732 miles

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

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

Nearside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

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

Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 11 Feb 2010 78,100 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 10 Feb 2009 73,575 miles
Pass 14 Feb 2008 69,195 miles
Pass 30 Jan 2007 64,315 miles
Pass 18 Jan 2006 59,503 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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G5 SFA is a 1996 Mercedes-benz Sl in Silver with a 4,973cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 83.3%.

Across all 1996 Mercedes-benz Sl models, the average MOT pass rate is 82.3% with a typical mileage of 82,468 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 G5 SFA, 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 30 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 G5 SFA?

You can check the full history of G5 SFA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was G5 SFA registered?

G5 SFA is a 1996 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 26 November 1996.

Is G5 SFA safe to buy?

The MOT history for G5 SFA shows 24 tests with a 83.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does G5 SFA 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 G5 SFA. 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.