CarVerify

Free Car Check

HL53 NCC

2003 Mercedes-benz C

Gold Petrol 1790cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires10 Jan 2026
Tests18 (11 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate61.1%

Mileage

263,057 mi
Last recorded263,057 miles
Recorded on12 Jan 2026
Typical for 2003 Mercedes-benz C81,364 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Mercedes-benz
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £14.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationHL53 NCC
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelC
Year2003
ColourGold
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,790cc

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

11 pass 7 fail
Fail 12 Jan 2026 263,057 miles

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.2.2 (g))

Nearside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Offside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Parking brake lever defective so that it cannot be satisfactorily operated (1.1.6 (d))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

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

Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement both sides (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Front Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin both sides (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Rear Coil spring corroded both sides (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 6 Jan 2025 251,083 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Nearside Front Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Front Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b))

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Parking brake lever defective but can be satisfactorily operated Release lever broken (1.1.6 (d))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Fail 3 Jan 2025 251,079 miles

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Nearside Front Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Front Inner Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b))

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Parking brake lever defective but can be satisfactorily operated Release lever broken (1.1.6 (d))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 11 Jan 2024 236,459 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a reduced damping effect (5.3.2 (d))

Offside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

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

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a reduced damping effect (5.3.2 (d))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both rear brake pipes to flexi hoses (1.1.11 (c))

Undertrays fitted restricting full inspection

Fail 5 Jan 2024 236,458 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a reduced damping effect (5.3.2 (d))

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

Offside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

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

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a reduced damping effect (5.3.2 (d))

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

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both rear brake pipes to flexi hoses (1.1.11 (c))

Undertrays fitted restricting full inspection

Pass 20 Dec 2022 215,384 miles

Headlamps slightly deteriorated

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 7 Jan 2022 194,928 miles

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

Pass 11 Jan 2021 176,400 miles
Fail 4 Jan 2021 176,400 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp lens seriously defective (4.1.1 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Headlamp lens seriously defective (4.1.1 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Nearside Obligatory mirror slightly loose (3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 3 Jan 2020 166,731 miles

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

Fail 31 Dec 2019 166,708 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

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

Pass 20 Aug 2018 141,890 miles
Fail 17 Aug 2018 141,890 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn Rear arm inner bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Pass 28 Jul 2017 128,921 miles
Pass 14 Jul 2016 113,271 miles

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

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

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

Pass 5 Aug 2015 91,836 miles

both rear tyres aproaching the 2mm wearbar

front brake disc's worn low

Fail 3 Aug 2015 91,836 miles

Nearside Front Lower Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

both rear tyres aproaching the 2mm wearbar

front brake disc's worn low

Pass 1 Aug 2014 111,619 miles

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

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

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

How Reliable is the Mercedes-benz C?

Based on 8,031,355 MOT tests across 683,668 vehicles.

77.6%
Pass Rate
6,412
Miles/Year
32
Year Lifespan
683,668
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 240,078
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 76,831
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 67,503
Brake pipe excessively corroded 66,298
coil spring broken 61,560
Full Mercedes-benz C reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

HL53 NCC is a 2003 Mercedes-benz C in Gold with a 1,790cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 61.1%.

Across all 2003 Mercedes-benz C models, the average MOT pass rate is 72.5% with a typical mileage of 81,364 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 C fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 240,078 recorded failures. If you're considering buying HL53 NCC, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mercedes-benz C typically stays on UK roads for around 32 years. At 23 years old, this Mercedes-benz C is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of HL53 NCC?

You can check the full history of HL53 NCC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was HL53 NCC registered?

HL53 NCC is a 2003 Mercedes-benz C, first registered on 31 December 2003.

Is HL53 NCC safe to buy?

The MOT history for HL53 NCC shows 18 tests with a 61.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does HL53 NCC 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 HL53 NCC. 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.