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J3 ESU

1994 Mercedes-benz Sl

Red Petrol 4973cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 Nov 2026
Tests24 (19 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate79.2%

Mileage

147,138 mi
Last recorded147,138 miles
Recorded on20 Nov 2025
Typical for 1994 Mercedes-benz Sl89,214 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationJ3 ESU
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSl
Year1994
ColourRed
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

19 pass 5 fail
Pass 20 Nov 2025 147,138 miles

Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge n/s and o/s (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 25 Nov 2024 145,965 miles
Pass 21 Nov 2023 144,505 miles
Pass 29 Nov 2022 143,223 miles
Pass 26 Nov 2021 141,754 miles

alternator belt has cracks

Pass 27 Nov 2020 140,844 miles

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

Fail 27 Nov 2020 140,844 miles

Nearside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 26 Nov 2019 138,762 miles

Front to Rear Exhaust section corroded

Offside Front Tyre worn on the inner/outer edges

Fail 19 Nov 2019 138,659 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

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

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

Front Steering component deformed idle arm bushes (2.1.3 (c) (i))

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

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

Pass 27 Nov 2018 134,525 miles
Pass 13 Nov 2017 126,306 miles
Pass 17 Nov 2016 120,461 miles
Pass 6 Nov 2015 115,228 miles
Fail 6 Nov 2015 115,228 miles

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 27 May 2014 106,466 miles

both front tyres worn on edges

both rerar tyres worn close to limit

front brake pads low

Pass 21 May 2013 100,358 miles

POWER STEERING CAP MISSING

Fail 21 May 2013 100,358 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Outer Front Anti-roll bar rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Power steering fluid level below minimum (2.3.1)

Power Steering reservoir cap missing

Pass 14 May 2012 92,333 miles

Nail in nearside rear tyre

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

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

Pass 27 May 2011 87,966 miles

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

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

O/S/F & N/S/F Top strut mounts noisy

O/S/R handbrake recording little effort

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

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

Fail 23 Feb 2010 82,313 miles

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

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Nearside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Pass 23 Feb 2010 82,313 miles

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

Nearside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Pass 10 Dec 2008 81,516 miles
Pass 1 Dec 2007 80,020 miles

Nearside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Oil leak

Pass 22 May 2006 74,785 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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J3 ESU is a 1994 Mercedes-benz Sl in Red with a 4,973cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 79.2%.

Across all 1994 Mercedes-benz Sl models, the average MOT pass rate is 80.2% with a typical mileage of 89,214 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 J3 ESU, 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 32 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 J3 ESU?

You can check the full history of J3 ESU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J3 ESU registered?

J3 ESU is a 1994 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 1 February 1994.

Is J3 ESU safe to buy?

The MOT history for J3 ESU shows 24 tests with a 79.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J3 ESU 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 J3 ESU. 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.