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JAC 5L

1988 Mercedes-benz 420

Blue Petrol 4196cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires6 Feb 2026
Tests19 (17 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate89.5%

Mileage

144,950 mi
Last recorded144,950 miles
Recorded on7 Feb 2025
Typical for 1988 Mercedes-benz 420101,568 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationJAC 5L
MakeMercedes-benz
Model420
Year1988
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine4,196cc

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 2 fail
Pass 7 Feb 2025 144,950 miles
Fail 6 Feb 2025 144,950 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

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

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

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

Pass 24 Oct 2022 143,967 miles
Pass 25 Nov 2021 143,884 miles

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Rear Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Pass 2 Jun 2020 143,875 miles

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

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Pass 15 Nov 2018 141,954 miles
Pass 14 Nov 2017 137,144 miles

Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Front Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing both sides (2.7.2a)

Front coil spring corroded both sides (2.4.C.1b)

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)

Rear coil spring corroded both sides (2.4.C.1b)

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

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

Fail 14 Nov 2017 137,143 miles

Central Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Front Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing both sides (2.7.2a)

Front coil spring corroded both sides (2.4.C.1b)

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)

Rear coil spring corroded both sides (2.4.C.1b)

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

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

Pass 22 Nov 2016 134,145 miles

Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Front Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing both sides (2.7.2a)

Front coil spring corroded both sides (2.4.C.1b)

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

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

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

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

Rear coil spring corroded both sides (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 20 Oct 2015 129,976 miles

Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Front Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing both sides (2.7.2a)

Front coil spring corroded both sides (2.4.C.1b)

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

fuel pipes are rusty

Pass 15 Oct 2014 125,274 miles

Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Front Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

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

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Pass 29 Oct 2013 118,821 miles

Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Front Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

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

Pass 9 Oct 2012 111,149 miles
Pass 17 Aug 2011 106,639 miles
Pass 26 Aug 2010 103,339 miles

Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration (7.3.A.2c)

Pass 20 Aug 2009 97,797 miles
Pass 19 Aug 2008 93,202 miles
Pass 29 Aug 2007 89,916 miles

Coolant leak

Nearside Outer Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Offside Outer Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Pass 16 Aug 2006 86,592 miles

How Reliable is the Mercedes-benz 420?

Based on 24,311 MOT tests across 2,343 vehicles.

75.7%
Pass Rate
809
Miles/Year
40
Year Lifespan
2,343
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 647
Brake pipe excessively corroded 577
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 565
brake binding 530
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 479
Full Mercedes-benz 420 reliability report

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JAC 5L is a 1988 Mercedes-benz 420 in Blue with a 4,196cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 89.5%.

Across all 1988 Mercedes-benz 420 models, the average MOT pass rate is 75.3% with a typical mileage of 101,568 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Mercedes-benz 420 fails its MOT is suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 647 recorded failures. If you're considering buying JAC 5L, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mercedes-benz 420 typically stays on UK roads for around 40 years. At 38 years old, this Mercedes-benz 420 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of JAC 5L?

You can check the full history of JAC 5L by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was JAC 5L registered?

JAC 5L is a 1988 Mercedes-benz 420, first registered on 20 April 1988.

Is JAC 5L safe to buy?

The MOT history for JAC 5L shows 19 tests with a 89.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does JAC 5L 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 JAC 5L. 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.