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JSU 242

1981 Mercedes-benz 280

Blue Petrol 2746cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires19 Jun 2027
Tests18 (15 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate83.3%

Mileage

136,021 mi
Last recorded136,021 miles
Recorded on12 Jun 2026
Typical for 1981 Mercedes-benz 28089,462 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationJSU 242
MakeMercedes-benz
Model280
Year1981
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,746cc

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

15 pass 3 fail
Pass 12 Jun 2026 136,021 miles
Fail 11 Jun 2026 136,021 miles

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

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

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

Oil leak, but not excessive engine and def (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 20 Jun 2025 136,021 miles
Pass 12 Apr 2024 136,027 miles
Pass 14 Jun 2023 136,024 miles
Pass 15 Jun 2022 136,021 miles
Pass 5 Aug 2020 135,611 miles
Pass 1 May 2019 134,628 miles
Pass 4 May 2018 133,612 miles
Pass 8 Apr 2017 132,376 miles
Pass 9 Apr 2016 131,923 miles
Pass 7 May 2015 131,407 miles
Pass 20 Aug 2009 131,043 miles

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

Pass 9 Jul 2008 129,968 miles
Pass 4 Jul 2007 128,373 miles
Fail 30 Jun 2007 128,373 miles

Nearside Front Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Nearside Inner Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Offside Front Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 1 Jul 2006 126,041 miles
Fail 16 Jun 2006 126,026 miles

Headlamp aim too low when the centre of the headlamp is below 850mm from the ground (1.6.B2)

Offside Rear Wheel bolt(s) missing (4.2.A.1e)

Offside Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

How Reliable is the Mercedes-benz 280?

Based on 54,248 MOT tests across 5,905 vehicles.

73.2%
Pass Rate
741
Miles/Year
58
Year Lifespan
5,905
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 2,691
Brake pipe excessively corroded 1,358
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 1,312
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 1,266
Headlamp aim too low 1,161
Full Mercedes-benz 280 reliability report

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JSU 242 is a 1981 Mercedes-benz 280 in Blue with a 2,746cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 83.3%.

Across all 1981 Mercedes-benz 280 models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.1% with a typical mileage of 89,462 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Mercedes-benz 280 fails its MOT is suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 2,691 recorded failures. If you're considering buying JSU 242, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mercedes-benz 280 typically stays on UK roads for around 58 years. At 45 years old, this Mercedes-benz 280 is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of JSU 242?

You can check the full history of JSU 242 by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was JSU 242 registered?

JSU 242 is a 1981 Mercedes-benz 280, first registered on 1 August 1981.

Is JSU 242 safe to buy?

The MOT history for JSU 242 shows 18 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 JSU 242 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 JSU 242. 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.