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L121 VAN

1997 Mercedes-benz 280

Black Petrol 2799cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires9 Aug 2027
Tests25 (21 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate84%

Mileage

178,579 mi
Last recorded178,579 miles
Recorded on6 Aug 2026
Typical for 1997 Mercedes-benz 28092,578 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationL121 VAN
MakeMercedes-benz
Model280
Year1997
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,799cc

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

21 pass 4 fail
Pass 6 Aug 2026 178,579 miles

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

Fail 21 Jul 2026 178,447 miles

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

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn front arm (rear) bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Pass 11 Jul 2025 168,136 miles
Pass 15 Jul 2024 159,254 miles
Pass 21 Jul 2023 148,902 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material all metal pipes (1.1.11 (c))

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

Pass 28 Jul 2022 139,315 miles
Pass 10 Aug 2021 129,525 miles
Pass 16 Sep 2020 121,412 miles

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 16 Sep 2020 121,412 miles

Nearside Front Inner Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

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

Offside Front Inner Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Centre drag link ball joint ends (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 6 Jul 2018 121,112 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 6 Jul 2018 121,110 miles

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

Nearside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 17 Jun 2017 118,163 miles

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

Pass 23 Jun 2016 114,614 miles
Pass 20 Jun 2015 110,802 miles

Oil leak

both offside and nearside rear metal brake pipes corroded

nearside front tyre wearing inner edge

Pass 28 Jun 2014 107,187 miles
Pass 22 Jun 2013 102,877 miles

all 4 flexi brake hoses deteriorated

fuel cap sealing washer deteriorated on outer edge

Pass 30 Jun 2012 97,941 miles
Pass 13 Jul 2011 91,458 miles
Fail 11 Jul 2011 91,458 miles

Offside Front coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Pass 6 Oct 2010 90,222 miles
Pass 9 Oct 2009 87,178 miles
Pass 27 Oct 2008 85,873 miles
Pass 31 Oct 2007 84,807 miles
Pass 4 Sep 2006 81,860 miles
Pass 24 May 2005 75,144 miles

Nearside Front Upper Headlamp not in good working order but not adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

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

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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L121 VAN is a 1997 Mercedes-benz 280 in Black with a 2,799cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 84%.

Across all 1997 Mercedes-benz 280 models, the average MOT pass rate is 76.8% with a typical mileage of 92,578 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 L121 VAN, 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 29 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 L121 VAN?

You can check the full history of L121 VAN by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was L121 VAN registered?

L121 VAN is a 1997 Mercedes-benz 280, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is L121 VAN safe to buy?

The MOT history for L121 VAN shows 25 tests with a 84% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does L121 VAN 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 L121 VAN. 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.