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LW 5

1987 Mercedes-benz 280

Grey Petrol 2746cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires18 Sep 2026
Tests24 (17 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate70.8%

Mileage

24,637 mi
Last recorded24,637 miles
Recorded on19 Sep 2025
Typical for 1987 Mercedes-benz 28052,252 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationLW 5
MakeMercedes-benz
Model280
Year1987
ColourGrey
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

17 pass 7 fail
Pass 19 Sep 2025 24,637 miles
Fail 8 Sep 2025 24,628 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 2 Sep 2022 24,606 miles

Nearside Rear Lower Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive inner wheel arch (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Lower Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive inner wheel arch (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Pass 3 Sep 2021 24,558 miles

Rear Inner Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive wheel arches bothsides (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Pass 20 Aug 2020 24,404 miles

Central Front Lower Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Pass 31 Aug 2019 24,093 miles
Pass 4 Sep 2018 23,956 miles

under covers fitted

Pass 10 Aug 2017 23,659 miles

under trays fitted

Pass 9 Aug 2016 22,894 miles

under trays fitted

Pass 15 Aug 2015 22,472 miles
Fail 10 Aug 2015 22,468 miles

Nearside Front Lower Drag link end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Lower Drag link end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 23 Jul 2014 22,340 miles
Pass 22 Jul 2013 22,080 miles
Pass 3 Aug 2012 21,290 miles
Fail 23 Jul 2012 21,290 miles

Offside Rear Lower Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (7.3.B.1b)

Pass 19 Aug 2011 20,368 miles
Pass 21 Jul 2010 19,714 miles
Fail 6 Jul 2010 19,707 miles

Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)

Nearside Outer Front Lower Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)

Pass 10 Oct 2008 57,276 miles

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Oil leak

beam deflectors fitted to both front headlamps

Fail 10 Oct 2008 57,275 miles

Centre Rear Registration plate lamp insecure (1.1.C.1c)

Centre Rear Registration plate lamp shows direct white light to the rear (1.1.C.1f)

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

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

Fuel pipe/s corroded

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Oil leak

beam deflectors fitted to both front headlamps

Pass 11 Oct 2007 57,233 miles
Fail 5 Oct 2007 57,233 miles

Rear Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Pass 9 Oct 2006 57,222 miles
Fail 6 Oct 2006 57,222 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Offside Front suspension has excessive play in an outer ball joint (2.5.B.2a)

Nearside Front suspension has slight play in an outer ball joint (2.5.B.2a)

Shock absorber has a slightly reduced damping effect (2.7.5)

near side rear hub is damp (oil)

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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LW 5 is a 1987 Mercedes-benz 280 in Grey with a 2,746cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 70.8%.

Across all 1987 Mercedes-benz 280 models, the average MOT pass rate is 64.8% with a typical mileage of 52,252 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 LW 5, 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 39 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 LW 5?

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

What year was LW 5 registered?

LW 5 is a 1987 Mercedes-benz 280, first registered on 1 March 1987.

Is LW 5 safe to buy?

The MOT history for LW 5 shows 24 tests with a 70.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does LW 5 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 LW 5. 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.