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N851 RCD

1996 Mercedes-benz S-class

Blue Petrol 4196cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires16 Feb 2027
Tests18 (13 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate72.2%

Mileage

85,172 mi
Last recorded85,172 miles
Recorded on17 Feb 2026
Typical for 1996 Mercedes-benz S-class107,663 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationN851 RCD
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelS-class
Year1996
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

13 pass 5 fail
Pass 17 Feb 2026 85,172 miles
Pass 13 Nov 2024 84,997 miles
Pass 4 Sep 2020 84,993 miles
Fail 24 Aug 2020 84,976 miles

Brake performance not tested (1.2.1 (g))

Offside Headlamp aim not tested (4.1.2 (b))

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

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

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe leaking on a hydraulic braking system (1.1.11 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 18 Jul 2017 84,918 miles

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

Pass 27 Apr 2016 83,334 miles

Offside Front Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

Pass 13 Feb 2015 77,547 miles
Fail 6 Feb 2015 77,539 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Front Tyre(s) incorrect because different size tyres are fitted on the same axle. (4.1.A.1a)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Pass 18 Feb 2014 74,182 miles
Fail 13 Feb 2014 74,166 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Pass 18 Dec 2012 73,337 miles
Pass 11 Jan 2012 72,766 miles

Oil leak

Pass 13 Apr 2011 70,611 miles
Fail 13 Apr 2011 70,611 miles

Driver's seat cannot be secured in the upright position. (6.2.A.2)

n/s/f seat locking suspect

Pass 5 Oct 2009 65,303 miles
Pass 19 Nov 2008 62,446 miles

Surface corrosion to nearside front brake disc inner face

Fail 25 Nov 2006 58,476 miles

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

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

Pass 25 Nov 2006 58,476 miles

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

How Reliable is the Mercedes-benz S-class?

Based on 692,220 MOT tests across 62,130 vehicles.

80.6%
Pass Rate
6,086
Miles/Year
39
Year Lifespan
62,130
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 25,613
Brake pipe excessively corroded 8,895
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 6,706
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 6,018
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 5,811
Full Mercedes-benz S-class reliability report

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N851 RCD is a 1996 Mercedes-benz S-class in Blue with a 4,196cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72.2%.

Across all 1996 Mercedes-benz S-class models, the average MOT pass rate is 72.8% with a typical mileage of 107,663 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 S-class fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 25,613 recorded failures. If you're considering buying N851 RCD, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mercedes-benz S-class typically stays on UK roads for around 39 years. At 30 years old, this Mercedes-benz S-class is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of N851 RCD?

You can check the full history of N851 RCD by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was N851 RCD registered?

N851 RCD is a 1996 Mercedes-benz S-class, first registered on 30 December 1996.

Is N851 RCD safe to buy?

The MOT history for N851 RCD shows 18 tests with a 72.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does N851 RCD 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 N851 RCD. 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.