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P121 MGS

1996 Mercedes-benz S-class

Blue Petrol 3199cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires9 Dec 2026
Tests17 (16 pass, 1 fail)
Pass rate94.1%

Mileage

197,044 mi
Last recorded197,044 miles
Recorded on10 Dec 2025
Typical for 1996 Mercedes-benz S-class107,663 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationP121 MGS
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelS-class
Year1996
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,199cc

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

16 pass 1 fail
Pass 10 Dec 2025 197,044 miles

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

Pass 1 Jun 2024 187,280 miles
Pass 11 May 2023 183,194 miles

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

Pass 14 Feb 2022 181,448 miles

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

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

Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Both front (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Both front (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 30 Dec 2020 181,051 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Both front (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 24 Apr 2019 180,132 miles

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Both front (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 19 Aug 2015 178,350 miles
Pass 8 Aug 2014 176,123 miles
Pass 1 Aug 2013 173,902 miles

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

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

Fail 1 Aug 2013 173,901 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

Electronic power steering warning lamp indicates a failure in the system (2.3.8)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Brake pad warning indicates a fault

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

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

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

Oil leak

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 1 Aug 2012 173,160 miles
Pass 18 Jun 2011 172,038 miles

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

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

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

Pass 3 Jun 2010 170,237 miles

Oil leak

Pass 23 Apr 2009 162,139 miles
Pass 31 Mar 2008 150,035 miles
Pass 30 Mar 2007 135,752 miles

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

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

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

Pass 31 Mar 2006 129,068 miles

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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P121 MGS is a 1996 Mercedes-benz S-class in Blue with a 3,199cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 17 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 94.1%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 P121 MGS, 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 P121 MGS?

You can check the full history of P121 MGS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P121 MGS registered?

P121 MGS is a 1996 Mercedes-benz S-class, first registered on 30 December 1996.

Is P121 MGS safe to buy?

The MOT history for P121 MGS shows 17 tests with a 94.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P121 MGS 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 P121 MGS. 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.