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P21 SHV

1997 Mercedes-benz Sl

Black Petrol 4973cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires29 Sep 2027
Tests27 (21 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate77.8%

Mileage

241,636 mi
Last recorded241,636 miles
Recorded on29 Sep 2026
Typical for 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl79,403 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationP21 SHV
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSl
Year1997
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine4,973cc

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 6 fail
Pass 29 Sep 2026 241,636 miles
Pass 26 Sep 2025 235,763 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened ns/os (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened ns/os (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Fail 26 Sep 2025 235,761 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened ns/os (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened ns/os (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 30 Sep 2024 227,073 miles

Central exhaust box corroded

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

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

Steering box has seepage (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Fail 23 Aug 2024 226,783 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

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

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

rear exhaust corroded /rear sub frame rusty /sill cover fitted

Pass 4 Aug 2023 222,527 miles

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

Nearside steering linkage components have play

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive both sides (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 2 Aug 2022 214,185 miles
Pass 12 Aug 2021 207,780 miles
Pass 27 Aug 2020 202,172 miles
Pass 20 Aug 2019 184,642 miles

Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect both (5.3.2 (b))

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

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

cover fitted

Pass 1 Aug 2018 179,767 miles

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

Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Underbody cover fitted and sill covers fitted

Pass 10 Aug 2017 172,431 miles

Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated both sides (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Front Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Front Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Fail 31 Jul 2017 172,367 miles

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

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

Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated both sides (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Front Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Front Upper Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Pass 1 Aug 2016 167,281 miles
Pass 8 Aug 2015 159,741 miles

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

Pass 15 Aug 2014 150,826 miles

Headlamp damaged but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Nearside Lower Front suspension ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

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

Fail 15 Aug 2014 150,826 miles

Headlamp damaged but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Nearside Lower Front suspension ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Pass 29 Aug 2013 140,919 miles
Fail 1 Aug 2013 139,404 miles

Nearside Front coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault (5.4.2)

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

centre brake lamp not working

Pass 28 Jul 2012 130,045 miles
Pass 11 Aug 2011 121,334 miles
Pass 26 Aug 2010 113,480 miles
Fail 27 Aug 2009 104,753 miles

Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone 'A' (8.3.1e)

Pass 27 Aug 2009 104,753 miles
Pass 15 Aug 2008 92,494 miles

Both front wheel bearings slight play.

Both rear brake hoses perished.

Pass 17 Jul 2007 81,224 miles
Pass 31 Jan 2006 73,775 miles

How Reliable is the Mercedes-benz Sl?

Based on 528,820 MOT tests across 35,553 vehicles.

83.4%
Pass Rate
2,023
Miles/Year
43
Year Lifespan
35,553
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 8,801
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 3,812
Brake pipe excessively corroded 3,463
Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords 3,077
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 2,767
Full Mercedes-benz Sl reliability report

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P21 SHV is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl in Black with a 4,973cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 77.8%.

Across all 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl models, the average MOT pass rate is 81.5% with a typical mileage of 79,403 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 Sl fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 8,801 recorded failures. If you're considering buying P21 SHV, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mercedes-benz Sl typically stays on UK roads for around 43 years. At 29 years old, this Mercedes-benz Sl is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of P21 SHV?

You can check the full history of P21 SHV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P21 SHV registered?

P21 SHV is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 29 January 1997.

Is P21 SHV safe to buy?

The MOT history for P21 SHV shows 27 tests with a 77.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P21 SHV 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 P21 SHV. 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.