CarVerify

Free Car Check

R226 XAO

1997 Mercedes-benz Sl

Red Petrol 4973cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires2 Jul 2027
Tests24 (20 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate83.3%

Mileage

94,995 mi
Last recorded94,995 miles
Recorded on22 Jun 2026
Typical for 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl79,403 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Mercedes-benz
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £14.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationR226 XAO
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSl
Year1997
ColourRed
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

20 pass 4 fail
Pass 22 Jun 2026 94,995 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Front Steering box slight play between sector shaft and the drop arm idler (2.1.3 (a) (ii))

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

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

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

Rear Fuel Pipe/s corroded

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

fuel cap seal slightly perished

Pass 3 Jul 2025 93,449 miles

Rear Fuel Pipe/s corroded

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Front steering idler slight play

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

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

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

Offside 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))

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

fuel cap seal slightly perished

Fail 3 Jul 2025 93,449 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Nearside Front Side repeater incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

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

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Front steering idler slight play

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

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Front Side repeater incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

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

Offside 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))

Rear Fuel Pipe/s corroded

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

fuel cap seal slightly perished

Pass 24 May 2024 92,161 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

rear diff leaking oil

Fail 29 Apr 2024 92,138 miles

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

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear diff leaking oil

Pass 21 Apr 2023 91,276 miles
Fail 21 Apr 2023 91,274 miles

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

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust emissions - engine idle speed too high (8.2.1.2 (e))

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

Pass 21 Oct 2021 90,889 miles

Rear diff oil leak

Pass 12 Nov 2020 90,227 miles

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

Oil leak, but not excessive rear diff area (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Side repeater slightly discoloured both lamps (4.4.3 (a))

Pass 6 May 2019 89,636 miles

rear diff has slight oil leak

Pass 5 May 2018 88,963 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases centre section (7.1.2)

Oil leak rear diff oil leak

Pass 23 Sep 2016 88,253 miles
Pass 4 Feb 2016 87,606 miles

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

exhaust hangers broken but still supported

exhaust outer skin coming off and corroded

rear diff oil leak

Pass 10 Feb 2015 86,670 miles

Exhaust hangers broken but still supported

Exhaust outer skin coming off and corroded system

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

Rear diff oil leaking

Pass 26 Feb 2014 85,224 miles

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

exhaust system showing signs of corrosion

slight oil leak at rear diff

Pass 13 Feb 2013 83,962 miles

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

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

off side front fog light not working

slight oil leak at rear diff

Pass 29 Feb 2012 82,979 miles

all tyres on 3 to 3.5 mm

Pass 27 Apr 2011 81,716 miles
Fail 27 Apr 2011 81,714 miles

Nearside Side repeater incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Pass 7 Apr 2010 77,460 miles

Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Pass 28 Apr 2009 76,406 miles
Pass 22 Apr 2008 75,203 miles

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

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

Pass 23 Apr 2007 73,183 miles
Pass 14 Jul 2005 71,349 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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

R226 XAO is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl in Red with a 4,973cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 83.3%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 R226 XAO, 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 R226 XAO?

You can check the full history of R226 XAO by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R226 XAO registered?

R226 XAO is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R226 XAO safe to buy?

The MOT history for R226 XAO shows 24 tests with a 83.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R226 XAO 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 R226 XAO. 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.