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R23 DSL

2003 Mercedes-benz Sl

Black Petrol 5439cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires9 Mar 2027
Tests24 (20 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate83.3%

Mileage

92,559 mi
Last recorded92,559 miles
Recorded on4 Mar 2026
Typical for 2003 Mercedes-benz Sl53,586 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR23 DSL
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSl
Year2003
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine5,439cc

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 4 Mar 2026 92,559 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Outer Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Sidewall damaged (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 3 Mar 2026 92,556 miles

Front Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Front arm (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Rear Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))

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

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

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Outer Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Sidewall damaged (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 3mm (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 7 Mar 2025 92,061 miles

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

Offside Front Outer Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated torque arm dust cover (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Fail 7 Mar 2025 92,061 miles

Front Registration plate incorrect incorrect spacing (0.1 (c))

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

Offside Front Outer Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated torque arm dust cover (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Rear Registration plate incorrect incorrect spacing (0.1 (c))

Pass 1 Mar 2024 89,822 miles

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

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Fail 1 Mar 2024 89,822 miles

Front Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))

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

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Rear Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))

Pass 10 Mar 2023 85,600 miles
Pass 8 Apr 2022 84,461 miles
Pass 19 Apr 2021 77,335 miles
Pass 26 May 2020 75,910 miles

Offside Door mirror discoloured, view to rear not significantly impaired.

Pass 26 Sep 2018 75,172 miles

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

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

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

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

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Pass 2 Oct 2017 74,566 miles

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

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Pass 7 Oct 2016 71,622 miles
Pass 12 Oct 2015 68,755 miles
Fail 7 Oct 2015 68,755 miles

Nearside Front Lower Front suspension ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt thrust arm (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Lower Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint front shock absorber (2.5.B.1a) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Lower Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint shock absorber (2.5.B.1a) DANGEROUS

Pass 10 Sep 2014 68,472 miles

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

both front suspension units,lower joints have slight lift

Pass 11 Sep 2013 67,729 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.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)

both front suspension units,lower joints have slight lift

Pass 23 Aug 2012 62,681 miles
Pass 11 Aug 2011 56,056 miles
Pass 10 Sep 2010 50,811 miles
Pass 27 Aug 2009 45,383 miles
Pass 27 Aug 2008 40,582 miles
Pass 30 Aug 2007 33,535 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 31 Aug 2006 23,278 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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R23 DSL is a 2003 Mercedes-benz Sl in Black with a 5,439cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 83.3%.

Across all 2003 Mercedes-benz Sl models, the average MOT pass rate is 83.5% with a typical mileage of 53,586 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 R23 DSL, 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 23 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 R23 DSL?

You can check the full history of R23 DSL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R23 DSL registered?

R23 DSL is a 2003 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 1 September 2003.

Is R23 DSL safe to buy?

The MOT history for R23 DSL 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 R23 DSL 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 R23 DSL. 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.