CarVerify

Free Car Check

R396 FJO

1998 Mercedes-benz Sl

Green Petrol 2799cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires26 May 2027
Tests19 (14 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate73.7%

Mileage

115,524 mi
Last recorded115,524 miles
Recorded on27 May 2026
Typical for 1998 Mercedes-benz Sl74,108 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR396 FJO
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSl
Year1998
ColourGreen
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,799cc

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

14 pass 5 fail
Pass 27 May 2026 115,524 miles

Front Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

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

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

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

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

Nearside Side repeater slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

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

Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Rear Brake disc worn, but not excessively (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Pass 29 Jun 2018 115,482 miles

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

Pass 3 Jun 2017 115,422 miles

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

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 7 Jun 2016 115,214 miles

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

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Pass 27 May 2015 114,987 miles
Pass 21 May 2014 113,580 miles
Fail 17 Mar 2014 113,574 miles

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 Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 21 Mar 2013 113,114 miles
Pass 1 Mar 2012 112,561 miles
Fail 27 Feb 2012 112,561 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)

Pass 3 Mar 2011 109,774 miles
Pass 23 Mar 2010 106,921 miles
Fail 23 Mar 2010 106,921 miles

Centre Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 30 Apr 2009 99,792 miles
Fail 23 Apr 2009 99,792 miles

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

Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Pass 8 Apr 2008 98,531 miles

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

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

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

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

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 3 Mar 2007 97,073 miles
Fail 7 Oct 2006 105,090 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Pass 23 Aug 2005 88,556 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

R396 FJO is a 1998 Mercedes-benz Sl in Green with a 2,799cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 73.7%.

Across all 1998 Mercedes-benz Sl models, the average MOT pass rate is 82.5% with a typical mileage of 74,108 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 R396 FJO, 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 28 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 R396 FJO?

You can check the full history of R396 FJO by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R396 FJO registered?

R396 FJO is a 1998 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 18 May 1998.

Is R396 FJO safe to buy?

The MOT history for R396 FJO shows 19 tests with a 73.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R396 FJO 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 R396 FJO. 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.