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R453 XJV

1997 Mercedes-benz Sl

Green Petrol 3199cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires6 Apr 2026
Tests13 (10 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate76.9%

Mileage

135,243 mi
Last recorded135,243 miles
Recorded on7 Apr 2025
Typical for 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl79,403 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR453 XJV
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSl
Year1997
ColourGreen
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

10 pass 3 fail
Pass 7 Apr 2025 135,243 miles

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

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

Pass 13 Dec 2023 134,916 miles
Pass 18 Nov 2022 131,858 miles

Body under covers fitted not allowing full inspection of some components.

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

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

Front Drag link end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt Both sides (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Front Upper Macpherson strut mounting damaged but not seriously weakened Both sides (worn, not resulting in excessive movement) (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Items removed from driver's view prior to test ()

Oil leak, but not excessive Engine oil leaks (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Power steering pipe/hose slightly corroded (2.1.5 (g) (i))

Rear Brake hose slightly chafed Both sides (1.1.12 (b) (i))

Rear Exhaust box (corroded & rusty)

Rear Suspension system corroded & rusty

Pass 8 Dec 2021 129,418 miles

Body under cover fitted not allowing full inspection of some components.

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

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

Front Drag link end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt Both side (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Front Oil leak, but not excessive Engine oil leaks (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Front Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Front Power steering pipe/hose slightly corroded (2.1.5 (g) (i))

Front Upper Macpherson strut mounting damaged but not seriously weakened Both side(worn, not resulting in excessive movement) (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Items removed from driver's view prior to test ()

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

Rear Exhaust box (corroded & rusty)

Rear Suspension system (corroded & rusty)

Fail 8 Dec 2021 129,418 miles

Bonnet cannot be secured in the closed position (3.1 (b) (i))

Body under cover fitted not allowing full inspection of some components.

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

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

Front Drag link end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt Both side (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Front Oil leak, but not excessive Engine oil leaks (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Front Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Front Power steering pipe/hose slightly corroded (2.1.5 (g) (i))

Front Upper Macpherson strut mounting damaged but not seriously weakened Both side(worn, not resulting in excessive movement) (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Items removed from driver's view prior to test ()

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

Rear Exhaust box (corroded & rusty)

Rear Suspension system (corroded & rusty)

Pass 22 Dec 2020 125,744 miles

Body under cover fitted not allowing full inspection of some components.

Coil spring corroded All round (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Exhaust system rusty

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

Front Drag link end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt Both side (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Front Oil leak, but not excessive Engine oil leaks (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Front Power steering pipe/hose has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Front Power steering pipe/hose slightly corroded (2.1.5 (g) (i))

Front Upper Macpherson strut mounting damaged but not seriously weakened Both side(worn, not resulting in excessive movement) (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Rear Suspension system rusty

Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Both side (Size 225.55.R 16) (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 6 Dec 2019 121,331 miles

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

Fail 29 Nov 2019 121,327 miles

Exhaust system insecure (6.1.2 (a))

Fuel system component leaking at fuel pump (6.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

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

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Side repeater incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

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

Pass 23 Nov 2018 111,296 miles

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

Front Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Pass 5 Dec 2017 99,432 miles

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

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

Fail 29 Nov 2017 99,390 miles

Nearside Front Upper Bonded suspension unit deteriorated and cannot function as intended (2.4.F.3)

Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

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

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

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

Pass 14 Nov 2007 80,759 miles

rear tyres worn on edges.

Pass 31 Aug 2006 74,605 miles

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

Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

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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R453 XJV is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl in Green with a 3,199cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76.9%.

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 R453 XJV, 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 R453 XJV?

You can check the full history of R453 XJV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R453 XJV registered?

R453 XJV is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R453 XJV safe to buy?

The MOT history for R453 XJV shows 13 tests with a 76.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R453 XJV 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 R453 XJV. 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.