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R46 UET

1997 Mercedes-benz Sl

Blue Petrol 3199cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires8 Apr 2027
Tests28 (19 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate67.9%

Mileage

155,523 mi
Last recorded155,523 miles
Recorded on9 Apr 2026
Typical for 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl79,403 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR46 UET
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSl
Year1997
ColourBlue
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

19 pass 9 fail
Pass 9 Apr 2026 155,523 miles

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

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

Steering box leaking oil (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Fail 24 Mar 2026 155,513 miles

Nearside Front Inner Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Inner Vehicle structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting (6.2.2 (d) (i))

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

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

Steering box leaking oil (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Pass 24 Mar 2025 149,290 miles

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component (2.1.5 (a))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

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

Pass 20 Mar 2024 147,221 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing (5.3.2 (b))

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing (5.3.2 (b))

Power steering pump has slight seepage (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 24 Mar 2023 146,803 miles

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

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

mid section exhaust box rusted pretty badly.

Fail 23 Mar 2023 146,791 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Outer Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure cracks on some parts showing cords. (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

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

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

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

mid section exhaust box rusted pretty badly.

Pass 25 Mar 2022 146,187 miles
Fail 11 Feb 2022 146,166 miles

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

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

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Front Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (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 cracks and perished (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Valve stem slightly damaged (5.2.3 (j))

Offside Front Inner Suspension rod ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

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

Offside Rear Valve stem slightly damaged (5.2.3 (j))

Rear both brake discs corroded

Pass 17 Feb 2021 145,502 miles

Central exhaust box corroded

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

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

Fail 10 Feb 2021 145,495 miles

Nearside Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Central exhaust box corroded

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

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

Pass 6 Feb 2020 144,419 miles

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Fail 6 Feb 2020 144,419 miles

Central Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

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

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

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 8 Feb 2019 143,803 miles
Fail 7 Feb 2019 143,802 miles

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

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

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Pass 5 Jan 2018 142,084 miles

Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded across rear chassis. (3.6.B.2c)

Fail 4 Jan 2018 142,082 miles

Central Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) insecure (3.5.1g) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Brake pad(s) insecure (3.5.1g) DANGEROUS

Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded across rear chassis. (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 26 Jan 2017 140,726 miles

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

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

exhaust deteriorated

Pass 20 Aug 2014

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

nearside and offside rear brake flexis starting to crack/split

Fail 15 Aug 2014 133,354 miles

Inner Front Drag link end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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

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

Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Front Side repeater incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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

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

nearside and offside flexis starting to crack/split

Pass 11 Oct 2012 125,700 miles
Pass 19 Oct 2011 120,807 miles
Pass 18 Oct 2010 117,596 miles
Pass 23 Oct 2009 107,938 miles
Pass 25 Sep 2008 103,541 miles
Pass 31 Oct 2007 99,949 miles

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

advise bonnet catch sticky

wiper poor

Pass 17 Nov 2006 95,190 miles

Front Steering damper slight oil seepage (2.2.C.1f)

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

high level brake light inop

Pass 22 Oct 2005 89,357 miles
Fail 22 Oct 2005 89,357 miles

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

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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R46 UET is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl in Blue with a 3,199cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 67.9%.

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 R46 UET, 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 R46 UET?

You can check the full history of R46 UET by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R46 UET registered?

R46 UET is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 1 September 1997.

Is R46 UET safe to buy?

The MOT history for R46 UET shows 28 tests with a 67.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R46 UET 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 R46 UET. 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.