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R500 MSL

1997 Mercedes-benz Sl

Silver Petrol 4973cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires6 Mar 2027
Tests22 (19 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate86.4%

Mileage

135,960 mi
Last recorded135,960 miles
Recorded on9 Feb 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

RegistrationR500 MSL
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSl
Year1997
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine4,973cc

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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 3 fail
Pass 9 Feb 2026 135,960 miles
Pass 19 Feb 2025 134,605 miles
Pass 8 Feb 2024 133,614 miles
Pass 8 Feb 2023 132,231 miles
Pass 7 Mar 2022 130,579 miles
Pass 5 Mar 2021 127,290 miles

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

Pass 18 May 2019 121,506 miles
Fail 15 May 2019 121,503 miles

Offside Inner Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Stop lamp(s) light intensity significantly reduced (4.3.3 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Front Nail in tyre ()

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

Pass 21 Feb 2018 114,456 miles

Front Valve stem slightly damaged both (4.1.D.1e)

Pass 25 Feb 2017 111,978 miles
Pass 18 Feb 2016 109,891 miles
Fail 13 Feb 2016 109,891 miles

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 17 Feb 2015 107,591 miles
Fail 13 Feb 2015 107,591 miles

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

Pass 26 Oct 2013 106,154 miles
Pass 27 Oct 2012 104,307 miles

Oil leak

Pass 2 Nov 2011 101,191 miles
Pass 15 Oct 2010 99,580 miles
Pass 27 Nov 2009 95,156 miles
Pass 17 Nov 2008 86,639 miles
Pass 8 Nov 2007 78,339 miles
Pass 6 Nov 2006 69,185 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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R500 MSL is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl in Silver with a 4,973cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 86.4%.

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 R500 MSL, 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 R500 MSL?

You can check the full history of R500 MSL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R500 MSL registered?

R500 MSL is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 13 August 1997.

Is R500 MSL safe to buy?

The MOT history for R500 MSL shows 22 tests with a 86.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R500 MSL 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 R500 MSL. 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.