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R501 TGM

1998 Mercedes-benz Sl

Blue Petrol 4973cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires11 Nov 2026
Tests21 (16 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate76.2%

Mileage

96,898 mi
Last recorded96,898 miles
Recorded on12 Nov 2025
Typical for 1998 Mercedes-benz Sl74,108 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR501 TGM
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSl
Year1998
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine4,973cc

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

16 pass 5 fail
Pass 12 Nov 2025 96,898 miles
Pass 24 Oct 2024 95,725 miles
Pass 11 Nov 2022 95,510 miles
Fail 11 Nov 2022 95,510 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Pass 14 Sep 2021 95,188 miles

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

Pass 25 Sep 2020 95,116 miles
Fail 24 Sep 2020 95,115 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Fail 26 Mar 2020 95,112 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

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

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

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Forward bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Forward bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 26 Mar 2019 94,804 miles

Central exhaust box corroded

Engine covers and under trays fitted to the vehicle

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

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

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

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

Outer sill covers fitted to the vehicle

Pass 4 Apr 2018 94,236 miles

Engine covers fitted

Exhaust silencer has slight corrosion

Nearside Lower Front suspension ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Lower Front suspension ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Headlamp has a product on the light source but not seriously reducing light output (1.7.5a)

Pass 17 May 2017 93,271 miles

Exhaust rear section corroded

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

Offside Lower Front suspension ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Lower Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Pass 9 Apr 2016 91,860 miles

Nearside Front Steering pivot point has slight play idler (2.2.B.1g)

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

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

exhaust catalysts slightly deteriorated

exhaust system slightly corroded

Pass 10 Apr 2015 89,838 miles
Pass 3 Jul 2014 89,290 miles
Fail 2 Jul 2014 89,290 miles

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 11 Nov 2011 89,283 miles
Pass 18 Jun 2009 89,038 miles
Pass 26 Oct 2007 88,876 miles
Pass 15 Dec 2006 83,323 miles
Fail 15 Dec 2006 83,323 miles

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

Front Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Pass 20 Feb 2006 64,932 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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R501 TGM is a 1998 Mercedes-benz Sl in Blue with a 4,973cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76.2%.

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 R501 TGM, 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 R501 TGM?

You can check the full history of R501 TGM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R501 TGM registered?

R501 TGM is a 1998 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 31 December 1998.

Is R501 TGM safe to buy?

The MOT history for R501 TGM shows 21 tests with a 76.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R501 TGM 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 R501 TGM. 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.