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R553 XHJ

1997 Mercedes-benz Sl

Blue Petrol 3199cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires21 Nov 2026
Tests23 (19 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate82.6%

Mileage

92,850 mi
Last recorded92,850 miles
Recorded on13 Nov 2025
Typical for 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl79,403 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR553 XHJ
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 4 fail
Pass 13 Nov 2025 92,850 miles

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

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

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

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

Fail 13 Nov 2025 92,850 miles

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

Offside Rear Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

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

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

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

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

Pass 22 Nov 2024 92,567 miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 2 Jun 2023 92,234 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 2 Nov 2021 91,833 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 5 Nov 2020 91,155 miles

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

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

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

Pass 14 May 2019 88,069 miles

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

Pass 1 May 2018 84,966 miles
Pass 15 May 2017 84,086 miles

both front tyres wearing on edges

both rear tyres worn close to limit on inner

Fail 26 Apr 2017 84,082 miles

Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt both sides (2.4.G.2)

both front tyres wearing on inner edge

both rear tyres wearing close to legal limit on inner

Pass 25 Apr 2016 83,226 miles

o/s/f m/b/pipe corroded..corrosion exhaust..rear tyres worn inner edges/cracked

Pass 5 May 2015 82,082 miles

B/FLUID LOW,N/S/R TYRE WEARING ON INNER EDGE

Pass 17 Apr 2014 80,344 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Slight play in steering rack

Pass 15 Apr 2013 78,343 miles
Pass 23 Apr 2012 76,574 miles
Pass 9 May 2011 75,265 miles
Pass 24 Aug 2010 74,343 miles
Pass 28 Apr 2009 72,591 miles
Pass 3 Nov 2008 71,078 miles
Fail 28 Oct 2008 71,046 miles

registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

Pass 30 Oct 2007 68,139 miles
Pass 10 May 2006 62,816 miles
Fail 8 May 2006 62,816 miles

Front registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

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

Rear registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced (6.3.4a)

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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R553 XHJ is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl in Blue with a 3,199cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 82.6%.

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 R553 XHJ, 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 R553 XHJ?

You can check the full history of R553 XHJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R553 XHJ registered?

R553 XHJ is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 17 September 1997.

Is R553 XHJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for R553 XHJ shows 23 tests with a 82.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R553 XHJ 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 R553 XHJ. 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.