CarVerify

Free Car Check

R579 VFR

1998 Mercedes-benz Sl

Green Petrol 3199cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires17 Dec 2026
Tests15 (11 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate73.3%

Mileage

180,913 mi
Last recorded180,913 miles
Recorded on18 Dec 2025
Typical for 1998 Mercedes-benz Sl74,108 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Mercedes-benz
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £14.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationR579 VFR
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSl
Year1998
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

11 pass 4 fail
Pass 18 Dec 2025 180,913 miles

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

Central Exhaust mounting defective exhaust mounting missing (6.1.2 (a))

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

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

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

Offside Front brake disc back plate missing

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

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

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

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

Stop lamp(s) non-obligatory stop lamp not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

fuel pipes corroded

general surface corrosion underside

shockers corroded

Fail 2 Dec 2025 180,896 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (1.6 (b))

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

Nearside Rear Anti-lock braking system component excessively damaged pick up ring broken (1.6 (e))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

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

Offside Obligatory mirror insecure (3.3 (b) (ii))

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

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

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

Exhaust mounting defective centre silencer hanger missing and silencer deteriorated (6.1.2 (a))

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

Fuel Pipe/s corroded ()

Nearside Headlamp aim too high and too far to the left. (4.1.2 (a))

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

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

Offside Front brake disc back plate missing

Offside Headlamp aim too high and too far to the left. (4.1.2 (a))

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

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

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

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

Stop lamp(s) non-obligatory stop lamp not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

general surface corrosion on underside components

shock absorbers corroded

Pass 9 Mar 2016 171,561 miles
Pass 12 Jun 2015 170,716 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 13 Jun 2014 168,392 miles
Pass 22 May 2013 167,869 miles

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

Vehicle's internal headlight adjuster altered to recheck lights

front brake discs rusty

Fail 22 May 2013 167,869 miles

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

Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Vehicle's internal headlight adjuster altered to recheck lights

front brake discs rusty

Pass 12 Oct 2011 165,405 miles
Fail 10 Oct 2011 165,405 miles

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

Pass 13 Oct 2010 154,614 miles

Oil leak

Fail 13 Oct 2010 154,614 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Oil leak

Pass 15 Oct 2009 144,800 miles
Pass 6 May 2008 126,366 miles
Pass 4 May 2007 115,987 miles
Pass 12 May 2006 106,670 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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

R579 VFR is a 1998 Mercedes-benz Sl in Green with a 3,199cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 15 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 73.3%.

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 R579 VFR, 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 R579 VFR?

You can check the full history of R579 VFR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R579 VFR registered?

R579 VFR is a 1998 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 14 May 1998.

Is R579 VFR safe to buy?

The MOT history for R579 VFR shows 15 tests with a 73.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R579 VFR 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 R579 VFR. 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.