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R738 NDS

1997 Mercedes-benz Sl

Blue Petrol 3199cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires23 Sep 2026
Tests21 (19 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate90.5%

Mileage

97,074 mi
Last recorded97,074 miles
Recorded on19 Sep 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

RegistrationR738 NDS
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 2 fail
Pass 19 Sep 2025 97,074 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 24 Sep 2024 97,073 miles

Front Exhaust mounting defective metal support broken welds. (6.1.2 (a))

Front nearside / offside lower ball joint dust covers perished.

Pass 13 Jul 2023 96,468 miles
Pass 10 Jun 2022 96,380 miles
Pass 31 May 2019 94,795 miles

Nearside bonnet catch not securing

Pass 1 May 2018 93,870 miles
Pass 1 Apr 2017 93,484 miles
Pass 4 Apr 2016 92,128 miles
Pass 1 Apr 2015 89,377 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 27 Mar 2014 86,002 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 3 Apr 2013 82,611 miles

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

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

Pass 3 Apr 2012 77,670 miles

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

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

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

Pass 31 Mar 2011 73,511 miles
Pass 16 Apr 2010 67,494 miles
Pass 3 Mar 2010 66,996 miles
Pass 9 Dec 2008 64,892 miles
Pass 5 Jan 2008 62,576 miles
Fail 5 Jan 2008 62,576 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Offside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Pass 21 Feb 2007 59,716 miles
Fail 6 Jan 2006 52,080 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Pass 6 Jan 2006 52,080 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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R738 NDS is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl in Blue with a 3,199cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 90.5%.

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 R738 NDS, 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 R738 NDS?

You can check the full history of R738 NDS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R738 NDS registered?

R738 NDS is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R738 NDS safe to buy?

The MOT history for R738 NDS shows 21 tests with a 90.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R738 NDS 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 R738 NDS. 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.