CarVerify

Free Car Check

R742 ULK

1997 Mercedes-benz Sl

Silver Petrol 2799cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires19 Jun 2027
Tests25 (19 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate76%

Mileage

107,268 mi
Last recorded107,268 miles
Recorded on18 Jun 2026
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
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

RegistrationR742 ULK
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSl
Year1997
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,799cc

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 6 fail
Pass 18 Jun 2026 107,268 miles
Pass 20 Jun 2025 104,772 miles

Central Exhaust box corroded

Central Exhaust flange cracked

Offside Front Outer Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 16 Jun 2025 104,762 miles

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))

Central Exhaust box corroded

Central Exhaust flange cracked

Offside Front Outer Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 15 Jun 2024 103,635 miles

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

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

Pass 6 Jul 2023 102,773 miles
Pass 9 Jul 2022 102,151 miles
Pass 14 Jul 2021 99,769 miles
Pass 16 Jul 2020 98,489 miles
Pass 15 Jul 2019 97,088 miles

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Pass 20 Apr 2018 95,130 miles
Pass 11 Apr 2017 93,838 miles
Pass 3 May 2016 92,757 miles
Pass 30 Jan 2015 91,041 miles
Pass 10 May 2012 86,218 miles

Approx 2,000 miles left on front brake discs and pads.

Nearside front tyre wearing low on outer edge.

Fail 10 May 2012 86,216 miles

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

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

Approx 2,000 miles left on front brake discs and pads.

Nearside front tyre wearing low on outer edge.

Fail 28 Apr 2011 80,069 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Pass 28 Apr 2011 80,069 miles
Pass 24 Feb 2010 74,092 miles

Front Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

Pass 3 Apr 2009 60,718 miles

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

Fail 3 Apr 2009 60,718 miles

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Fail 11 Mar 2008 52,568 miles

Centre Steering damper gland failed and leaking oil (2.2.C.1e)

Pass 11 Mar 2008 52,568 miles
Pass 13 Mar 2007 47,367 miles
Pass 24 Feb 2006 42,632 miles
Fail 24 Feb 2006 42,632 miles

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

Rear registration plate character(s) likely to be misread (6.3.4b)

Offside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

R742 ULK is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl in Silver with a 2,799cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76%.

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 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 R742 ULK, 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 R742 ULK?

You can check the full history of R742 ULK by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R742 ULK registered?

R742 ULK is a 1997 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R742 ULK safe to buy?

The MOT history for R742 ULK shows 25 tests with a 76% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R742 ULK 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 R742 ULK. 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.