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RA53 HCH

2003 Mercedes-benz Sl

Blue Petrol 5439cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires12 Jun 2026
Tests22 (18 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate81.8%

Mileage

110,602 mi
Last recorded110,602 miles
Recorded on13 Jun 2025
Typical for 2003 Mercedes-benz Sl53,586 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationRA53 HCH
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSl
Year2003
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine5,439cc

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

18 pass 4 fail
Pass 13 Jun 2025 110,602 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Fail 9 Jun 2025 110,602 miles

Nearside Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Offside Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 27 Mar 2024 108,155 miles

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

Nearside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

Pass 31 Mar 2023 107,029 miles

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

brake pad wear warning faulty

Pass 22 Mar 2022 103,616 miles

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

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

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

Pass 23 Feb 2021 101,104 miles
Pass 8 May 2019 98,082 miles
Pass 20 Apr 2018 95,288 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 4 mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Nail in tyre ()

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 4 mm (4.1.E.1)

Fail 20 Apr 2018 95,288 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose twisted (found during steering lock to lock check) (2.2.D.2b)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 4 mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Nail in tyre ()

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 4 mm (4.1.E.1)

Pass 23 Jun 2016 93,335 miles
Pass 2 Jun 2015 89,928 miles

runflat damage to nearside front tyre inner sidewall

Pass 7 May 2014 84,573 miles
Fail 1 May 2014 84,573 miles

Nearside Inner Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Front Lower Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 16 May 2013 80,530 miles

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 8 May 2012 74,998 miles
Fail 3 May 2012 74,998 miles

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

Different suspension arm bushes fitted to front suspension

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

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside door mirror deteriated slightly

Slight corrosion to front brake discs inner surface

Slight play in offside steering arm joint

Small cut in nearside rear tyre tread

Pass 8 Nov 2011 72,844 miles
Pass 5 Nov 2010 64,699 miles
Pass 9 Nov 2009 57,501 miles
Pass 26 Nov 2008 53,452 miles
Pass 19 Dec 2007 46,191 miles

engine man light on

Pass 1 Dec 2006 39,062 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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)

rear number plate poor condition

very slight play offside front wheel

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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RA53 HCH is a 2003 Mercedes-benz Sl in Blue with a 5,439cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 81.8%.

Across all 2003 Mercedes-benz Sl models, the average MOT pass rate is 83.5% with a typical mileage of 53,586 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 RA53 HCH, 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 23 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 RA53 HCH?

You can check the full history of RA53 HCH by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was RA53 HCH registered?

RA53 HCH is a 2003 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 29 October 2003.

Is RA53 HCH safe to buy?

The MOT history for RA53 HCH shows 22 tests with a 81.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does RA53 HCH 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 RA53 HCH. 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.