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S897 MFC

1998 Mercedes-benz Sl

Black Petrol 3199cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires31 Mar 2026
Tests18 (13 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate72.2%

Mileage

126,112 mi
Last recorded126,112 miles
Recorded on1 Apr 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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationS897 MFC
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSl
Year1998
ColourBlack
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

13 pass 5 fail
Pass 1 Apr 2025 126,112 miles

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

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

Fail 25 Mar 2025 126,111 miles

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

Nearside Front Bonnet cannot be secured in the closed position (3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Pass 29 Jul 2024 125,974 miles
Pass 30 Aug 2016 125,772 miles

Rear Fuel Pipe/s corroded Next to filter ()

Pass 21 Aug 2015 124,453 miles
Fail 14 Aug 2015 124,446 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Front Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on (8.2.1b)

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

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

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

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 3 Feb 2014 124,338 miles

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

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

Nearside Front Lower Ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

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

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

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

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

n/b fuel filler cap seal starting to crack

Pass 30 Jul 2012 116,558 miles
Fail 19 Jul 2012 116,552 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

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

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

Windscreen has damage to an area in excess of a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 27 Jul 2011 103,857 miles

offside front indicator yellow

stone chip in windscreen

Fail 21 Jul 2010 91,417 miles

Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Nail in nearside rear tyre

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Pass 21 Jul 2010 91,417 miles

Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Nail in nearside rear tyre

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

Pass 27 Jul 2009 77,928 miles
Fail 9 Jul 2009 77,339 miles

Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

small stone chip in n/s headlamp

small stone chips in windscreen

Pass 12 Jul 2008 65,666 miles
Pass 23 Jul 2007 53,005 miles
Pass 24 Jul 2006 38,913 miles
Pass 21 Jul 2005

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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S897 MFC is a 1998 Mercedes-benz Sl in Black with a 3,199cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72.2%.

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 S897 MFC, 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 S897 MFC?

You can check the full history of S897 MFC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was S897 MFC registered?

S897 MFC is a 1998 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 20 October 1998.

Is S897 MFC safe to buy?

The MOT history for S897 MFC shows 18 tests with a 72.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does S897 MFC 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 S897 MFC. 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.