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SDL 285J

1971 Mercedes-benz Sl

Green Petrol 2778cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires10 May 2027
Tests17 (14 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate82.4%

Mileage

424 mi
Last recorded424 miles
Recorded on11 May 2026
Typical for 1971 Mercedes-benz Sl97,817 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationSDL 285J
MakeMercedes-benz
ModelSl
Year1971
ColourGreen
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,778cc

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

14 pass 3 fail
Pass 11 May 2026 424 miles

Nearside Front Floor Footwell Corroded

Fail 1 May 2026 420 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar attachment bracket/mounting insecure Bolts Loose (5.3.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Floor Footwell Corroded

Offside Front Brake Flexi Hose Fixing Brackett Insecure

Rear Exhaust mounting defective Exhaust Rubber Missing (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 29 Apr 2019 91,834 miles
Pass 31 Jan 2018 89,911 miles
Fail 24 Jan 2018 89,833 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak ()

engine oil low

Pass 14 Dec 2016 88,314 miles

Oil leak ()

Pass 3 Dec 2015 85,761 miles
Pass 22 Dec 2014 84,015 miles
Pass 25 Jun 2013 83,230 miles

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

slight play in offside kingpin

Fail 25 Jun 2013 83,230 miles

Battery insecure (1.9.1)

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

slight play in offside kingpin

Pass 2 Jun 2012 81,084 miles
Pass 19 May 2011 78,522 miles

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bearing (2.4.G.2)

Pass 20 May 2010 75,313 miles
Pass 21 May 2009 70,883 miles
Pass 27 May 2008 68,487 miles
Pass 19 Apr 2007 66,418 miles
Pass 16 Nov 2005 64,420 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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SDL 285J is a 1971 Mercedes-benz Sl in Green with a 2,778cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 17 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 82.4%.

Across all 1971 Mercedes-benz Sl models, the average MOT pass rate is 74.6% with a typical mileage of 97,817 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 SDL 285J, 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 55 years old, this Mercedes-benz Sl is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of SDL 285J?

You can check the full history of SDL 285J by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was SDL 285J registered?

SDL 285J is a 1971 Mercedes-benz Sl, first registered on 1 January 1971.

Is SDL 285J safe to buy?

The MOT history for SDL 285J shows 17 tests with a 82.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does SDL 285J 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 SDL 285J. 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.