Mercedes-Benz 190
Registered from 1990 to 1994.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 1990 2.0 petrol. 64 of 362 tests failed, 18%.
Better than 72% of 1990 cars. The typical one fails 21%, across 86 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics | 45% | 29 |
| Body and structure | 33% | 21 |
| Suspension | 33% | 21 |
| Brakes | 31% | 20 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 23% | 15 |
| Visibility | 14% | 9 |
The defects inspectors cite
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point
- Exhaust system leaking or insecure
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Suspension — 33% of its failures
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Brakes — 31% of its failures
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Exhaust and emissions — 23% of its failures
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Exhaust system leaking or insecure
- Lights and electrics — 45% of its failures
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Body and structure — 33% of its failures
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Visibility — 14% of its failures
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
When it starts failing
At 80–100k miles this one fails 13% of its inspections, against the 20% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60–80k miles | 20% | — | 46 | |
| 80–100k miles | 13% | 20% | 52 | |
| 100–120k miles | 13% | — | 54 | |
| 120–140k miles | 25% | — | 79 | |
| 140–160k miles | 16% | — | 38 | |
| 160–180k miles | 19% | — | 37 |
306 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 120k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.