Mercedes-Benz 300
Registered from 1990 to 1994.
About this model
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL is a two-seat sports car that was produced by Mercedes-Benz from 1954 to 1957 as a gullwinged coupé and from 1957 to 1963 as a roadster. The road going 1954 fuel injected 300 SL (W198) traces its origins to the company's original 1952 300 SL carburetted racing car, the Mercedes-Benz W194. As one of the first automobiles to be equipped with a mechanical direct gasoline fuel-injection system, the power output of its three-liter overhead camshaft slanted straight-six engine surpassed that of its successful racing predecessor.
From the Wikipedia article Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 1991 3.0 petrol. 57 of 359 tests failed, 16%.
Better than 79% of 1991 cars. The typical one fails 22%, across 94 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics | 42% | 24 |
| Suspension | 35% | 20 |
| Brakes | 32% | 18 |
| Body and structure | 30% | 17 |
| Steering | 23% | 13 |
| Visibility | 11% | 6 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- 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
- A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Suspension — 35% of its failures
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- 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
- A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- Brakes — 32% of its failures
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Steering — 23% of its failures
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- Lights and electrics — 42% of its failures
- A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
- Body and structure — 30% 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
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Visibility — 11% of its failures
When it starts failing
Most of these pass at every mileage on record.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60–80k miles | 20% | — | 41 | |
| 80–100k miles | 9% | — | 45 | |
| 100–120k miles | 15% | — | 59 | |
| 120–140k miles | 15% | — | 40 | |
| 140–160k miles | 21% | — | 53 | |
| 160–180k miles | 16% | — | 43 |
281 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.