Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
Registered from 1990 to 2023.
About this model
The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is a grand touring sports car manufactured by Mercedes-Benz since 1954. The designation "SL" derives from the German term "Super-Leicht", which translates to "Super Light" in English.
From the Wikipedia article Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2004 3.7 petrol. 189 of 1,175 tests failed, 16%.
Better than 95% of 2004 cars. The typical one fails 28%, across 750 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 44% | 83 |
| Brakes | 25% | 48 |
| Lights and electrics | 24% | 46 |
| Tyres and wheels | 22% | 41 |
| Visibility | 10% | 18 |
| Seat belts and airbags | 7% | 13 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- A tyre seriously damaged
- A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Suspension — 44% of its failures
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- Brakes — 25% of its failures
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Tyres and wheels — 22% of its failures
- A tyre seriously damaged
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- Lights and electrics — 24% of its failures
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- Visibility — 10% of its failures
- Seat belts and airbags — 7% of its failures
When it starts failing
At 140–160k miles this one fails 19% of its inspections, against the 31% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20–40k miles | 10% | 17% | 82 | |
| 40–60k miles | 14% | 22% | 223 | |
| 60–80k miles | 16% | 25% | 294 | |
| 80–100k miles | 16% | 28% | 257 | |
| 100–120k miles | 20% | 29% | 150 | |
| 120–140k miles | 19% | 30% | 89 | |
| 140–160k miles | 19% | 31% | 31 |
1,126 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 60k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 3.0 petrol · 362 hp · 1735 kg · 2585 mm wheelbase · 9.0 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 3.0 petrol · 362 hp · 1735 kg · 2585 mm wheelbase · 8.7 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 3.0 petrol · 362 hp · 1735 kg · 2585 mm wheelbase · 8.6 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 3.0 petrol · 373 hp · 1735 kg · 2575 mm wheelbase · 7.3 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2015 | 3.0 petrol · 329 hp · 1730 kg · 2585 mm wheelbase · 7.5 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2014 | 3.5 petrol · 301 hp · 1687 kg · 2585 mm wheelbase · 7.2 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2013 | 3.5 petrol · 302 hp · 1685 kg · 2585 mm wheelbase · 7.1 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2012 | 3.5 petrol · 302 hp · 1691 kg · 2585 mm wheelbase · 7.2 L/100km (NEDC) |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/00017/22
A trapped particle may damage the sealing between the fuel rail and fuel injector, which could cause fuel to leak into the engine compartment. Consequently, leaking fuel may come into contact with hot parts of the engine, increasing the risk of fire. The product does not comply with the requirements laid down in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/00939/24
A fuse may be faulty, which can lead to engine failure or impairment of the restraint functions and instrument cluster. This increases the risk of an accident, injuries and fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01448/22
Faulty configurations of the control units (traction systems, signal recording triggering modules, engine control units and headlights) could cause one or more control units to malfunction, which could increase the risk of an accident. The exhaust emissions exceed the legal limits, posing a risk to the environment. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/01512/22
The roof frame panel above the windscreen might be insufficiently attached to the vehicle and could become detached from the vehicle in motion, creating a risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/02619/23
Due to improper installation, the 12V starter/generator wiring harness could come into contact with the drive shaft, causing abrasion over time. As a result, a short circuit may occur leading to an unexpected sudden loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of an accident. Moreover, strong electrical currents that may flow through the connection could cause an increase in temperature in the affected area, increasing the risk of fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
SR/02431/25
An improperly reworked fuse box may lead to breaks in contact or incorrect fuse ratings. Therefore, systems connected to the fuse could fail, including the vehicle losing drive without warning as well as the restraint systems or the instrument cluster being compromised. This could lead to injury or fire. The product does not comply with the requirements laid down in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users