Used car guide

2014 Mercedes-Benz SL: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLs, from 1,074 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,074MOT tests in 2025
86%pass first time (all 2014 cars: 69%)
4,200typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLs than on all cars registered in 2014.

  • Rigid brake pipes1.9× usual
    Mercedes-Benz SL
    7% All 2014 cars
    3.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.5% of all 2014 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

Better than most

Tread depth: 10.4% here, against 21% of all 2014 cars. Brake discs: 6.2% here, against 13.6% of all 2014 cars.

By area

The share of 2014 Mercedes-Benz SL MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    23% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    15% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    11% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    5% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    3% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Rust and bodywork
    2% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz SL?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2017640Tyres 23%
2016766Tyres 21%
2015783Tyres 22%
20131,149Tyres 22%
2008743Brakes 23%
2007771Brakes 23%
2006778Brakes 25%
20051,079Brakes 24%
20041,742Brakes 24%
20032,242Brakes 25%
2002912Brakes 26%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLs registered in 2014. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score