Used car guide

2018 Mercedes-Benz SLC: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2018 Mercedes-Benz SLCs, from 1,492 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,492MOT tests in 2025
89%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%)
4,300typical miles a year
6.8×the usual rate for wheel bearings

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2018 Mercedes-Benz SLCs than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Wheel bearings6.8× usual
    Mercedes-Benz SLC
    2.7% All 2018 cars
    0.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.1% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

  • Wheels3.1× usual
    Mercedes-Benz SLC
    2.8% All 2018 cars
    0.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.3% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

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

Better than most

Brake pads: 1.9% here, against 11% of all 2018 cars. Brake discs: 4.5% here, against 10.8% of all 2018 cars.

By area

The share of 2018 Mercedes-Benz SLC MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    28% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    7% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    6% 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
    5% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    2% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz SLC?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2020605Tyres 26%
2019990Tyres 28%
20173,425Tyres 29%
20162,250Tyres 28%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2018 Mercedes-Benz SLCs registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score