Used car guide

1996 Mercedes-Benz SL: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Mercedes-Benz SL first registered in 1996: we looked at the 1,742 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,742MOTs of 1996 cars, done in 2023–2025
80%pass first time (all 1996 cars: 66%)
3,200typical miles a year
3.1×the usual rate for side repeaters

What goes wrong more than usual on a 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL than on all cars registered in 1996.

  • Side repeaters3.1× usual
    Mercedes-Benz SL
    3.7% All 1996 cars
    1.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 1% of all 1996 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

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

Better than most

Exhaust system: 2.4% here, against 9% of all 1996 cars. Braking performance: 2% here, against 7.2% of all 1996 cars.

Common 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL MOT failures and advisories

The share of 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    26% 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
    21% 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
    18% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    16% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    16% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    6% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the side repeaters? (Flagged at MOT 3.1× as often on the 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz SL?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Mercedes-Benz SL compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2021–Too few tests
2020340Tyres 16%
20191,021Tyres 19%
20181,199Tyres 20%
20171,909Tyres 23%
20162,304Tyres 21%
20152,389Tyres 22%
20143,166Tyres 22%
20133,382Tyres 22%
20121,246Tyres 21%
2011753Tyres 22%
20101,052Tyres 25%
20091,418Tyres 24%
20082,265Brakes 24%
20072,348Brakes 22%
20062,390Brakes 26%
20053,344Brakes 23%
20045,466Brakes 24%
20037,027Suspension 24%
20022,895Brakes 26%
2001855Brakes 21%
20001,444Suspension 28%
19991,608Suspension 29%
19982,055Suspension 26%
19971,994Brakes 26%
19951,614Brakes 24%
19941,166Suspension 26%
1993476Brakes 24%
1992351Suspension 23%
1991322Suspension 21%
1990208Brakes 22%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Mercedes-Benz SL cars first registered in 1996. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score