MOT performance
2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class: MOT pass rate and common failures
Of 9,062 MOT tests on 2005-registered Mercedes-Benz E-Classs in 2023–2024 (on average 17.8 years old at test, median 133,294 miles), 66.0% passed first time, 11.5 points lower than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class overall. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs failed 24% less often than comparable cars.
9,062 MOT tests on 5,009 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 66.0% | ±1 pts (95%), n = 9,062 |
| All Mercedes-Benz E-Classs | 77.5% | n = 488,758 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 0.76× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 9.4% | n = 9,062 |
| Average age at test | 17.8 years | n = 9,062 |
Where 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs fail
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 14.7% | -23% |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 12.8% | -42% |
| Brakes | 9.9% | -36% |
| Tyres | 7.4% | +1% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.8% | -15% |
| Driver's view of the road | 3.8% | -48% |
| Steering | 3.2% | -36% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 2.0% | -80% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 1.0% | -72% |
| Road wheels | 1.0% | +58% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.5% | -24% |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% | +36% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn | Suspension | 7.44% |
| Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded | Brakes | 3.07% |
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 3.05% |
| Ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | Suspension | 2.86% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.75% |
Check a specific 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
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About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.