1990 Mercedes-Benz 500 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 609 MOT tests analysed for the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 500, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 85.5% was above the average for cars of a similar age (79.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 19.2% in the 150k+ group versus 13.8% in the 30-60k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 47 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.1% | 31 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.8% | 29 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 27 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 15 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.3% | 14 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 30 |
| 2 | Non catalyst emissions | 20 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 13 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 11 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 10 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 20.2% | 123 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.5% | 119 |
| 3 | Tyres | 10.2% | 62 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.8% | 60 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.4% | 45 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.6% | 40 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 58 | 13.8% |
| 60-90k | 146 | 9.6% |
| 90-120k | 167 | 14.4% |
| 120-150k | 137 | 16.8% |
| 150k+ | 78 | 19.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 139 | 16.6% |
| 2022 | 130 | 13.9% |
| 2023 | 128 | 15.6% |
| 2024 | 106 | 13.2% |
| 2025 | 106 | 12.3% |
What to check before buying a 1990 500
Before buying a 1990 Mercedes-Benz 500, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 7.7% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (7.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.1% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (4.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1990 Mercedes-Benz 500s pass their MOT?
85.5% of the 609 1990 Mercedes-Benz 500 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1990 Mercedes-Benz 500?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.7% of tests, followed by brakes (5.1%).
Does the 1990 500 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.8% in the 30-60k band to 19.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 609 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.