Know Your MOT

MOT failure rate and common problems for the Mercedes 500sl-32, and how to check your own car by registration.

Updated 05 September 2026.

10.7%fail rate

Mercedes 500sl-32 MOT failure rate

What a Mercedes 500sl-32 fails its MOT on, and the part that fixes each.

What it fails on, and why

Tyres33.3% of failures

Tyres fail for tread below the 1.6mm legal limit across the central three-quarters, uneven or exposed-cord wear, or sidewall damage. The tester inspects all four; a single illegal tyre is a fail.

Visibility/wipers16.7% of failures

Visibility failures include torn or smearing wiper blades, a washer jet that does not reach the screen, and chips or cracks in the driver's swept area. Blades and washer fluid are quick, cheap fixes.

Suspension16.7% of failures

Suspension failures usually mean a worn or snapped coil spring, a leaking shock absorber, or play in a lower arm ball joint or bush. The tester checks for corrosion, fractures and excessive movement. A broken front spring is one of the most common failures on higher-mileage cars and is a straightforward replacement.

The parts that fix each

If your car has just failed, you have 10 working days to fix the items and get a free partial retest. Confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying.

For the tyres failure: Mercedes 500sl-32 tyresShop Mercedes 500sl-32 tyres on AmazonaffiliateFind Mercedes 500sl-32 tyres on eBayaffiliate
For the visibility/wipers failure: Mercedes 500sl-32 wiper bladesShop Mercedes 500sl-32 wiper blades on AmazonaffiliateFind Mercedes 500sl-32 wiper blades on eBayaffiliate
For the suspension failure: Mercedes 500sl-32 suspension springs and shock absorbersShop Mercedes 500sl-32 suspension springs and shock absorbers on AmazonaffiliateFind Mercedes 500sl-32 suspension springs and shock absorbers on eBayaffiliate

Other models

All Mercedes models MOT failure rates comparedRanked worst to bestMercedes C220 MOT failures28.8% failure rateMercedes Ml MOT failures21.9% failure rateFord Fiesta MOT failures27.1% failure rate

Questions and answers

What is the MOT failure rate of the Mercedes 500sl-32?

It fails 10.7% of its MOT tests across the DVSA record, from 56 tests.

What do these cars fail their MOT on most?

The most common failure area is tyres, at 33.3% of this model's failures.