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Sports car and convertible · 1996–2021 cars

Mercedes-Benz SL reliability

The Mercedes-Benz SL fails 15.3% of first MOT tests, 51% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 73,297 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 96/100#24 of 62 sports car and convertibles

Checking a Mercedes-Benz SL before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
15.3%
first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage
51% fewer
fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
73,297
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings
4,500
typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Mercedes-Benz SL ages

Each point is the share of Mercedes-Benz SLs of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

0%12.5%25%37.5%50%3691215182124Age at MOT (years)
Mercedes-Benz SLAll cars
Mercedes-Benz SL first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)Mercedes-Benz SLAll cars
36.3%12.3%
46.8%14.1%
58.1%16.4%
68.3%19.1%
78.6%22.1%
810.5%25.5%
911.9%28.8%
1014.9%31.8%
1113.6%34.6%
1216.3%37.3%
1318.6%39.5%
1415.9%41.1%
1517.5%42.3%
1616.1%42.9%
1716.8%43.4%
1817.8%43.5%
1919%43.4%
2016.8%42.8%
2118.3%41.4%
2217.9%40.6%
2317.6%38.9%
2417.9%37.1%
2519.7%35.8%

By year

The best and worst Mercedes-Benz SL years

2007 cars come out best and 2013 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Mercedes-Benz SL MOT results by year of first registration
First registeredTestsFail rateAgainst same-age carsTypical mileage
20204765.5%40% fewer fails15,333
2019 SL1,5135.2%49% fewer fails15,836
2018 SL1,6527.3%39% fewer fails19,396
2017 SL2,8527.1%50% fewer fails25,344
2016 SL3,4459.2%44% fewer fails31,038
2015 SL3,3979.7%48% fewer fails35,286
2014 SL4,55511.1%49% fewer fails40,951
2013 SL4,51814.9%38% fewer fails43,978
2012 SL1,75814.4%44% fewer fails44,384
2011 SL1,02014.2%48% fewer fails46,142
2010 SL1,53017.4%45% fewer fails56,179
2009 SL1,96617.9%47% fewer fails58,122
2008 SL3,24816.2%54% fewer fails60,688
2007 SL3,15115.5%58% fewer fails67,222
2006 SL3,29817%55% fewer fails70,961
2005 SL4,48218%54% fewer fails71,131
2004 SL7,37716.9%57% fewer fails74,087
2003 SL9,43918.7%52% fewer fails74,128
2002 SL3,90418.8%51% fewer fails73,246
2001 SL1,06715.8%57% fewer fails71,531
2000 SL1,85318.7%50% fewer fails81,177
1999 SL2,54017.3%51% fewer fails81,700
1998 SL2,79519.2%45% fewer fails84,079
1997 SL1,12921%41% fewer fails91,519
199631018.4%47% fewer fails88,957

Common problems

What fails most on a Mercedes-Benz SL

Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

  • Suspension4.4%57% below avg
  • Tyres4.1%21% below avg
  • Lights and electrics4.1%69% below avg
  • Brakes3.1%62% below avg
  • Windscreen, wipers and mirrors1.8%69% below avg
  • Exhaust, emissions and leaks1.6%62% below avg
  • Seat belts and airbags0.7%58% below avg
  • Body, chassis and structure0.6%89% below avg
  • Number plates and VIN0.5%11% above avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

  1. 1

    Coil spring fractured or broken 0.97% of tests

    A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.

  2. 2

    Tyre ply or cords exposed 0.96% of tests

    Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.

  3. 3

    Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 0.88% of tests

    A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.

  4. 4

    Suspension ball joint excessively worn 0.82% of tests

    A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.

  5. 5

    Engine warning light inoperative or lit 0.69% of tests

    An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.

  6. 6

    Ball joint dust cover no longer sealed 0.66% of tests

    A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the joint, speeding wear, so the joint may need replacing later.

  7. 7

    Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 0.66% of tests

    Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.

  8. 8

    Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 0.66% of tests

    Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Mercedes-Benz SL's MOT certificate most often.

  • Tyre worn close to legal limit7.1%
  • Brake pipes corroded and greasy5.9%
  • Tyre slightly damaged or cracking4.61%
  • Brake disc pitted or scored3.79%
  • Brake pads wearing thin2.75%
  • Engine oil leak, not excessive2.59%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Mercedes-Benz SL

  1. 1

    Coil spring fractured or broken

    A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.

  2. 2

    Tyre ply or cords exposed

    Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.

  3. 3

    Tyre cut reaching ply or cords

    A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.

  4. 4

    Suspension ball joint excessively worn

    A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.

  5. 5

    Every MOT since new

    Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.

  6. 6

    The mileage record

    A typical Mercedes-Benz SL covers about 4,500 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.

  7. 7

    Finance, stolen and write-off

    The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

  • Petrol99.9%
  • Diesel0.1%
  • LPG0%

Most common colours

Silver, Black, Blue, White, Red

Average engine size: 4.1 litres.

Compare

How the Mercedes-Benz SL compares with its rivals

Mercedes-Benz SL against similar models
ModelFail rateAgainst same-age cars
Porsche Cayman9.8%60% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Jaguar F-Type7.8%52% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz SL15.3%51% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
BMW Z422.2%33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Ford Mustang14.7%15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
BMW Z331.3%15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Volkswagen Eos33.7%14% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age

Every sports car and convertible ranked in the sports car and convertible reliability index, or all Mercedes-Benz models.

Questions

Mercedes-Benz SL questions, answered

Is the Mercedes-Benz SL reliable?

On MOT results, the Mercedes-Benz SL is better than average: it fails 15.3% of first MOT tests, 51% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 24 of 62 sports car and convertible models in our index.

What fails most on a Mercedes-Benz SL MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Mercedes-Benz SL are coil spring fractured or broken (0.97% of tests), tyre ply or cords exposed (0.96% of tests), tyre cut reaching ply or cords (0.88% of tests). By area, suspension fails 4.4% of its tests.

Which Mercedes-Benz SL year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2007 cars do best (58% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2013 cars do worst (38% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Mercedes-Benz SL do a year?

A typical Mercedes-Benz SL covers about 4,500 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Mercedes-Benz SL before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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