Sports car and convertible · 1999–2021 cars
Mercedes-Benz SLC reliability
The Mercedes-Benz SLC fails 11.8% of first MOT tests, 18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 32,984 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Mercedes-Benz SLC before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 11.8%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 18% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 32,984
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 5,000
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Mercedes-Benz SLC ages
Each point is the share of Mercedes-Benz SLCs of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Mercedes-Benz SLC | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 7.3% | 12.3% |
| 4 | 9.6% | 14.1% |
| 5 | 11.2% | 16.4% |
| 6 | 13.7% | 19.1% |
| 7 | 13.5% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 14% | 25.5% |
By year
The best and worst Mercedes-Benz SLC years
2020 cars come out best and 2017 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 SLC | 1,148 | 6.8% | 31% fewer fails | 16,030 |
| 2019 SLC | 3,091 | 7.7% | 27% fewer fails | 17,222 |
| 2018 SLC | 5,999 | 9.6% | 22% fewer fails | 22,463 |
| 2017 SLC | 13,534 | 12.9% | 13% fewer fails | 28,814 |
| 2016 SLC | 9,087 | 13.7% | 19% fewer fails | 34,081 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Mercedes-Benz SLC
Its weak spot is tyres: 44% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Tyres6.2%44% above avg
- Suspension2.2%4% below avg
- Lights and electrics1.7%50% below avg
- Brakes1.1%53% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks1%19% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors0.6%79% below avg
- Wheels0.5%193% above avg
- Number plates and VIN0.3%80% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure0.1%90% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Tyre ply or cords exposed 1.89% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 2
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 1.56% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
- 3
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 0.97% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 4
Coil spring fractured or broken 0.68% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 5
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 0.5% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
- 6
Headlamp aim set too low 0.4% of tests
Headlamps aimed too low light the road poorly and reduce the driver's view ahead, especially at night.
- 7
Tyre tear from structural failure 0.38% of tests
A tear in the tyre's structure means it can fail suddenly, so it must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 8
Headlamp aim set too high 0.37% of tests
Headlamps aimed too high can dazzle other drivers, and adjusting them is usually a quick job.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Mercedes-Benz SLC's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit9.96%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking5.41%
- Tyre has a shallow cut2.45%
- Brake disc pitted or scored1.72%
- Brake pads wearing thin1.49%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit1.47%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Mercedes-Benz SLC
- 1
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.
- 2
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.
- 3
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 4
Coil spring fractured or broken
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 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
The mileage record
A typical Mercedes-Benz SLC covers about 5,000 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 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
- Petrol64.8%
- Diesel35.2%
Most common colours
Black, White, Grey, Blue, Silver
Average engine size: 2.1 litres.
Compare
How the Mercedes-Benz SLC compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Jaguar XK | 17.8% | 44% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Jaguar XKR | 22.6% | 37% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| MINI Paceman | 15.5% | 36% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mercedes-Benz SLC | 11.8% | 18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| MG TF | 30.8% | 13% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Toyota Celica | 39.4% | 8% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Volvo C70 | 38.9% | 3% 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 SLC questions, answered
Is the Mercedes-Benz SLC reliable?
On MOT results, the Mercedes-Benz SLC is better than average: it fails 11.8% of first MOT tests, 18% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 42 of 62 sports car and convertible models in our index.
What fails most on a Mercedes-Benz SLC MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Mercedes-Benz SLC are tyre ply or cords exposed (1.89% of tests), tyre cut reaching ply or cords (1.56% of tests), tyre tread below 1.6mm (0.97% of tests). By area, tyres fails 6.2% of its tests.
Which Mercedes-Benz SLC year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2020 cars do best (31% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2017 cars do worst (13% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Mercedes-Benz SLC do a year?
A typical Mercedes-Benz SLC covers about 5,000 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 SLC 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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