Used car guide

1995 Mercedes-Benz SL: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Mercedes-Benz SL first registered in 1995: we looked at the 1,614 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,614MOTs of 1995 cars, done in 2023–2025
79%pass first time (all 1995 cars: 67%)
3,200typical miles a year
2.5×the usual rate for side repeaters

What goes wrong more than usual on a 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL than on all cars registered in 1995.

  • Side repeaters2.5× usual
    Mercedes-Benz SL
    2.7% All 1995 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.4%, against 1% of all 1995 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

Better than most

Braking performance: 2.4% here, against 7.5% of all 1995 cars. Exhaust system: 4.2% here, against 9.3% of all 1995 cars.

Common 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL MOT failures and advisories

The share of 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    24% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    23% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    17% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    17% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    15% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    8% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the side repeaters? (Flagged at MOT 2.5× as often on the 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz SL?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Mercedes-Benz SL compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2021–Too few tests
2020340Tyres 16%
20191,021Tyres 19%
20181,199Tyres 20%
20171,909Tyres 23%
20162,304Tyres 21%
20152,389Tyres 22%
20143,166Tyres 22%
20133,382Tyres 22%
20121,246Tyres 21%
2011753Tyres 22%
20101,052Tyres 25%
20091,418Tyres 24%
20082,265Brakes 24%
20072,348Brakes 22%
20062,390Brakes 26%
20053,344Brakes 23%
20045,466Brakes 24%
20037,027Suspension 24%
20022,895Brakes 26%
2001855Brakes 21%
20001,444Suspension 28%
19991,608Suspension 29%
19982,055Suspension 26%
19971,994Brakes 26%
19961,742Brakes 26%
19941,166Suspension 26%
1993476Brakes 24%
1992351Suspension 23%
1991322Suspension 21%
1990208Brakes 22%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Mercedes-Benz SL cars first registered in 1995. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score