Used car guide

2012 Mercedes-Benz SL: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Mercedes-Benz SL first registered in 2012: we looked at the 1,246 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,246MOTs of 2012 cars, done in 2023–2025
82%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 64%)
4,000typical miles a year
2.2×the usual rate for wheels

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Wheels2.2× usual
    Mercedes-Benz SL
    3.5% All 2012 cars
    1.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, against 0.5% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

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

Better than most

Brake discs: 4.6% here, against 13.8% of all 2012 cars. Brake pads: 3% here, against 9.7% of all 2012 cars.

Common 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    21% 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.

  • Brakes
    13% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    9% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Suspension
    9% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    4% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Rust and bodywork
    1% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2012 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 wheels? (Flagged at MOT 2.2× as often on the 2012 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%
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%
19951,614Brakes 24%
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 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score