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Mercedes Benz 190 (1989)

2,284 real MOT outcomes analysed • 70.3% first-time pass rate

1989 Mercedes Benz 190

CarHunch analysed 2,284 real MOT records for the 1989 Mercedes Benz 190. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 9.7% below UK average
70.3%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
129,464
typical mileage
105,303–156,566 middle half
14.3%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.9
avg MOT failures per car
over 6.2 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1989 Mercedes Benz 190

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Mercedes Benz 190

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (83%) 1,897 70.5% 1.83
Diesel (17%) 384 69.5% 2.26
LPG (0%) 3 63.9% 2.67

Mileage Distribution

Most 1989 Mercedes Benz 190 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

105,303
low mileage
129,464
typical
156,566
high mileage

Half of all 1989 Mercedes Benz 190 vehicles fall between 105,303 and 156,566 miles.

1989 Mercedes Benz 190 — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 109 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (43% of peak).

252 109 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

6.2
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.9
Avg failures per vehicle
6.7
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1989 Mercedes Benz 190

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 28.7%
    Oil leak
  • 28.5%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 27.8%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 23.6%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 22.5%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 19.5%
    Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive
  • 19.3%
    Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 18.1%
    Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1989. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Mercedes Benz 190?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Mercedes Benz 190:

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1993