Mercedes Benz 208 D (1994)
1994 Mercedes Benz 208 D
CarHunch analysed 1,030 real MOT records for the 1994 Mercedes Benz 208 D. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1994 Mercedes-Benz 208 D has a first-time MOT pass rate of just 65.3%, well below the UK average of 80%, suggesting these cars present meaningful reliability challenges for buyers. With 15.2% of vehicles ever having recorded a dangerous defect, this isn't a vehicle to buy without a pre-purchase inspection and full service history.
At an average mileage of 149,315 miles for a 30-year-old car, these examples have typically been well-used, and they're showing it—the average vehicle racks up 1.84 failures and 4.7 advisories per MOT, indicating recurring mechanical wear. If you're considering one, budget for immediate attention to brakes, suspension, and exhaust systems, and factor in regular specialist servicing costs.
What to check before buying a 1994 Mercedes Benz 208 D
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 208 D
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (100%) | 1,029 | 65.3% | 1.84 |
| Petrol (0%) | 1 | 47.4% | 10 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1994 Mercedes Benz 208 D 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.
Half of all 1994 Mercedes Benz 208 D vehicles fall between 112,940 and 176,508 miles.
1994 Mercedes Benz 208 D — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 28 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (46% of peak).
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
Found a specific Mercedes Benz 208 D?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.