Mercedes Benz 220 (2005)

124 real MOT outcomes analysed • 74.6% first-time pass rate

2005 Mercedes Benz 220

CarHunch analysed 124 real MOT records for the 2005 Mercedes Benz 220. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 5.4% below UK average
74.6%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
110,135
typical mileage
87,463–135,376 middle half
46%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
4.5
avg MOT failures per car
over 16.4 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2005 Mercedes Benz 220

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.
  • ⚠️ 46% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 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 220

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 (97%) 120 74.3% 4.57
Petrol (3%) 4 83.7% 2.5

Mileage Distribution

Most 2005 Mercedes Benz 220 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.

87,463
low mileage
110,135
typical
135,376
high mileage

Half of all 2005 Mercedes Benz 220 vehicles fall between 87,463 and 135,376 miles.

2005 Mercedes Benz 220 — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 27 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (27% of peak).

100 27 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

16.4
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
4.5
Avg failures per vehicle
24.2
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2005 Mercedes Benz 220

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

  • 84.2%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 79.1%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 64.4%
    Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
  • 50.3%
    Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay
  • 44.9%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 41.1%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 37.3%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 33.9%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2005. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Mercedes Benz 220?

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

UK

Other model years — Mercedes Benz 220:

1993 1994 1995 2007