Mercedes Benz 320 (1993)
1993 Mercedes Benz 320
CarHunch analysed 725 real MOT records for the 1993 Mercedes Benz 320. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1993 Mercedes-Benz 320 passes its MOT first time in 74.1% of cases, which is 5.9 percentage points below the UK average of 80%, and one in five of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a meaningful concern for any buyer. With an average of 2.73 failures per vehicle and 13.5 advisories, these cars demand attention when they come up for testing.
At nearly 130,000 miles median, these 30-year-old Mercedes are showing their age, and the high advisory count suggests electrical, trim, and suspension niggles are typical rather than exceptional. Before purchasing, have a pre-buy inspection focus on the brake system, suspension geometry, and any evidence of fluid leaks, as these older W124-generation cars develop multiple minor issues that compound over time.
What to check before buying a 1993 Mercedes Benz 320
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.
- ⚠️ 21.1% 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 320
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 (100%) | 723 | 74.1% | 2.72 |
| Diesel (0%) | 2 | 78.3% | 5 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1993 Mercedes Benz 320 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 1993 Mercedes Benz 320 vehicles fall between 100,678 and 163,122 miles.
1993 Mercedes Benz 320 — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 112 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (45% 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
Most Common MOT Issues — 1993 Mercedes Benz 320
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
-
56%
Oil leak
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37.3%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
32.3%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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32.1%
Fuel pipe/s corroded
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31.4%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
30.9%
Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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29%
Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
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27.2%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1993. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Mercedes Benz 320?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.