Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2008 Mercedes Benz 320?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2008 Mercedes Benz 320?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2008 Mercedes Benz 320?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2008 Mercedes Benz 320 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

37% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2008 Mercedes Benz 320 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 107 vehicles, the 2008 Mercedes Benz 320 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 82.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2008 Mercedes Benz 320?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2008 Mercedes Benz 320 are: Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (60.8% of vehicles), Oil leak, but not excessive (56.6% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (48.5% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2008 Mercedes Benz 320?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Mercedes Benz 320 (2008)

107 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82.5% first-time pass rate

2008 Mercedes Benz 320

CarHunch analysed 107 real MOT records for the 2008 Mercedes Benz 320. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2008 Mercedes-Benz 320 passes its MOT on the first attempt 82.5% of the time, slightly ahead of the UK average of 80%, but the real concern is that 36.4% of vehicles in this cohort have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—well above acceptable levels and a genuine safety flag for any buyer. The diesel variants (which make up nearly all of these cars) perform marginally better at 82.9%, suggesting the powertrain itself is reasonably sound.

With a median mileage of 93,917 miles, these cars are running at a typical level for their age, yet owners are facing an average of 2.56 failures and 15.8 advisories per test, indicating persistent wear issues across the fleet. Before committing to one, get a full pre-purchase inspection focused on the electrical and suspension systems—common problem areas on ageing Mercedes—and check its MOT history for the pattern of those advisories.

We have limited data for the 2008 Mercedes Benz 320 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

82.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

36.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.56

Over 12.9 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

94k

Middle half: 75k–113k

For context

These stats describe 107 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 107 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 60.8%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Oil leak, but not excessive · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Tyre wear 48.5%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 43%

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2008.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 107 Mercedes Benz 320 cars.

Before you buy a 2008 Mercedes Benz 320

Based on MOT data from 107 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 36.5% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (95%)	102	82.9%	2.55

Mileage Distribution

Most 2008 Mercedes Benz 320 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

93,917

typical

74,813

low mileage

112,822

high mileage

Half of all 2008 Mercedes Benz 320 vehicles fall between 74,813 and 112,822 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 74,813 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 74,813–112,822 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2008 Mercedes Benz 320s sit.

⚠ Over 152,309 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2008 Mercedes Benz 320 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 43% of 2008 Mercedes Benz 320s are still active.

Numbers are declining — 38 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (43% of peak).

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

12.9

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.56

Avg failures per vehicle

15.8

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mercedes Benz 320: All 320 years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 2008 Mercedes Benz 320 stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing