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Mercedes Benz 560 (1989)

211 real MOT outcomes analysed • 77.4% first-time pass rate

1989 Mercedes Benz 560

CarHunch analysed 211 real MOT records for the 1989 Mercedes Benz 560. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Average reliability 2.6% below UK average
77.4%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
127,749
typical mileage
98,886–160,944 middle half
16.6%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
2.22
avg MOT failures per car
over 9.5 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1989 Mercedes Benz 560

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 560

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%) 210 77.5% 2.17
LPG (0%) 1 57.6% 14

Mileage Distribution

Most 1989 Mercedes Benz 560 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.

98,886
low mileage
127,749
typical
160,944
high mileage

Half of all 1989 Mercedes Benz 560 vehicles fall between 98,886 and 160,944 miles.

1989 Mercedes Benz 560 — Still on the Road

39 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 54% of the peak remain.

70 39 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

9.5
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
2.22
Avg failures per vehicle
10.5
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1989 Mercedes Benz 560

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

  • 41.2%
    Oil leak
  • 25.7%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 24.7%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 23.3%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 22.8%
    Oil leak, but not excessive
  • 19.5%
    Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive
  • 17.9%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 16.5%
    Parking brake: efficiency below requirements

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

Found a specific Mercedes Benz 560?

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

UK

Other model years — Mercedes Benz 560:

1987 1988 1990