Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1989 Mercedes Benz 560?

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 1989 Mercedes Benz 560?

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 1989 Mercedes Benz 560?

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.

Is the 1989 Mercedes Benz 560 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 211 vehicles, the 1989 Mercedes Benz 560 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 77.4%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1989 Mercedes Benz 560?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1989 Mercedes Benz 560 are: Oil leak (41.2% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (25.7% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (24.7% 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 1989 Mercedes Benz 560?

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 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. 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 Colour Breakdown Compare Models

We have limited data for the 1989 Mercedes Benz 560 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 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

77.4%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

16.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.22

Over 9.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

128k

Middle half: 99k–161k

For context

These stats describe 211 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 211 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 41.2%

Oil leak · Oil leak, but not excessive · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'

Tyre wear 25.7%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

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

Exhaust & emissions 19.5%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive · Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases · Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases

Brake wear 16.5%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · …

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

Suspension & steering 12.5%

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1989.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 211 Mercedes Benz 560 cars.

Before you buy a 1989 Mercedes Benz 560

Based on MOT data from 211 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 16.6% 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
Petrol (100%)	210	77.5%	2.17

Colour Breakdown

Based on 806 Mercedes Benz 560 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 25.4%

205

Black 23%

185

Silver 14.1%

114

Grey 11.7%

Red 8.2%

White 7.8%

Gold 4.1%

Green 2.9%

Brown 2.1%

Cream 0.7%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1989 Mercedes Benz 560 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.

127,749

typical

98,886

low mileage

160,944

high mileage

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

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 98,886 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.

✓ 98,886–160,944 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1989 Mercedes Benz 560s sit.

⚠ Over 217,274 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1989 Mercedes Benz 560 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 54% of 1989 Mercedes Benz 560s are still active.

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

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

9.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.22

Avg failures per vehicle

10.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mercedes Benz 560: All 560 years → Which year to buy? →

1987 1988 1990

Or browse all models: Mercedes Benz →

Compare with another model

See how the 1989 Mercedes Benz 560 stacks up against a rival.

Average reliability — agree?