Mercedes Benz Cl 500 (2004)

324 real MOT outcomes analysed • 81.1% first-time pass rate

2004 Mercedes Benz Cl 500

CarHunch analysed 324 real MOT records for the 2004 Mercedes Benz Cl 500. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability
81.1%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
73,614
typical mileage
55,057–94,467 middle half
33.3%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
3.51
avg MOT failures per car
over 17.4 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2004 Mercedes Benz Cl 500

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.
  • ⚠️ 33.3% 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 Cl 500

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

Inspection ClickMechanic Have a qualified mechanic check this car before you commit to buying

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Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 Mercedes Benz Cl 500 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.

55,057
low mileage
73,614
typical
94,467
high mileage

Half of all 2004 Mercedes Benz Cl 500 vehicles fall between 55,057 and 94,467 miles.

2004 Mercedes Benz Cl 500 — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 122 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (46% of peak).

267 122 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

17.4
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
3.51
Avg failures per vehicle
21.3
Avg advisories per vehicle

Found a specific Mercedes Benz Cl 500?

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

UK

Other model years — Mercedes Benz Cl 500:

2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2007 2008 2009 2010