Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2013 Mercedes Benz Cl?

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 2013 Mercedes Benz Cl?

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 2013 Mercedes Benz Cl?

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 2013 Mercedes Benz Cl vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

39% 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 2013 Mercedes Benz Cl reliable?

Based on MOT data from 122 vehicles, the 2013 Mercedes Benz Cl has a first-time MOT pass rate of 85.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2013 Mercedes Benz Cl?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2013 Mercedes Benz Cl are: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (54.8% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (52.5% of vehicles), Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (26.2% 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 2013 Mercedes Benz Cl?

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 Cl (2013)

122 real MOT outcomes analysed • 85.5% first-time pass rate

2013 Mercedes Benz Cl

CarHunch analysed 122 real MOT records for the 2013 Mercedes Benz Cl. 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 2013 Mercedes-Benz CL passes its MOT first time at 85.5%, which is solidly above the UK average of 80%, but there's a serious caveat: nearly 40% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, making this a genuine buyer concern that warrants a thorough pre-purchase inspection. The petrol engines are dependable enough, passing at 86.2%, though the high proportion affected by safety-critical failures suggests potential issues with suspension, braking, or lighting systems over time.

These cars are running relatively low mileage for their age (median 47,890 miles), yet they're still accumulating an average of 9.9 advisories per test—suggesting wear and degradation that isn't catastrophic enough to fail them, but is persistent. Budget for regular attention to emerging problems and get a specialist diagnostic review before purchase, particularly focusing on any history of dangerous defects on the specific vehicle you're considering.

We have limited data for the 2013 Mercedes Benz Cl — 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

85.5%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

39.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.6

Over 10.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

48k

Middle half: 39k–63k

For context

These stats describe 122 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 122 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 54.8%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front 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.

Suspension & steering 26.2%

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play · …

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

Brake wear 18.6%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

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 2013.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 122 Mercedes Benz Cl cars.

Before you buy a 2013 Mercedes Benz Cl

Based on MOT data from 122 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 39.3% 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 (99%)	121	86.2%	1.6

Mileage Distribution

Most 2013 Mercedes Benz Cl 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.

47,890

typical

39,393

low mileage

62,843

high mileage

Half of all 2013 Mercedes Benz Cl vehicles fall between 39,393 and 62,843 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 39,393 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.

✓ 39,393–62,843 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2013 Mercedes Benz Cls sit.

⚠ Over 84,838 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2013 Mercedes Benz Cl — Still on the Road

Most 2013 Mercedes Benz Cls are still being driven.

Strong survival — 94 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 84% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2015–2025.
* 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

10.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.6

Avg failures per vehicle

9.9

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Compare with another model

See how the 2013 Mercedes Benz Cl stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing