Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1999 Mercedes Benz E?

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 1999 Mercedes Benz E?

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 1999 Mercedes Benz E?

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 1999 Mercedes Benz E vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

22% 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 1999 Mercedes Benz E reliable?

Based on MOT data from 12,483 vehicles, the 1999 Mercedes Benz E has a first-time MOT pass rate of 73.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1999 Mercedes Benz E?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1999 Mercedes Benz E are: Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (65.4% of vehicles), Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (62.6% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (49% 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 1999 Mercedes Benz E?

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 E (1999)

12,483 real MOT outcomes analysed • 73.9% first-time pass rate

1999 Mercedes Benz E

CarHunch analysed 12,483 real MOT records for the 1999 Mercedes Benz E. 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

These 1999 Mercedes E-Class models pass MOT at 73.9%, notably below the UK average of 80%, and one in five (22.3%) have suffered dangerous defects—a genuine concern for a buyer evaluating older examples. Petrol and diesel versions perform similarly, both hovering around 73–74%, so fuel type won't swing your reliability outlook.

At an average mileage of 115,402 miles for a 25-year-old car, these are well-used machines, and the 3.13 average failures per test reflects the wear: electrical and suspension issues dominate the advisory list (15.3 per vehicle on average). Before committing, have a trusted independent specialist inspect the cooling system, automatic transmission, and suspension components, which tend to be expensive on this platform.

The 1999 Mercedes Benz E has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.9% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ 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

73.9%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

22.3%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.13

Over 11.3 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

100k

Middle half: 79k–126k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 15.3 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 12,483 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.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 12,483 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 65.4%

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

Brake wear 28%

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated · …

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

Other issues 27.3%

Oil leak · Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A'

Suspension & steering 24.7%

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play

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

Wipers & washers 20.8%

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1999.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 12,483 Mercedes Benz E cars.

Before you buy a 1999 Mercedes Benz E

Based on MOT data from 12,483 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 22.3% 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 (59%)	7,392	74.3%	3.15
Diesel (41%)	5,059	73.3%	3.09

Colour Breakdown

Based on 425,623 Mercedes Benz E vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 34.4%

146,376

Black 24.2%

102,943

Blue 13.2%

56,174

Grey 11.7%

49,991

White 8.9%

38,055

Red 3.4%

14,354

Green 2.5%

10,833

Purple 0.6%

2,342

Beige 0.4%

1,522

Gold 0.4%

1,490

Brown 0.3%

1,309

Cream 0.1%

234

Mileage Distribution

Most 1999 Mercedes Benz E 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.

100,461

typical

79,168

low mileage

125,579

high mileage

Half of all 1999 Mercedes Benz E vehicles fall between 79,168 and 125,579 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 79,168 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.

✓ 79,168–125,579 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1999 Mercedes Benz Es sit.

⚠ Over 169,531 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1999 Mercedes Benz E — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 7% of 1999 Mercedes Benz Es are still active.

Numbers are declining — 367 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (7% 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

11.3

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.13

Avg failures per vehicle

15.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

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

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Buyer beware — pass it on