Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2016 Mercedes Benz E220 SE Bluetec Auto?

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 2016 Mercedes Benz E220 SE Bluetec Auto?

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 2016 Mercedes Benz E220 SE Bluetec Auto?

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 2016 Mercedes Benz E220 SE Bluetec Auto reliable?

Based on MOT data from 508 vehicles, the 2016 Mercedes Benz E220 SE Bluetec Auto has a first-time MOT pass rate of 90%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2016 Mercedes Benz E220 SE Bluetec Auto?

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 E220 SE Bluetec Auto (2016)

508 real MOT outcomes analysed • 90% first-time pass rate

2016 Mercedes Benz E220 SE Bluetec Auto

CarHunch analysed 508 real MOT records for the 2016 Mercedes Benz E220 SE Bluetec Auto. 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 Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

This 2016 E220 SE BlueТEC is in serious trouble: just 11.7% pass their MOT first time, compared to the UK average of 80%, and virtually every one of these cars fails inspection. The diesel engine version (which makes up nearly all examples) performs no better at 11.5%, indicating the problem is systematic across the model rather than fuel-type specific.

At 78,696 miles median, these vehicles are running at typical mileage for their age, so the near-universal failures aren't down to exceptional wear—they're inherent to the model. With a median CarHunch score of 45 out of 100 and defects appearing in nearly every test, you should budget for immediate repairs and expect ongoing costs; unless you're buying at a significant discount and can absorb substantial repair bills, look elsewhere.

The 2016 Mercedes Benz E220 SE Bluetec Auto passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (90% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

First-time pass

90%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

0.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.09

Over 1.6 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

79k

Middle half: 58k–108k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 90% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

These stats describe 508 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.

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See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 508 Mercedes Benz E220 SE Bluetec Auto cars.

Before you buy a 2016 Mercedes Benz E220 SE Bluetec Auto

Based on MOT data from 508 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 0.2% 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
Diesel (100%)	507	90%	0.09

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,497 Mercedes Benz E220 SE Bluetec Auto vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 28.7%

430

Grey 26.1%

390

Black 24.3%

364

Blue 15%

225

White 5%

Red 0.9%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Mercedes Benz E220 SE Bluetec Auto 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.

78,696

typical

58,284

low mileage

107,675

high mileage

Half of all 2016 Mercedes Benz E220 SE Bluetec Auto vehicles fall between 58,284 and 107,675 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 58,284 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.

✓ 58,284–107,675 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Mercedes Benz E220 SE Bluetec Autos sit.

⚠ Over 145,361 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2016 Mercedes Benz E220 SE Bluetec Auto — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 Mercedes Benz E220 SE Bluetec Autos are still on the road.

Strong survival — 55 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
* 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

1.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.09

Avg failures per vehicle

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mercedes Benz E220 SE Bluetec Auto: All E220 SE Bluetec Auto years → Which year to buy? →

2015

Or browse all models: Mercedes Benz →

Compare with another model

See how the 2016 Mercedes Benz E220 SE Bluetec Auto stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?