Mercedes Benz Sl (1992)

407 real MOT outcomes analysed • 79.9% first-time pass rate

1992 Mercedes Benz Sl

CarHunch analysed 407 real MOT records for the 1992 Mercedes Benz Sl. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Average reliability In line with UK average
79.9%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
88,790
typical mileage
63,169–113,958 middle half
23.6%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
2.62
avg MOT failures per car
over 12.8 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1992 Mercedes Benz Sl

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.
  • ⚠️ 23.6% 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 Sl

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

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (100%) 405 79.9% 2.63
Diesel (0%) 2 75% 0.5

Mileage Distribution

Most 1992 Mercedes Benz Sl 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.

63,169
low mileage
88,790
typical
113,958
high mileage

Half of all 1992 Mercedes Benz Sl vehicles fall between 63,169 and 113,958 miles.

1992 Mercedes Benz Sl — Still on the Road

112 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 51% of the peak remain.

220 112 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

12.8
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
2.62
Avg failures per vehicle
14.6
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1992 Mercedes Benz Sl

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 52.6%
    Oil leak
  • 44.6%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 42%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 41.9%
    Oil leak, but not excessive
  • 39.1%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 37.6%
    Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 36.6%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 29.9%
    Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1992. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Mercedes Benz Sl?

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

UK

Other model years — Mercedes Benz Sl:

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019