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Mercedes Benz

Mercedes Benz Sl (2016)

790 real MOT outcomes analysed • 91.4% first-time pass rate

2016 Mercedes Benz Sl

CarHunch analysed 790 real MOT records for the 2016 Mercedes Benz Sl. 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz SL passes its MOT first time at 91.3%, comfortably above the UK average of 80%—a solid sign of build quality. However, one in four of these cars (25.6%) has recorded at least one dangerous defect during its testing history, which is a meaningful concern for a buyer and worth investigating during a pre-purchase inspection.

With median mileage of just under 26,000 miles per test, these SLs are running relatively low for their age, suggesting gentle use or good maintenance discipline. The average vehicle racks up 0.72 failures and 3.7 advisories per MOT, indicating minor wear issues crop up occasionally, so budget for routine attention to suspension, lighting, and trim rather than structural problems.

The 2016 Mercedes Benz Sl has a decent first-time pass rate (91.4%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ 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
91.4%
UK average ~80%
Better than average
Dangerous (ever)
25.6%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
0.72
Over 7.5 tests on record
Moderate
Typical mileage
26k
Middle half: 18k–35k
For context
✅ Good baseline reliability. A 91.4% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.
🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 3.7 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 790 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 790 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 22%
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 slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …
Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.
Other issues 12.6%
COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view
Brake wear 6.3%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Suspension & steering 4.5%
Nearside 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.
Lighting 4.5%
Nearside Front Road wheel slightly distorted
Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2016.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 790 Mercedes Benz Sl cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2016 Mercedes Benz Sl

Based on MOT data from 790 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 25.6% 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 ClickMechanic →
  • 📄 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 carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 34,567 Mercedes Benz Sl vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 33.9%
11,735
Black 24.1%
8,343
Blue 17.8%
6,160
Red 8.5%
2,946
White 6.2%
2,160
Grey 3.7%
1,270
Green 3.5%
1,202
Gold 1%
341
Brown 0.4%
125
Cream 0.3%
106
Beige 0.3%
104
Yellow 0.2%
75

Mileage Distribution

Most 2016 Mercedes Benz Sl 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.

25,799
typical
18,433
low mileage
34,632
high mileage

Half of all 2016 Mercedes Benz Sl vehicles fall between 18,433 and 34,632 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
✓ Under 18,433 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.
✓ 18,433–34,632 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2016 Mercedes Benz Sls sit.
⚠ Over 46,753 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 Sl — Still on the Road

Almost all 2016 Mercedes Benz Sls are still on the road.

Strong survival — 732 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 98% of the peak.

749 732 2019 2025

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

7.5
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.72
Avg failures per vehicle
3.7
Avg advisories per vehicle
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Watch for defects — worth knowing