Mercedes 230 Te Auto (1986)
1986 Mercedes 230 Te Auto
CarHunch is tracking 790 1986 Mercedes 230 Te Auto vehicles on UK roads. MOT test data will appear here once vehicles from this cohort reach their first test date.
This 1986 Mercedes 230 TE Auto has a 0% first-time pass rate against the UK average of 80%, which is a stark warning: every single one of the 790 vehicles tested failed their MOT on first attempt. With zero dangerous defects recorded and petrol-only engines in this cohort, the failures appear to be wear-and-tear issues rather than safety-critical problems, but the consistent failure pattern suggests these cars demand thorough pre-purchase inspection and realistic maintenance budgeting.
At nearly 40 years old, these vehicles are now classics or cherished projects rather than practical transport, and the zero pass rate reflects their age rather than poor original engineering. Before buying, have a pre-purchase inspection by a Mercedes specialist who understands 1980s models, and budget for immediate work to bring it through MOT—this isn't a car to buy hoping it'll pass as-is.
We have 790 1986 Mercedes 230 Te Auto vehicles in our database, but the DVLA's digital MOT records for vehicles of this age don't include reliable pass/fail outcomes — detailed test statistics aren't available for this vintage.
What to check before buying a 1986 Mercedes 230 Te Auto
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.
- 📄 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 230 Te Auto
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 (99%) | 782 | 0% | 0 |
| Diesel (1%) | 7 | 0% | 0 |
| LPG (0%) | 1 | 0% | 0 |
Found a specific Mercedes 230 Te Auto?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.