1987 Mercedes-Benz 500 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 507 MOT tests, the 1987 Mercedes-Benz 500 recorded an 82.5% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (20.6% fail rate), the 1987 500 comes out 3.0pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.2% of tests against 4.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, non catalyst emissions and ball joint dust cover — headlamp aim alone was recorded 33 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 10.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 16.3% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 18.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 19.5% in 2021 to 16.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 57 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.9% | 25 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.7% | 24 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 20 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.5% | 18 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.6% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 33 |
| 2 | Non catalyst emissions | 17 |
| 3 | Ball joint dust cover | 17 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 17 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 13 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 12 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.5% | 94 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 16.0% | 81 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.6% | 64 |
| 4 | Steering | 9.9% | 50 |
| 5 | Tyres | 9.5% | 48 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.3% | 47 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 30 | 10.0% |
| 30-60k | 35 | 2.9% |
| 60-90k | 110 | 12.7% |
| 90-120k | 142 | 20.4% |
| 120-150k | 141 | 24.1% |
| 150k+ | 49 | 16.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 113 | 19.5% |
| 2022 | 101 | 17.8% |
| 2023 | 107 | 19.6% |
| 2024 | 89 | 13.5% |
| 2025 | 97 | 16.5% |
What to check before buying a 1987 500
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 11.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (11.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (4.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1987 Mercedes-Benz 500s pass their MOT?
82.5% of the 507 1987 Mercedes-Benz 500 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 500?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.2% of tests, followed by brakes (4.9%).
Does the 1987 500 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.0% in the 0-30k band to 16.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 507 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.