1993 Mercedes-Benz 500 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500 passed 88.1% of its 420 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (23.3% fail rate), the 1993 500 comes out 11.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 8.8% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, position lamp and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 22 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.9% in the 30-60k band and 13.2% in the 150k+ band, a 7.3-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 18.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 19.6% in 2021 to 9.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 37 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 24 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.8% | 16 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.6% | 11 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.9% | 8 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.7% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 22 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 19 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 13 |
| 5 | Emissions not tested | 7 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 5 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 18.8% | 79 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.6% | 74 |
| 3 | Tyres | 12.9% | 54 |
| 4 | Steering | 9.0% | 38 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.3% | 35 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 13 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 34 | 5.9% |
| 60-90k | 126 | 14.3% |
| 90-120k | 111 | 14.4% |
| 120-150k | 68 | 10.3% |
| 150k+ | 53 | 13.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 92 | 19.6% |
| 2022 | 77 | 7.8% |
| 2023 | 83 | 7.2% |
| 2024 | 87 | 13.8% |
| 2025 | 81 | 9.9% |
What to check before buying a 1993 500
On a 1993 500, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (5.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (3.8% 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.
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 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500s pass their MOT?
88.1% of the 420 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.8% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (5.7%).
Does the 1993 500 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.9% in the 30-60k band to 13.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 420 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.