Mercedes-Benz E300d — MOT pass rate & failures
5,691 MOT tests on the Mercedes-Benz E300d (1997–2024) give a 90.1% pass rate. That is 6.5 percentage points better than the 16.4% fail rate across all Mercedes-Benz E-Class versions, so the E300d is a stronger pick within the range. Failures concentrate in tyres, road wheels and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and wipers — tread depth alone was recorded 117 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the E300d fails 10.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 8.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.6 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 15.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 3.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 63 | 93.7% | 6.3% |
| 2020 | 2,931 | 88.0% | 12.0% |
| 2021 | 1,644 | 92.6% | 7.4% |
| 2022 | 934 | 91.9% | 8.1% |
| 2023 | 85 | 92.9% | 7.1% |
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.4% | 423 |
| 2 | Road wheels | 2.3% | 133 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 47 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.7% | 40 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.4% | 23 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.4% | 23 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 20 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.2% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 117 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 38 |
| 3 | Wipers | 28 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 19 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 17 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 16 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 15.9% | 904 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.2% | 294 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.9% | 219 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 150 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.3% | 130 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.8% | 44 |
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 | 1,749 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 2,329 | 11.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,044 | 7.8% |
| 90-120k | 386 | 6.2% |
| 120-150k | 112 | 5.4% |
| 150k+ | 71 | 8.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 30 | 3.3% |
| 2022 | 242 | 7.0% |
| 2023 | 1,274 | 9.6% |
| 2024 | 1,865 | 9.8% |
| 2025 | 2,280 | 10.6% |
What to check before buying a Mercedes-Benz E300d
Focus on the areas it most often fails on — and remember MOT data covers testable defects only, not engine or gearbox health.
- Tyres (7.4% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Road wheels (2.3% of tests): Damaged or corroded wheels, missing/loose fixings — generally a moderate fix. Typical repair: £80–£250.
- Lighting & signalling (0.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 reliable is the Mercedes-Benz E300d at MOT time?
90.1% of the 5,691 Mercedes-Benz E300d MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.9% fail rate, better than the 16.4% average across all E-Class versions.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Mercedes-Benz E300d?
Tyres, recorded in 7.4% of tests, followed by road wheels (2.3%).
Does the E300d get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 0-30k band to 8.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,691 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.