Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz CL build years & generations

Coverage 1999-20142 named generationsCoupePETROL

The Mercedes-Benz CL spans several build years and named generations (1999-2014). Match a build year to its generation, then see how each group of build years does at its MOT.

Which year is which

Build years & generations, side by side

Find the build years you're looking at and see which generation they are. You'll also see which group of build years the MOT figures come from.

Built 1999-2004
Generation
C215
Figures from
cars built before 2005
Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
Built 2005
Generation
C215
Figures from
cars built 2005-2008
Counted together with C215 and C216 cars built in the same years.
Built 2006-2008
Generation
C216
Figures from
cars built 2005-2008
Counted together with C215 and C216 cars built in the same years.
Built 2009-2012
Generation
C216
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2013-2014
Generation
C216
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted with this generation only.

Build years	Generation	Figures from cars built	What to know
1999-2004	C215	Before 2005	Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
2005	C215	2005-2008	Counted together with C215 and C216 cars built in the same years.
2006-2008	C216	2005-2008	Counted together with C215 and C216 cars built in the same years.
2009-2012	C216	2009-2012	Counted with this generation only.
2013-2014	C216	2013-2016	Counted with this generation only.

“Figures from cars built” is the group of build years behind each row's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

“Figures from” is the group of build years behind each card's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

By build-year group

How each group of build years performs

Each card shows MOT results for one group of Mercedes-Benz CL build years. “Age” means the car's age on the day of its MOT, not its build year. “25+” groups every test on cars aged 25 or older.

Built

2013-2016

C216 only

These build years are all C216, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 12 years old (latest age)

18.7%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (25.9%)

Ages with data

11 to 12 years old

MOT tests counted

205

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

11 years

13020.8%

12 years

7518.7%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 11 years old.

Built

2009-2012

C216 only

These build years are all C216, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 16 years old (latest age)

18.6%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30%)

Ages with data

13 to 16 years old

MOT tests counted

569

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

13 years

11221.4%

14 years

14918.1%

15 years

17917.9%

16 years

12918.6%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 13 years old.

Built

2005-2008

A mix of C215 and C216

These build years include both C215 and C216 cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 20 years old (latest age)

17.1%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30.3%)

Ages with data

16 to 20 years old

MOT tests counted

979

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

16 years

10414.4%

17 years

32516.3%

18 years

29318.1%

19 years

14615.8%

20 years

11117.1%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 18 years old.

Built

Before 2005

C215 only

Counts every car built before 2005, so older cars with the same model name can be included as well as the C215.

Fail rate at 25+ years old

15.6%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (23%)

Ages with data

20 to 25+ years old

MOT tests counted

1,393

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

20 years

10817.6%

21 years

22018.2%

22 years

33518.8%

23 years

32821.0%

24 years

22324.2%

25+ years

17915.6%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 24 years old.