Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz ML build years & generations

Coverage 1998-20154 named generationsSUVDIESEL / PETROL

The Mercedes-Benz ML spans several build years and named generations (1998-2015). Match a build year to its generation, then see how each group of build years does at its MOT.

Newest Mercedes-Benz ML generation shown; older shapes are pictured on the cards below.

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 1998-2004
Generation
W163 (1st gen)
Figures from
cars built before 2005
Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
Built 2005-2007
Generation
W164 (2nd gen)
Figures from
cars built 2005-2008
Counted together with W164 (2nd gen) and W164 facelift cars built in the same years.
Built 2008
Generation
W164 facelift
Figures from
cars built 2005-2008
Counted together with W164 (2nd gen) and W164 facelift cars built in the same years.
Built 2009-2011
Generation
W164 facelift
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted together with W164 facelift and W166 (3rd gen) cars built in the same years.
Built 2011-2012
Generation
W166 (3rd gen)
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted together with W164 facelift and W166 (3rd gen) cars built in the same years.
Built 2013-2015
Generation
W166 (3rd gen)
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted with this generation only.

Build years	Generation	Figures from cars built	What to know
1998-2004	W163 (1st gen)	Before 2005	Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
2005-2007	W164 (2nd gen)	2005-2008	Counted together with W164 (2nd gen) and W164 facelift cars built in the same years.
2008	W164 facelift	2005-2008	Counted together with W164 (2nd gen) and W164 facelift cars built in the same years.
2009-2011	W164 facelift	2009-2012	Counted together with W164 facelift and W166 (3rd gen) cars built in the same years.
2011-2012	W166 (3rd gen)	2009-2012	Counted together with W164 facelift and W166 (3rd gen) cars built in the same years.
2013-2015	W166 (3rd gen)	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 ML 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

W166 (3rd gen) only

These build years are all W166 (3rd gen), so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 12 years old (latest age)

17.0%

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

Ages with data

9 to 12 years old

MOT tests counted

13,167

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

9 years

1,34615.3%

10 years

4,33116.3%

11 years

4,71517.6%

12 years

2,77517.0%

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

A mix of W164 facelift and W166 (3rd gen)

These build years include both W164 facelift and W166 (3rd gen) cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 16 years old (latest age)

24.9%

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

Ages with data

12 to 16 years old

MOT tests counted

11,312

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

12 years

1,62619.7%

13 years

2,78521.4%

14 years

3,09024.6%

15 years

2,76925.8%

16 years

1,04224.9%

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 15 years old.

Built

2005-2008

A mix of W164 (2nd gen) and W164 facelift

These build years include both W164 (2nd gen) and W164 facelift cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 20 years old (latest age)

31.6%

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

Ages with data

16 to 20 years old

MOT tests counted

7,368

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

1,00825.4%

17 years

2,54725.4%

18 years

1,82724.6%

19 years

1,44227.3%

20 years

54431.6%

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 20 years old.

Built

Before 2005

W163 (1st gen) only

Counts every car built before 2005, so older cars with the same model name can be included as well as the W163 (1st gen).

Fail rate at 25+ years old

29.5%

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

Ages with data

20 to 25+ years old

MOT tests counted

4,301

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

63630.8%

21 years

1,14630.9%

22 years

93430.5%

23 years

68930.5%

24 years

41833.7%

25+ years

47829.5%

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.