Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz S-Class build years & generations

Coverage 1999-present4 named generationsSaloonPETROL / DIESEL / HYBRID ELECTRIC

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

Newest Mercedes-Benz S-Class 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 1999-2004
Generation
W220
Figures from
cars built before 2005
Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
Built 2005
Generation
W220
Figures from
cars built 2005-2008
Counted together with W220 and W221 cars built in the same years.
Built 2006-2008
Generation
W221
Figures from
cars built 2005-2008
Counted together with W220 and W221 cars built in the same years.
Built 2009-2012
Generation
W221
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2013-2016
Generation
W222
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2017-2020
Generation
W222
Figures from
cars built 2017-2020
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2021+
Generation
W223
Figures from
cars built 2021 onwards
Counted with every car built from 2021.

Build years	Generation	Figures from cars built	What to know
1999-2004	W220	Before 2005	Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
2005	W220	2005-2008	Counted together with W220 and W221 cars built in the same years.
2006-2008	W221	2005-2008	Counted together with W220 and W221 cars built in the same years.
2009-2012	W221	2009-2012	Counted with this generation only.
2013-2016	W222	2013-2016	Counted with this generation only.
2017-2020	W222	2017-2020	Counted with this generation only.
2021+	W223	2021 onwards	Counted with every car built from 2021.

“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 S-Class 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

2021 onwards

W223 only

All W223 cars built from 2021. Newer cars join this group until there is enough MOT history to split it.

Fail rate at 4 years old (latest age)

11.6%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 8 (12.5%)

Ages with data

3 to 4 years old

MOT tests counted

242

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

3 years

17311.6%

4 years

6911.6%

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 4 years old.

Built

2017-2020

W222 only

These build years are all W222, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 7 years old

9.4%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 6 (17.1%)

Ages with data

4 to 8 years old

MOT tests counted

7,462

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

4 years

568.9%

5 years

1,0948.5%

6 years

2,4038.3%

7 years

2,3489.4%

8 years

1,56112.7%

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 8 years old.

Built

2013-2016

W222 only

These build years are all W222, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 12 years old (latest age)

17.1%

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

Ages with data

8 to 12 years old

MOT tests counted

8,104

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

8 years

1,30312.2%

9 years

2,67512.6%

10 years

2,10111.5%

11 years

1,43912.4%

12 years

58617.1%

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 12 years old.

Built

2009-2012

W221 only

These build years are all W221, so the figures are almost all from that 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

4,260

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

54517.3%

13 years

1,30817.4%

14 years

1,04619.1%

15 years

84419.7%

16 years

51724.9%

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 16 years old.

Built

2005-2008

A mix of W220 and W221

These build years include both W220 and W221 cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 20 years old (latest age)

25.8%

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

Ages with data

16 to 20 years old

MOT tests counted

3,876

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

46122.3%

17 years

1,15620.5%

18 years

1,21420.5%

19 years

75819.7%

20 years

28725.8%

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

W220 only

Counts every car built before 2005, so older cars with the same model name can be included as well as the W220.

Fail rate at 25+ years old

19.6%

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

Ages with data

20 to 25+ years old

MOT tests counted

3,231

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

26619.6%

21 years

62620.3%

22 years

54022.8%

23 years

33022.1%

24 years

27222.8%

25+ years

1,19719.6%

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.