Mercedes-Benz SL build years & generations
The Mercedes-Benz SL spans several build years and named generations (2001-present). 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 2001-2004
- Generation
- R230
- Figures from
- cars built before 2005
Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
Built 2005-2008
- Generation
- R230
- Figures from
- cars built 2005-2008
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2009-2012
- Generation
- R230
- Figures from
- cars built 2009-2012
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2022+
- Generation
- R232
- Figures from
- cars built 2021 onwards
Counted with every car built from 2021.
“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 SL 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.
Built2017-2020
No generation name yet
We have MOT figures for these build years, but no generation name for them yet.
Fail rate at 7 years old
7.4%
UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 6 (17.1%)
Ages with data
4 to 8 years old
MOT tests counted
1,800
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
2017-2020
No generation name yet
We have MOT figures for these build years, but no generation name for them yet.
Fail rate at 7 years old
7.4%
UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 6 (17.1%)
Ages with data
4 to 8 years old
MOT tests counted
1,800
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
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 5 years old.
Built2013-2016
No generation name yet
We have MOT figures for these build years, but no generation name for them yet.
Fail rate at 12 years old (latest age)
16.9%
UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (25.9%)
Ages with data
8 to 12 years old
MOT tests counted
4,259
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
2013-2016
No generation name yet
We have MOT figures for these build years, but no generation name for them yet.
Fail rate at 12 years old (latest age)
16.9%
UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (25.9%)
Ages with data
8 to 12 years old
MOT tests counted
4,259
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
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.
Built2009-2012
R230 only
These build years are all R230, so the figures are almost all from that generation.
Fail rate at 16 years old (latest age)
15.6%
UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30%)
Ages with data
12 to 16 years old
MOT tests counted
1,698
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
2009-2012
R230 only
These build years are all R230, so the figures are almost all from that generation.
Fail rate at 16 years old (latest age)
15.6%
UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30%)
Ages with data
12 to 16 years old
MOT tests counted
1,698
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
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.
Built2005-2008
R230 only
These build years are all R230, so the figures are almost all from that generation.
Fail rate at 20 years old (latest age)
15.9%
UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30.3%)
Ages with data
16 to 20 years old
MOT tests counted
3,882
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
2005-2008
R230 only
These build years are all R230, so the figures are almost all from that generation.
Fail rate at 20 years old (latest age)
15.9%
UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30.3%)
Ages with data
16 to 20 years old
MOT tests counted
3,882
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
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.
BuiltBefore 2005
R230 only
Counts every car built before 2005, so older cars with the same model name can be included as well as the R230.
Fail rate at 25+ years old
17.1%
UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (23%)
Ages with data
20 to 25+ years old
MOT tests counted
11,973
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
Before 2005
R230 only
Counts every car built before 2005, so older cars with the same model name can be included as well as the R230.
Fail rate at 25+ years old
17.1%
UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (23%)
Ages with data
20 to 25+ years old
MOT tests counted
11,973
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
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 23 years old.