MOT cost .

Mercedes Benz

190 E

2,583 MOT tests analysed. lands in the middle of the pack — here's where 190 Es pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.

That's 0.7 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,988 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.

Pass

75.0%

Pass-after-fix

4.1%

Fail

19.6%

Avg miles

122,380

Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%

The picture

190 E: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass

Across 2,583 MOT tests, the 190 E returns 75.0% first-time pass — below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is the strength or continuity of the load bearing. A torn suspension dust cover and battery insecure but not likely to fall round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 122,380, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.

Top ten reasons for rejection.

  1. 01

    The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

    123 occurrences · 4.8% of tests

  2. 02

    A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated

    120 occurrences · 4.6% of tests

  3. 03

    A battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier

    86 occurrences · 3.3% of tests

  4. 04

    Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view

    75 occurrences · 2.9% of tests

  5. 05

    Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded

    73 occurrences · 2.8% of tests

  6. 06

    A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened

    64 occurrences · 2.5% of tests

  7. 07

    Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced

    60 occurrences · 2.3% of tests

  8. 08

    A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

    60 occurrences · 2.3% of tests

  9. 09

    A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

    45 occurrences · 1.7% of tests

  10. 10

    Exhaust system leaking or insecure

    44 occurrences · 1.7% of tests

Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.

Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures

£120£330

If every one of this 190 E's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →

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Buying or keeping a 190 E?

Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.

If you own a 190 E and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.