Mercedes Benz
1,316 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where V 220 Sport D Autos pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 9.6 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
87.1%
Pass-after-fix
3.5%
Fail
8.7%
Avg miles
54,565
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Diesel cars registered from September 2015 generally meet Euro 6 — compliant in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ.
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 1,316 tests
Pass rate drops 3.0 points across the cohorts — recent V 220 Sport D Auto examples are doing worse than the early cars at the same tested age.
Pass
88.3%
Fail
9.2%
PRS
1.7%
Avg mileage at test
65,965 mi
Pass
85.3%
Fail
8.1%
PRS
6.1%
Avg mileage at test
38,475 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 470 MOT tests, the V 220 Sport D Auto returns 84.7% first-time pass — above the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is brake pads worn below 1.5 mm. A tyre with the cords showing and tyre tread under the limit round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 48,887, 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.
ABI Insurance Group
A high-group car — insurance costs will be significantly above average. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
28–46
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Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
29 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
24 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
22 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
Wiper blade defective
20 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
18 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
16 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
15 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
11 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
6 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
5 occurrences · 0.4% 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 4 failures
£160–£280
If every one of this V 220 Sport D Auto'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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Build your own retest budget.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 3.0-point gap between bands means the year you buy Mercedes Benz V 220 Sport D Auto has a real effect on what turns up at the garage.
Best band to buy
88.3%
2018–2020 registration
the 2018–2020 band climbs to 88.3% — a 3.0-point improvement. Failures here are mostly wear items: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, has ply or cords exposed — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band.
Band to be cautious about
85.3%
2021+ registration
On the 2021-on band, the data shows a 85.3% pass rate against a fleet average of 88.3% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: does not clear the windscreen effectively, has a cut in excess of the…, and tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Average mileage on test for this band is 38,475 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (88.3% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: 2021+ (85.3% pass). That's a 3.0-point spread across 545 older tests and 771 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Bosch Aerotwin wiper blades
Cheap wipers fail the test on smear streaks. Bosch Aerotwins last a winter and clear a screen properly.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
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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 V 220 Sport D Auto 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.
