2003 MERCEDES-BENZ SL5.0L Petrol

The 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL presents as roadworthy with a stable maintenance trend. The most recent test on 20 March 2026 at 105,323 miles passed with no defects recorded, following a clean pass on 28 March 2025 at 104,674 miles. The vehicle shows no escalating faults across the available history. Recorded mileage sits at 105,323 against an age of roughly 23 years, equating to about 4,579 miles per year. The DVSA entries reveal extremely low annual use: between 16 September 2022 (103,221 miles) and 20 September 2023 (104,159 miles) the car covered only 938 miles. A failed test on 12 September 2023 at 104,158 miles was followed by a pass eight days later at 104,159 miles with no defects listed, indicating the failure was administrative or a trivial non-mechanical matter cleared without recorded rectification. The sparse, clean record points to a lightly used vehicle with minimal wear accumulation on consumables and drivetrain. A buyer should still commission an in-person inspection of structural integrity and corrosion, given the SL's age and the likelihood of prolonged standing periods encouraging underbody rust. Suspension bushes, coil springs, and brake discs warrant physical checks despite the absence of advisories in the MOT data. The lack of recorded advisories across five tests suggests previous owners maintained basic statutory compliance, though the 2023 fail-pass sequence within a week implies test discipline rather than neglected repair. Verify service history independently before purchase.