1986 Mercedes-Benz SL 5.0L Petrol · D873 OUH

The most recent 2025‑08‑27 MOT test recorded a pass with no defects, confirming that the vehicle currently meets the DVSA roadworthiness standards; the earlier fail at the same mileage in 2025 suggests a prior issue was corrected, indicating a stable maintenance trend rather than ongoing decline. The mileage record shows a modest increase from 101,948 miles in August 2023 to 102,301 miles by August 2025, a total rise of 353 miles over roughly two and a half years, or about 2,558 miles per year, which aligns with the low annual usage expected for a 40‑year‑old car and reflects no rapid accumulation of kilometres. A buyer should therefore inspect the suspension bushes, coil springs and shock absorbers for wear or cracking, as age can affect these components even with low mileage; the brake discs and calipers should be examined for binding, corrosion or uneven wear despite the clean test outcome. Finally, the chassis and bodywork merit close scrutiny for structural rust, particularly around the wheel arches, sills and underbody, while the exhaust system and emission controls should be verified as intact, given that they were the typical triggers for the earlier failure.