1998 Mercedes-Benz SL 5.0L Petrol · S991 DGC

The vehicle's latest MOT, conducted on 3 November 2025 at 71,237 miles, ended in a pass with no defects recorded. The test history shows a stable and essentially fault-free pattern stretching back to June 2022. Notably, the same date also carries a fail entry with no defects listed; that suggests a quick rectification and immediate retest, but the absence of any recorded reason means you should request the original failure sheet from the seller to confirm what was corrected. The recorded mileage sits at 71,237 miles, which equates to roughly 2,544 miles per year across 28 years. Annual use has been consistently light: 64,906 miles in June 2022, 67,440 in October 2023, 69,207 in November 2024, and 71,237 in November 2025. That works out to between roughly 1,600 and 2,500 miles per year, with no long periods of standing and no sudden jumps in mileage. The pattern points to a car driven occasionally, not stored for lengthy spells, though the low annual figures mean components can degrade from sitting rather than wearing out. No advisories for suspension bushes, brake discs, corrosion, or exhaust emissions appear anywhere in the record, so no specific mechanical system shows a worsening trend. That is encouraging, but a 1998 SL is old enough for age-related deterioration to hide outside the MOT's scope. Before purchase, inspect the condition of tyres for cracking, check brake hoses and caliper seals for perishing, and look hard at the sills, floorpans, and subframes for structural rot. Also ask for the reason behind that November 2025 failure, because a clean pass without context tells only half the story.