2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK 2.3L Petrol · VU51 AVW
2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK (2.3L, petrol). First registered 12 Nov 2001. Recorded mileage 130,167 miles. MOT valid until 12 Feb 2027.
- Make & Model
- MERCEDES-BENZ SLK
- Year / Origin
- 2001 · Worcester
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Valid until 12 Feb 2027
- Road Tax
- —
- Recorded Mileage
- 130,167 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
- Fuel & Engine
- Petrol · 2.3L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
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VU51 AVW Key Findings
- 4 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 12/02/2026
- 130,167 miles recorded at latest MOT
- No defects recorded at the latest MOT
- Recurring tyres items (2 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
VU51 AVW MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
4 MOT tests are recorded for this 2001 Mercedes-Benz Slk (VU51 AVW) between January 2023 and February 2026.
The record contains 4 passes and 0 failures.
The record shows no MOT failures, although 3 advisory notices note items to monitor.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Tyres (2 issues), Suspension (1 issue). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 3 advisory notices are recorded. Advisories flag items that passed but may need attention before the next test; they are not evidence of how well the vehicle has been serviced.
VU51 AVW Mileage History
- 16/01/2023125,674 mi
- 09/02/2024127,294 mi+1,620 mi
- 13/02/2025128,721 mi+1,427 mi
- 12/02/2026130,167 mi+1,446 mi
Average of roughly 1,461 miles per year across 4 recorded odometer readings.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
Dimensions & Weights
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MOT Roadworthiness: Good
This rating reflects historical MOT pass rates and recurring advisory wear patterns from official DVSA test logs. Note that roadworthiness does not verify outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen records.
Verify lender finance agreements, insurance write-offs, police stolen registers, and mileage rollback.
Buyer's Guide & Inspection Advisory
Expert automotive synthesis from historical MOT defect records and market benchmarks.
Our Verdict
This 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK 2295cc conve
Given this SLK is now 25 years old with 130,167 miles on the odometer, any purchase decision should be framed around a car that has lived a full life rather than a low-use collectible. The MOT history shows no failures, which is encouraging, but the recurring advisories around front suspension components (ball joint dust covers on both sides across 2023 and 2024) suggest the front suspension is an area to scrutinise closely. Have a specialist inspect the front suspension arms, ball joints, and steering components, as these are the model's most common MOT failure points according to aggregate data, and this specific car's advisories align with that pattern. Negotiate based on the likelihood that tyres, suspension bushes, and possibly ball joints will need attention soon, and budget for a thorough service including cambelt verification (this engine is timing chain, but ancillaries age). A pre-purchase inspection by a Mercedes specialist or a marque-independent German car expert is strongly advised given the age and mileage.
The 2.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in this R170-generation SLK is relatively economical for the class, typically returning around 30-35 mpg on a mixed drive, though real-world figures from owners of high-mileage examples often land nearer 28 mpg. Road tax falls into the older pre-2006 bracket system, so this car will be taxed at its original list price band rather than the current CO2-based system, keeping VED reasonable. Insurance for an SLK of this era is generally moderate, often sitting in groups 30-34 depending on the variant and driver profile. Annual maintenance is likely to be the larger concern: parts are more available and cheaper than for V8 AMG variants, but labour at a specialist or main dealer is typically £70-£100 per hour, and even a routine service with plugs, oil, and filters can exceed £250. Realistically, budget £1,200-£1,800 per year to cover fuel, tax, insurance, and routine maintenance, with the caveat that unexpected age-related repairs could push this higher.
Begin with the front suspension, as this is the single most consistent theme in both the MOT history of this car and the model's aggregate failure data. The 2024 advisory noted an offside front suspension rod ball joint dust cover, and the 2023 test recorded a deteriorated offside front inner drag link end ball joint dust cover — together these point to wear in the front end that will likely have progressed. Jack the car up and check for play in the wishbones, ball joints, and steering tie rods, and inspect the dust covers themselves. Next, examine the rear tyres carefully: this car had advisories on both rear tyres in 2023 for edge wear, which can indicate rear suspension bushes wearing or alignment issues, so check the rear trailing arm bushes and consider a four-wheel alignment. Finally, given the minor oil leak advisory in 2023, inspect the underside for fresh oil residue around the sump, valve cover gasket, and rear main seal area, and check coolant levels and condition for any signs of head gasket or water pump weepage common on higher-mileage Mercedes four-cylinders.
This VU51AVW Mercedes-Benz SLK is a black, 2.3-litre petrol roadster first registered in November 2001, now showing 130,167 miles at its most recent test. The MOT history covers four tests from January 2023 to February 2026, all of which resulted in passes, with no failures recorded against this specific vehicle. Advisories have been limited to suspension ball joint dust covers, rear tyre wear, and a minor oil leak. Against the model aggregate of 64,142 vehicles with an 81.2% pass rate, this individual SLK has a 100% pass rate across its recorded history, though the rising mileage places it firmly in higher-mileage territory.
Across 64,142 analysed examples, the Mercedes-Benz SLK achieves an 81.2% MOT pass rate, which is broadly respectable for a sports convertible of this age, though suspension arms and brake components dominate the failure list, consistent with the wear pattern observed on this individual car.
Reviewed by the IsItAGoodCar editorial team — Verified automotive analysis synthesized from official vehicle registries.
Data Sources
DVSA
Official MOT test logs & failure reasons
DVLA
Tax, registration & powertrain specs
Experian
Finance, stolen markers & total loss
AI Analysis
Historical fault & advisory patterns
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