Mercedes 260
Reliability, running costs, and MOT data across 3 years from 450 real MOT tests.
Avg Pass Rate
82%
Total Tests
450
Best Year
1991 (92%)
Years Covered
3
How reliable is the Mercedes 260?
Mercedes 260 by Year
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About the Mercedes 260
The Mercedes 260 has been tested 450 times in 2024 MOT data across 3 model years (1990 to 1992), with an average pass rate of 82%. That's close to the national average of 82%. Available as petrol.
Best and Worst Years
The 1991 model is the most reliable with a 92% pass rate from 87 tests. The 1990 model has the lowest at 77%. The 15 point spread between years means reliability varies somewhat, but no year is dramatically different.
Reliability Trend
Newer MERCEDES 260s show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 8 percentage points.
Mileage Across Years
The oldest model in our data (1990) averages 118,180 miles, while the newest (1992) averages 97,921 miles. Older models have covered serious mileage, so suspension and drivetrain wear are worth checking.
Compared to the Mercedes brand average of 87%, the 260 is 5 points lower, placing it among the less reliable Mercedes models.
Click any year in the table above to see detailed running costs, individual reliability data, and comparisons with similar cars.