Is the Mercedes 308 d reliable?

The Mercedes 308 d has an average MOT pass rate of 74% across 3 years, based on 217 tests in 2026. That's 8 points below the national average of 82%. The most reliable year is 1997 with a 80% pass rate.

Which year Mercedes 308 d is best?

The 1997 Mercedes 308 d has the highest MOT pass rate at 80%, while the 1998 model has the lowest at 68%. There's a 12 percentage point spread between the best and worst years.

Mercedes 308 d

Reliability, running costs, and MOT data across 3 years from 217 real MOT tests.

Avg Pass Rate

74%

Total Tests

217

Best Year

1997 (80%)

Years Covered

About the Mercedes 308 d

The Mercedes 308 d has been tested 217 times in 2026 MOT data across 3 model years (1996 to 1998), with an average pass rate of 74%. That's 8 points below the national average of 82%, so check the year-by-year data carefully before buying. Available as diesel.

Best and Worst Years

The 1997 model is the most reliable with a 80% pass rate from 93 tests. The 1998 model has the lowest at 68%. The 12 point spread between years means reliability varies somewhat, but no year is dramatically different.

Reliability Trend

The MERCEDES 308 D has maintained consistent MOT pass rates across model years, varying by only 1 percentage points.

Mileage Across Years

The oldest model in our data (1996) averages 151,909 miles, while the newest (1998) averages 151,038 miles. Older models have covered serious mileage, so suspension and drivetrain wear are worth checking.

Compared to the Mercedes brand average of 87%, the 308 d is 13 points lower, placing it among the less reliable Mercedes models.