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A497 LKN

1983 Austin Mini 1000 City E

White Petrol 1275cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires16 May 2026
Tests14 (9 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate64.3%

Mileage

99,463 mi
Last recorded99,463 miles
Recorded on17 May 2025
Typical for 1983 Austin Mini 1000 City E59,242 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationA497 LKN
MakeAustin
ModelMini 1000 City E
Year1983
ColourWhite
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,275cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

9 pass 5 fail
Pass 17 May 2025 99,463 miles

undersealed heavy in places

Fail 9 May 2025 99,413 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Rear fog lamp switch inoperative (4.5.3 (a))

undersealed heavy in places

Fail 22 Mar 2024 99,380 miles

Nearside Subframe mounting prescribed area is inadequately repaired Sill not seam welded all the way around repair (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is inadequately repaired Sill not seam welded all the way around repair (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Fail 11 Nov 2023 99,367 miles

Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam both (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Front Headlamp not working on main beam both (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Front Position lamp not working both (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced floor (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Rear Position lamp not working both (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements front and rear (0.1 (d))

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 21 Oct 2021 99,329 miles
Pass 18 Aug 2020 99,221 miles

surface rust on under body in places

Fail 4 Jun 2020 99,176 miles

Battery insecure and likely to cause a short circuit (4.13 (a) (ii))

Electrical wiring insulation so damaged or deteriorated it is likely to cause a short-circuit battery clamp insecure/broken (4.11 (c) (ii))

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Headlamp aim too high both (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Sub-frame attachment bracket/mounting insecure (5.3.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover missing (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Position lamp not working both rear (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Speedometer cannot be illuminated (7.8 (c) (ii))

Front Sub-frame pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement both rear mounts to floor (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Sub-frame pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement radius arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

hazard warning switch does not function with engine/ignition off.

main beam tell tale incorrect operation - working on dip beam

position lamps can not be switched on with engine/ignition off

Pass 9 Feb 2018 99,150 miles

Nearside Front suspension ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front suspension ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 30 Sep 2016 99,086 miles

Nearside Front suspension ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front suspension ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)

Pass 11 Mar 2015 98,920 miles

Nearside Lower Front suspension ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Lower Front suspension ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Pass 10 Apr 2013 66,749 miles
Pass 12 May 2011 66,749 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Rear Radius arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

o/s/r tyre slightly perished

Pass 1 May 2010 66,240 miles

Offside Rear Radius arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)

no rear seat fitted

Fail 24 Apr 2010 66,238 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Direction indicators not working (1.4.A.2c)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Upper Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Lower Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Offside Rear Radius arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)

no rear seat fitted

How Reliable is the Austin Mini 1000 City E?

Based on 44,703 MOT tests across 5,158 vehicles.

64.5%
Pass Rate
716
Miles/Year
44
Year Lifespan
5,158
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 3,881
Steering rack gaiter split 2,979
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 2,706
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 2,326
fog lamp not working 2,243
Full Austin Mini 1000 City E reliability report

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A497 LKN is a 1983 Austin Mini 1000 City E in White with a 1,275cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 14 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.3%.

Across all 1983 Austin Mini 1000 City E models, the average MOT pass rate is 64.4% with a typical mileage of 59,242 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Austin Mini 1000 City E fails its MOT is subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 3,881 recorded failures. If you're considering buying A497 LKN, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Austin Mini 1000 City E typically stays on UK roads for around 44 years. At 43 years old, this Austin Mini 1000 City E is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of A497 LKN?

You can check the full history of A497 LKN by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was A497 LKN registered?

A497 LKN is a 1983 Austin Mini 1000 City E, first registered on 1 October 1983.

Is A497 LKN safe to buy?

The MOT history for A497 LKN shows 14 tests with a 64.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does A497 LKN have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on A497 LKN. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.