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AE53 NMU

2003 Volkswagen Beetle

Silver Petrol 1595cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires16 Mar 2027
Tests25 (20 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate80%

Mileage

122,232 mi
Last recorded122,232 miles
Recorded on17 Mar 2026
Typical for 2003 Volkswagen Beetle73,703 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Volkswagen
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Finance
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationAE53 NMU
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year2003
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,595cc

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

20 pass 5 fail
Pass 17 Mar 2026 122,232 miles

Exhaust mounting defective centre (6.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Fail 4 Mar 2026 122,149 miles

Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction (8.2.1.2 (h))

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Inner Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Exhaust mounting defective centre (6.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Upper Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Pass 27 Feb 2025 118,900 miles

Exhaust silencer slightly loose centre (8.1.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Front Upper Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material to caliper (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Upper Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material to caliper (1.1.11 (c))

both front tyres worn on inner edge

Pass 26 Sep 2023 112,912 miles

Exhaust mounting defective Centre section (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

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

Nearside Front Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Top mount (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Direction indicator lens defective which has no effect on emitted light (4.4.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Top mount (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive Gearbox Leak (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 25 Sep 2023 112,910 miles

Nearside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

Exhaust mounting defective Centre section (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

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

Nearside Front Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Top mount (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Direction indicator lens defective which has no effect on emitted light (4.4.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Macpherson strut pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Top mount (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive Gearbox Leak (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 27 Sep 2022 109,923 miles

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

Nearside headlamp poor beam image

Rear brakes binding slightly

some front brake imbalance

Fail 27 Sep 2022 109,921 miles

Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

Nearside headlamp poor beam image

Rear brakes binding slightly

some front brake imbalance

Pass 12 Oct 2021 106,720 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 1 Oct 2021 106,712 miles

Nearside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength under sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength under sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 18 Sep 2020 103,563 miles

Nearside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear pipe into rear flexible hose (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive outer sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Under bonnet &underside covers fitted obscuring some testable items

Pass 24 Sep 2019 100,941 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced outer sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced outer sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Under bonnet & underside covers fitted obscuring some testable items

Pass 26 Sep 2018 96,837 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated pinholed (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Under bonnet covers fitted obscuring some testable items.

Pass 20 Sep 2017 93,207 miles

Items removed from driver's view prior to test ()

Nearside rear tyre wearing outer edge

Offside rear tyre wearing both edges

Under bonnet covers & underside trays fitted obscuring some components

Pass 20 Sep 2016 88,809 miles

Nearside Rear Nail in tyre ()

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 8 Sep 2015 85,644 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded to rear (3.6.B.2c)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 23 Sep 2014 83,085 miles

Nail in nearside rear tyre

Pass 24 Sep 2013 79,942 miles

nail in n/s/r tyre tread [ centre ]

Pass 21 Sep 2012 73,604 miles
Pass 16 Sep 2011 65,893 miles
Pass 24 Sep 2010 57,110 miles
Pass 21 Sep 2009 47,433 miles
Pass 23 Sep 2008 38,522 miles
Pass 21 Sep 2007 35,509 miles
Pass 18 Sep 2006 29,742 miles
Fail 18 Sep 2006 29,742 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Front Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

How Reliable is the Volkswagen Beetle?

Based on 1,719,137 MOT tests across 112,454 vehicles.

71.7%
Pass Rate
4,798
Miles/Year
56
Year Lifespan
112,454
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 44,561
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 33,096
Stop lamp not working 28,079
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 27,964
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 23,197
Full Volkswagen Beetle reliability report

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AE53 NMU is a 2003 Volkswagen Beetle in Silver with a 1,595cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80%.

Across all 2003 Volkswagen Beetle models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.9% with a typical mileage of 73,703 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Volkswagen Beetle fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 44,561 recorded failures. If you're considering buying AE53 NMU, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Volkswagen Beetle typically stays on UK roads for around 56 years. At 23 years old, this Volkswagen Beetle is still in the earlier part of its expected life.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of AE53 NMU?

You can check the full history of AE53 NMU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was AE53 NMU registered?

AE53 NMU is a 2003 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 23 September 2003.

Is AE53 NMU safe to buy?

The MOT history for AE53 NMU shows 25 tests with a 80% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does AE53 NMU 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 AE53 NMU. 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.