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AU53 EYW

2003 Lotus Elise

Blue Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

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

Mileage

100,409 mi
Last recorded100,409 miles
Recorded on13 Apr 2026
Typical for 2003 Lotus Elise33,657 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Lotus
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationAU53 EYW
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year2003
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,796cc

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 13 Apr 2026 100,409 miles
Pass 17 Apr 2025 99,430 miles

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

Pass 20 Aug 2024 99,362 miles

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

Pass 21 Aug 2023 98,868 miles

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

Offside Front Lower Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 5 Aug 2022 97,690 miles

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

Offside Front Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

under tray fitted unable to test testable items

Pass 18 Jun 2021 95,672 miles
Pass 15 Jul 2020 94,659 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Fail 6 Jul 2020 94,562 miles

Front passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 7 Jun 2019 91,716 miles

Both rear and o/s front brakes binding slightly

Pass 4 Jun 2018 89,999 miles
Pass 3 Mar 2017 86,220 miles

Tyre worn close to the legal limit both front (4.1.E.1)

nearside handbrake cable deteriorating

Pass 11 Mar 2016 79,746 miles
Fail 8 Mar 2016 79,681 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Aux belt requires adjusting.

Cooling fan bearings noisy.

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Pass 9 Mar 2015 66,178 miles
Pass 4 Dec 2013 65,061 miles
Fail 4 Dec 2013 65,061 miles

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Pass 4 Jan 2013 62,312 miles

Nearside front lower main beam lens cracked

No brake servo fitted to vehicle as per vehicle design

Underside inspection restricted due to vehicle design

Fail 19 Dec 2012 62,312 miles

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside front lower main beam lens cracked

No brake servo fitted to vehicle as per vehicle design

Underside inspection restricted due to vehicle design

Pass 26 Aug 2011 57,981 miles
Fail 26 Aug 2011 57,981 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Pass 6 Sep 2010 57,144 miles

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

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

Pass 3 Sep 2009 50,878 miles
Pass 2 Sep 2008 45,008 miles

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

Pass 4 Sep 2007 39,799 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Pass 2 Sep 2006 34,612 miles

How Reliable is the Lotus Elise?

Based on 150,954 MOT tests across 12,302 vehicles.

81.8%
Pass Rate
1,309
Miles/Year
30
Year Lifespan
12,302
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 3,173
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 3,131
Headlamp aim too high 3,014
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 2,630
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive 1,898
Full Lotus Elise reliability report

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AU53 EYW is a 2003 Lotus Elise in Blue with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80%.

Across all 2003 Lotus Elise models, the average MOT pass rate is 83.4% with a typical mileage of 33,657 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 Lotus Elise fails its MOT is exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive, accounting for 3,173 recorded failures. If you're considering buying AU53 EYW, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Elise typically stays on UK roads for around 30 years. At 23 years old, this Lotus Elise is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of AU53 EYW?

You can check the full history of AU53 EYW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was AU53 EYW registered?

AU53 EYW is a 2003 Lotus Elise, first registered on 3 September 2003.

Is AU53 EYW safe to buy?

The MOT history for AU53 EYW 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 AU53 EYW 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 AU53 EYW. 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.