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BBJ 588S

1978 MG B

Blue Petrol 1800cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires14 May 2027
Tests21 (17 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate81%

Mileage

75,357 mi
Last recorded75,357 miles
Recorded on30 Apr 2026
Typical for 1978 MG B49,048 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationBBJ 588S
MakeMG
ModelB
Year1978
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,800cc

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

17 pass 4 fail
Pass 30 Apr 2026 75,357 miles

Offside Rear Misting of oil on brake back plate

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

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

Pass 15 May 2025 74,035 miles
Fail 15 May 2025 74,035 miles

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

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Windscreen wiper not working (3.4 (a))

Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 18 Oct 2023 74,434 miles
Pass 6 May 2022 73,874 miles
Pass 26 Jun 2018 72,507 miles

Nearside Front Brake flexi hose slightly mis-aligned

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

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

Offside Rear oil leak from bearing seal

Pass 26 May 2017 71,456 miles

Central Brake pipe slightly corroded front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

Central Rear Drive shaft uj which forms part of the suspension has slight play in a universal joint (2.4.G.4b)

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

Nearside Front Upper Front suspension has slight movement at a wishbone pin or bush (2.5.A.1c)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded across axle (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Inner Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Lower Front suspension has slight movement at a wishbone pin or bush (2.5.A.1c)

Offside Front Upper Front suspension has slight movement at a wishbone pin or bush (2.5.A.1c)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded across axle (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 5 May 2016 70,793 miles
Fail 5 May 2016 70,793 miles

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Pass 28 Apr 2015 70,438 miles
Pass 7 May 2014 70,282 miles
Pass 8 May 2013 69,960 miles
Pass 16 May 2012 69,686 miles

O/S/R half shaft oil seal leaking.

Pass 26 May 2011 68,776 miles
Pass 10 Apr 2010 68,078 miles
Pass 9 May 2009 67,757 miles
Pass 1 May 2008 67,482 miles

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

hand brake cable rear strap broken

Pass 8 May 2007 67,248 miles

Front brake pads getting low. Oil leak from O/S/R hub assembly.

Fail 5 May 2007 67,246 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high and too far to the left. (1.8)

Nearside Upper Registration plate lamp not illuminating the registration plate (1.1.C.1e)

Nearside rear brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

Nearside rear brakes release unevenly (3.7.B.4)

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Headlamp aim too far to the left (1.8)

Front brake pads getting low. Oil leak from O/S/R hus assembly.

Pass 24 Apr 2006 66,946 miles
Fail 24 Apr 2006 66,946 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

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

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

How Reliable is the MG B?

Based on 191,608 MOT tests across 19,443 vehicles.

78.1%
Pass Rate
381
Miles/Year
63
Year Lifespan
19,443
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 5,224
brake binding 4,089
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 3,715
Stop lamp not working 3,343
Steering rack gaiter split 2,887
Full MG B reliability report

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BBJ 588S is a 1978 MG B in Blue with a 1,800cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 21 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 81%.

Across all 1978 MG B models, the average MOT pass rate is 74.8% with a typical mileage of 49,048 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a MG B fails its MOT is windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, accounting for 5,224 recorded failures. If you're considering buying BBJ 588S, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The MG B typically stays on UK roads for around 63 years. At 48 years old, this MG B is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of BBJ 588S?

You can check the full history of BBJ 588S by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was BBJ 588S registered?

BBJ 588S is a 1978 MG B, first registered on 31 December 1978.

Is BBJ 588S safe to buy?

The MOT history for BBJ 588S shows 21 tests with a 81% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does BBJ 588S 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 BBJ 588S. 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.