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BU53 KWH

2003 Lotus Elise

Blue Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires4 Dec 2026
Tests24 (21 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate87.5%

Mileage

66,686 mi
Last recorded66,686 miles
Recorded on5 Dec 2025
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

RegistrationBU53 KWH
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

21 pass 3 fail
Pass 5 Dec 2025 66,686 miles
Pass 14 Nov 2024 64,627 miles

nearside rear brake pads wearing low

reduced effort from nearside parking brake

Fail 14 Nov 2024 64,627 miles

Offside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

nearside rear brake pads wearing low

reduced effort from nearside parking brake

Pass 17 Nov 2023 62,030 miles
Pass 17 Nov 2022 59,536 miles
Pass 13 Jan 2022 56,913 miles
Fail 6 Jan 2022 56,910 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Pass 14 Jan 2021 53,674 miles
Pass 7 Jan 2020 51,691 miles
Pass 7 Jan 2019 48,164 miles

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

Pass 10 Jan 2018 43,019 miles
Pass 9 Jan 2017 41,383 miles

Engine management light on

Pass 8 Jan 2016 39,879 miles
Fail 29 Dec 2015 39,832 miles

Nearside Front coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

Nearside Rear coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

Offside Front coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)

Nearside Front Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

Nearside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing (2.7.2a)

Offside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Pass 27 Nov 2014 37,896 miles

rear discs pitted and corroded on inner faces

Pass 12 Nov 2013 36,903 miles
Pass 9 Nov 2012 36,292 miles
Pass 27 Jan 2012 35,725 miles
Pass 26 Jan 2011 34,346 miles
Pass 19 Jan 2010 31,374 miles
Pass 15 Jan 2009 27,699 miles

stone chip in offside of screen outside of swept area

Pass 16 Jan 2008 21,955 miles
Pass 15 Jan 2007 11,004 miles
Pass 30 May 2006 5,615 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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BU53 KWH is a 2003 Lotus Elise in Blue with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 87.5%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 BU53 KWH, 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 BU53 KWH?

You can check the full history of BU53 KWH by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was BU53 KWH registered?

BU53 KWH is a 2003 Lotus Elise, first registered on 1 November 2003.

Is BU53 KWH safe to buy?

The MOT history for BU53 KWH shows 24 tests with a 87.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does BU53 KWH 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 BU53 KWH. 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.