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E251 HLR

1988 Austin Metro City X

Blue Petrol 998cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 Feb 2027
Tests17 (15 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate88.2%

Mileage

63,821 mi
Last recorded63,821 miles
Recorded on25 Feb 2026
Typical for 1988 Austin Metro City X41,107 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationE251 HLR
MakeAustin
ModelMetro City X
Year1988
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine998cc

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

15 pass 2 fail
Pass 25 Feb 2026 63,821 miles

Rear Both sides hydro elastic bellow damping weak

Pass 27 Feb 2025 58,005 miles

Front Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

slight croosion all round

Pass 29 Feb 2024 56,951 miles

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

Pass 11 Oct 2022 56,517 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases Centre silencer (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Perished / Cracking in tread (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Note; Wheel trims , other covers & mouldings fitted , restricting views

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Tread low at inner area (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Perished / Cracking in tread (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 3 Oct 2022 56,517 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low Dip (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Service brake lagging in operation (1.2.1 (d))

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid jet weak (3.5 (a))

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the right. Dip (4.1.2 (a))

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases Centre silencer (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Perished / Cracking in tread (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Note ; Engine emissions level close to limit

Note ; Engine idle speed slightly high

Note ; Suspension heights very low front , affecting headlamp aim , Hydrolastic system requires pump up

Note ; Tyres all appear underinflated

Note; Wheel trims , other covers & mouldings fitted , restricting views

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Tread low at inner area (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Perished / Cracking in tread (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 17 Sep 2021 56,311 miles
Pass 22 Sep 2020 56,164 miles

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases box (6.1.2 (a))

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

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing both rears (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 23 Aug 2019 55,731 miles
Pass 24 Apr 2018 55,714 miles
Pass 28 Apr 2016 53,656 miles
Pass 2 Dec 2013 47,912 miles
Pass 2 Jun 2010 45,310 miles
Pass 16 Jun 2009 23,064 miles
Pass 20 Jun 2008 17,649 miles

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

Pass 25 Jun 2007 14,945 miles

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

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

Pass 20 Jun 2006 12,559 miles
Fail 20 Jun 2006 12,559 miles

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

How Reliable is the Austin Metro City X?

Based on 4,820 MOT tests across 1,133 vehicles.

65.5%
Pass Rate
847
Miles/Year
42
Year Lifespan
1,133
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 610
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 339
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 322
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 268
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 247
Full Austin Metro City X reliability report

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E251 HLR is a 1988 Austin Metro City X in Blue with a 998cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 17 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 88.2%.

Across all 1988 Austin Metro City X models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.7% with a typical mileage of 41,107 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Austin Metro City X fails its MOT is subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 610 recorded failures. If you're considering buying E251 HLR, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Austin Metro City X typically stays on UK roads for around 42 years. At 38 years old, this Austin Metro City X is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of E251 HLR?

You can check the full history of E251 HLR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E251 HLR registered?

E251 HLR is a 1988 Austin Metro City X, first registered on 23 February 1988.

Is E251 HLR safe to buy?

The MOT history for E251 HLR shows 17 tests with a 88.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E251 HLR 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 E251 HLR. 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.