CarVerify

Free Car Check

E494 PEL

1988 Austin Mini Jet Black

Black Petrol 998cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires20 Dec 2026
Tests24 (15 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate62.5%

Mileage

7,364 mi
Last recorded7,364 miles
Recorded on6 Dec 2025
Typical for 1988 Austin Mini Jet Black63,040 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Austin
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationE494 PEL
MakeAustin
ModelMini Jet Black
Year1988
ColourBlack
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 9 fail
Pass 6 Dec 2025 7,364 miles

Car is under sealed

Pass 3 Dec 2024 27,809 miles

Exhaust emits black smoke during acceleration (8.2.1.2 (g))

Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration (8.2.1.2 (g))

Nearside Front Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced front floors corroded (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

car is under sealed

Pass 21 Dec 2023 26,900 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

car heavily undersealed

Pass 11 Nov 2022 26,797 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 8 Nov 2021 26,522 miles
Pass 26 Feb 2021 25,733 miles

Battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier Negative battery terminal loose. (4.13 (a) (i))

Previous floor repairs are heavily over coated with sealer or paint making inspection of the floor/sills impossible.

Fail 23 Feb 2021 25,733 miles

Brake pedal anti-slip provision loose Pedal rubber falls off easily. (1.1.2 (c))

Exhaust emissions - engine idle speed too high (8.2.1.2 (e))

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar vehicle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition (8.1.1 (a))

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

Nearside Rear Seat belt not functioning as intended Will not unreel. (7.1.2 (c))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Seat belt not functioning as intended Will not unreel. (7.1.2 (c))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Bonnet seriously at risk of opening inadvertently No bonnet catch or secondary catch fitted at all. (3.1 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Brake pipe connection leaking on a hydraulic braking system Connector in front brake pipe adjacent to master cylinder leaking (1.1.11 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Brake pipe connection leaking on a hydraulic braking system Union on front subframe leaking. (1.1.11 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Rear Brake pipe connection leaking on a hydraulic braking system Union on rear subframe leaking. (1.1.11 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier Negative battery terminal loose. (4.13 (a) (i))

Previous floor repairs are heavily over coated with sealer or paint making inspection of the floor/sills impossible.

Pass 22 Mar 2019 23,502 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))

Front Suspension arm ball joint has slight play both (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Front Wheel bearing has slight play both (5.1.3 (a) (i))

general corrosion

Pass 20 Jan 2018 18,903 miles
Pass 10 Jan 2017 16,377 miles

Offside Front Lower Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Oil leak

Oil leak

Rear exhaust bracket deteriorated but supports system

Pass 5 Jan 2015 16,320 miles

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

Fail 2 Jan 2015 16,316 miles

Direction indicators not working (1.4.A.2c)

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bearing (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Hazard warning lamps inoperative (1.4.B.1b)

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

Fail 24 Jun 2014 16,262 miles

Brake pedal creeps down when held under pressure (3.3.B.1a)

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

Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Nearside Front Seat belt retracting mechanism defective (5.2.5b)

Nearside Rear Trailing arm has excessive play in a pin/bearing (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Steering rack insecure (2.2.B.1a)

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

Engine oil leaks.

Front brake discs badly corroded.

Front tyres worn low.

Offside Front Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Rear exhaust mount split.

Pass 19 Jun 2013 7,525 miles

Engine oil leaks

Front brake discs corroded.

Front subframe mounting bushes splitting.

Number plate lamps abit dim, but more than 50% light output.

O/S front to rear brake pipe corroded.

O/S/F brake hose perished.

Slight movement in N/S/R radius arm.

Fail 19 Jun 2013 7,525 miles

Engine oil leaks

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

Front brake discs corroded.

Front subframe mounting bushes splitting.

Number plate lamps abit dim, but more than 50% light output.

O/S front to rear brake pipe corroded.

O/S/F brake hose perished.

Slight movement in N/S/R radius arm.

Pass 27 Jun 2012 39,432 miles

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Fail 26 Jun 2012 39,390 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Fail 28 Dec 2009 3,928 miles

Brake performance not tested (3.7.A.1)

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

Front Vehicle structure has damage which adversely affects braking or steering (6.1.A.1)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Front Statutory seat belt missing (5.1.1)

Nearside Front Steering rack insecure (2.2.B.1a)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (4.1.D.2)

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Offside Front Statutory seat belt missing (5.1.1)

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Offside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (4.1.D.2)

Offside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

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

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

Steering column top bearing excessively worn (2.1.2c)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Pass 7 Nov 2008 96,045 miles
Fail 27 Oct 2008 96,045 miles

All position lamps not working (1.1.A.3b)

Front Exhaust mounting missing (7.1.1b)

Nearside Front Lower Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Front Upper Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Rear Radius arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

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

Offside Front Lower Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Rear Radius arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Sub-frame rubber bush bonding deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 29 Oct 2007 87,933 miles

underside and rear sub-frame of vehicle are corroding

Fail 25 Oct 2007 87,933 miles

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

Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split (2.5.C.1a)

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split (2.5.C.1a)

Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Rear Sub-frame inappropriately repaired (2.4.A.2)

underside and rear sub-frame of vehicle are corroding

Pass 23 Oct 2006 84,573 miles
Fail 18 Oct 2006 84,466 miles

Nearside Front Tie bar/rod severely distorted (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

Nearside Rear Radius arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Oil leak

Steering column shaft has slight end float (2.1.3)

How Reliable is the Austin Mini Jet Black?

Based on 2,772 MOT tests across 316 vehicles.

63.7%
Pass Rate
638
Miles/Year
38
Year Lifespan
316
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 317
Steering rack gaiter split 204
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 193
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 149
fog lamp not working 139
Full Austin Mini Jet Black reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

E494 PEL is a 1988 Austin Mini Jet Black in Black with a 998cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 62.5%.

Across all 1988 Austin Mini Jet Black models, the average MOT pass rate is 63.6% with a typical mileage of 63,040 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 Austin Mini Jet Black fails its MOT is subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 317 recorded failures. If you're considering buying E494 PEL, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Austin Mini Jet Black typically stays on UK roads for around 38 years. At 38 years old, this Austin Mini Jet Black is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of E494 PEL?

You can check the full history of E494 PEL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E494 PEL registered?

E494 PEL is a 1988 Austin Mini Jet Black, first registered on 8 April 1988.

Is E494 PEL safe to buy?

The MOT history for E494 PEL shows 24 tests with a 62.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E494 PEL 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 E494 PEL. 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.