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F397 UPC

1988 MG Metro

White Petrol 1275cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires27 Mar 2027
Tests8 (5 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate62.5%

Mileage

56,270 mi
Last recorded56,270 miles
Recorded on28 Mar 2026
Typical for 1988 MG Metro51,510 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationF397 UPC
MakeMG
ModelMetro
Year1988
ColourWhite
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,275cc

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

5 pass 3 fail
Pass 28 Mar 2026 56,270 miles

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Fail 20 Feb 2025 56,204 miles

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

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

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

Pass 18 May 2017 55,225 miles
Pass 13 Jun 2016 52,151 miles

underside of vehicle his various spots of corrosion

Fail 19 Jun 2015 52,125 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Exhaust engine idle speed too high (7.3.A.2a)

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

Nearside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Rear Wheel nut(s) missing (4.2.A.1e)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

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

Offside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Front registration plate delaminated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Items removed from driver's view prior to test

Nearside front brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

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

Offside front brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

front cross member excessively corrded

Pass 8 May 2007 48,116 miles

Nearside Front Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Fail 30 Apr 2007 47,839 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

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

Offside Front Lower Steering locking device missing (2.2.C.1g)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 9 May 2006 44,312 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

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

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

Offside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

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

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

How Reliable is the MG Metro?

Based on 4,136 MOT tests across 697 vehicles.

69.6%
Pass Rate
651
Miles/Year
44
Year Lifespan
697
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 375
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 199
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 180
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 172
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 166
Full MG Metro reliability report

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F397 UPC is a 1988 MG Metro in White with a 1,275cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 8 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 62.5%.

Across all 1988 MG Metro models, the average MOT pass rate is 68.6% with a typical mileage of 51,510 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 MG Metro fails its MOT is subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 375 recorded failures. If you're considering buying F397 UPC, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The MG Metro typically stays on UK roads for around 44 years. At 38 years old, this MG Metro is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of F397 UPC?

You can check the full history of F397 UPC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was F397 UPC registered?

F397 UPC is a 1988 MG Metro, first registered on 1 August 1988.

Is F397 UPC safe to buy?

The MOT history for F397 UPC shows 8 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 F397 UPC 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 F397 UPC. 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.