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F489 TCX

1988 Austin Mini Mayfair

Green Petrol 998cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires22 Oct 2026
Tests22 (14 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate63.6%

Mileage

88,565 mi
Last recorded88,565 miles
Recorded on23 Oct 2025
Typical for 1988 Austin Mini Mayfair56,647 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationF489 TCX
MakeAustin
ModelMini Mayfair
Year1988
ColourGreen
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

14 pass 8 fail
Pass 23 Oct 2025 88,565 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Washer not working

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

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 5 Sep 2024 88,463 miles

Both front Upper suspension arm inner grease boots insecure

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Lower arm inner bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Tie rod to front valence (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Lower arm inner bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Tie rod to front valence (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Pass 21 Apr 2022 86,977 miles
Fail 7 Apr 2022 86,977 miles

Nearside Front Steering rack has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering rack fitted) inner rack end (2.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Upper Suspension component ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 24 Nov 2020 86,448 miles

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

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

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

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

Rear Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

Fail 12 Nov 2020 86,448 miles

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers likely to become detached top mounting insecure (5.3.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

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

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

Rear Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 18 May 2019 85,404 miles
Fail 12 Mar 2019 85,396 miles

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases Front section (6.1.2 (a))

All 4 wheels and tyres protruding wheel arches

Offside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

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

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) Both fronts ()

Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively Rears (1.2.1 (e))

Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush All 4 (5.3.2 (c))

Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated Both front lower and upper ball joints (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Suspension arm ball joint has slight play Both fronts (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt Both fronts (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Fail 6 Mar 2019 85,375 miles

Emissions not tested Nothing registering due to leak in front of exhaust (8.2.1.2 (d))

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases Front section (6.1.2 (a))

All 4 wheels and tyres protruding wheel arches

Offside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

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

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) Both fronts ()

Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively Rears (1.2.1 (e))

Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush All 4 (5.3.2 (c))

Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated Both front lower and upper ball joints (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Suspension arm ball joint has slight play Both fronts (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt Both fronts (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Pass 3 Jun 2015 84,421 miles
Pass 23 Apr 2014 82,509 miles
Fail 16 Apr 2014 82,505 miles

Nearside Front Sub-frame attachment bracket/mounting bolt missing (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Front Sub-frame attachment rubber mounting bonding deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Sub-frame attachment bracket/mounting bolt missing (2.4.G.1)

Offside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Pass 27 Jul 2012 84,212 miles
Fail 27 Jul 2012 84,192 miles

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

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover missing (2.4.G.2)

Pass 4 Mar 2011 81,771 miles

Offside Inner Front Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)

Offside outer track rod end joint cover split/missing

Slight corrosion in nearside front inner lower wheel arch

Slight corrosion in offside front inner upper wheel arch

Pass 5 Mar 2010 78,407 miles

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

Nearside Inner Rear Lower Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Offside Inner Front Upper Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Fail 2 Mar 2010 78,406 miles

Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition off (1.4.B.1f)

Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition on (1.4.B.1f)

Nearside Outer Rear Body has a sharp edge caused by damage (6.1.C.1)

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

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

Nearside Inner Rear Lower Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Offside Inner Front Upper Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Pass 23 Sep 2008 83,562 miles
Pass 12 Jun 2007 81,090 miles
Pass 28 Jun 2006 78,453 miles
Pass 7 Nov 2005 78,177 miles
Fail 31 Oct 2005 78,111 miles

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Centre Exhaust mounting missing (7.1.1b) DANGEROUS

Front Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b) DANGEROUS

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

Offside Front Tie bar/rod slightly distorted (2.4.G.1)

Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

How Reliable is the Austin Mini Mayfair?

Based on 51,788 MOT tests across 5,975 vehicles.

64.7%
Pass Rate
705
Miles/Year
44
Year Lifespan
5,975
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 4,606
Steering rack gaiter split 3,328
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 3,132
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 2,591
fog lamp not working 2,585
Full Austin Mini Mayfair reliability report

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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.

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F489 TCX is a 1988 Austin Mini Mayfair in Green with a 998cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.6%.

Across all 1988 Austin Mini Mayfair models, the average MOT pass rate is 64.6% with a typical mileage of 56,647 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 Mayfair fails its MOT is subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 4,606 recorded failures. If you're considering buying F489 TCX, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of F489 TCX?

You can check the full history of F489 TCX by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was F489 TCX registered?

F489 TCX is a 1988 Austin Mini Mayfair, first registered on 9 December 1988.

Is F489 TCX safe to buy?

The MOT history for F489 TCX shows 22 tests with a 63.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does F489 TCX 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 F489 TCX. 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.