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J71 BSO

1992 Lotus Elan

Yellow Petrol 1588cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires5 Aug 2027
Tests18 (13 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate72.2%

Mileage

80,009 mi
Last recorded80,009 miles
Recorded on5 Aug 2026
Typical for 1992 Lotus Elan76,086 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationJ71 BSO
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1992
ColourYellow
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,588cc

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

13 pass 5 fail
Pass 5 Aug 2026 80,009 miles
Fail 3 Aug 2026 79,987 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Headlamp aim unable to be tested (4.1.2 (b))

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 10 Jul 2025 79,063 miles
Pass 6 Aug 2024 77,880 miles
Fail 20 Jun 2024 77,832 miles

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

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Pass 19 Jun 2023 77,006 miles

Nearside Rear Lower Coil spring mounting corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Rear Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. nearside working better (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Pass 27 Jun 2022 75,573 miles

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Fail 22 Apr 2022 75,544 miles

Offside Front Brake disc contaminated oil contamination (1.1.14 (b))

Offside Front Brake pad(s) contaminated oil contamination (1.1.13 (b))

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has light misting of oil (5.3.2 (b))

Oil leak, but not excessive oil cooler leaking (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 22 Apr 2021 73,328 miles

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

Pass 19 Sep 2019 72,190 miles

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

Fail 26 Jul 2019 72,158 miles

Offside Rear Service brake effort inadequate at a wheel (1.2.1 (a) (i))

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

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front brake disc slightly corroded

Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside Rear brake disc slightly corroded

Pass 13 Jul 2018 71,289 miles

front brake discs rusty

slight brake imbalance on rear

Fail 1 Jun 2018 71,276 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Offside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Service brake fluctuating, but not excessively (1.2.1 (e))

both front brake discs very rusty

all hazard lights on offside - not working

Pass 15 Aug 2016 69,616 miles
Pass 14 Aug 2015 69,141 miles
Pass 18 Aug 2014 68,601 miles
Pass 4 Sep 2013 68,059 miles
Pass 14 Sep 2012 66,927 miles

How Reliable is the Lotus Elan?

Based on 51,097 MOT tests across 4,280 vehicles.

77.4%
Pass Rate
554
Miles/Year
59
Year Lifespan
4,280
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 2,585
brake recording little or no effort 1,342
parking brake recording little or no effort 1,318
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 927
brake binding 845
Full Lotus Elan reliability report

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J71 BSO is a 1992 Lotus Elan in Yellow with a 1,588cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 18 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 72.2%.

Across all 1992 Lotus Elan models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.0% with a typical mileage of 76,086 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 Lotus Elan fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 2,585 recorded failures. If you're considering buying J71 BSO, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Elan typically stays on UK roads for around 59 years. At 34 years old, this Lotus Elan is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of J71 BSO?

You can check the full history of J71 BSO by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J71 BSO registered?

J71 BSO is a 1992 Lotus Elan, first registered on 7 April 1992.

Is J71 BSO safe to buy?

The MOT history for J71 BSO shows 18 tests with a 72.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J71 BSO 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 J71 BSO. 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.