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K178 XNM

1992 Lotus Elan

Red Petrol 1588cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires14 Jul 2027
Tests18 (13 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate72.2%

Mileage

109,391 mi
Last recorded109,391 miles
Recorded on16 Jun 2026
Typical for 1992 Lotus Elan76,086 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationK178 XNM
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1992
ColourRed
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 16 Jun 2026 109,391 miles
Pass 27 Jun 2025 108,147 miles
Pass 28 Jun 2024 106,208 miles

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

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 16 Jun 2023 104,269 miles
Pass 24 Jun 2022 103,009 miles
Pass 15 Jun 2021 100,575 miles
Pass 15 Jul 2020 99,357 miles
Fail 13 Jul 2020 99,356 miles

Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing (1.1.2 (c))

Offside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

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

Pass 22 Mar 2019 98,668 miles
Fail 20 Mar 2019 98,645 miles

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 27 Mar 2018 96,118 miles
Fail 27 Mar 2018 96,118 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 15 Mar 2017 93,590 miles
Fail 14 Mar 2017 93,570 miles

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

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

Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)

Pass 22 Apr 2016 91,342 miles
Pass 6 Feb 2015 90,929 miles
Pass 21 Mar 2006 88,723 miles
Fail 15 Mar 2006 88,242 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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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K178 XNM is a 1992 Lotus Elan in Red 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 K178 XNM, 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 K178 XNM?

You can check the full history of K178 XNM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was K178 XNM registered?

K178 XNM is a 1992 Lotus Elan, first registered on 25 November 1992.

Is K178 XNM safe to buy?

The MOT history for K178 XNM 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 K178 XNM 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 K178 XNM. 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.