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L13 LSE

1997 Lotus Elise

Silver Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires31 Oct 2026
Tests15 (11 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate73.3%

Mileage

68,408 mi
Last recorded68,408 miles
Recorded on31 Oct 2025
Typical for 1997 Lotus Elise47,496 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationL13 LSE
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1997
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,796cc

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

11 pass 4 fail
Pass 31 Oct 2025 68,408 miles
Fail 21 Oct 2025 68,401 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Brake disc significantly and obviously worn (1.1.14 (a) (i))

Offside Front Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Pass 18 Oct 2024 62,911 miles

Nearside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 1 Nov 2023 62,682 miles
Fail 1 Mar 2019 62,629 miles

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

Headlamp light source and lamp not compatible aftermarket HID kit fitted (4.1.4 (c))

Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement both front D bushes slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside seat bolts a little lose but not insecure

Pass 9 Jun 2017 62,336 miles
Pass 3 Jun 2016 62,101 miles
Fail 3 Jun 2016 62,101 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 2 Apr 2015 61,686 miles
Pass 12 Sep 2013 59,412 miles

All tyres perishing - cracking in tread grooves

Headlamp dipped beam 'tell tale' not illuminating

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Nearside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Nearside rear brake binding when wheel turned by hand

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Fail 12 Sep 2013 59,412 miles

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

All tyres perishing - cracking in tread grooves

Headlamp dipped beam 'tell tale' not illuminating

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Nearside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Nearside rear brake binding when wheel turned by hand

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 8 Apr 2013 59,316 miles

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

under components corroded (possibaly lack of use)

Pass 20 Aug 2010 59,275 miles

Nearside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 8 May 2009 56,496 miles
Pass 29 Apr 2008 54,803 miles

How Reliable is the Lotus Elise?

Based on 150,954 MOT tests across 12,302 vehicles.

81.8%
Pass Rate
1,309
Miles/Year
30
Year Lifespan
12,302
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 3,173
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 3,131
Headlamp aim too high 3,014
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 2,630
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive 1,898
Full Lotus Elise reliability report

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L13 LSE is a 1997 Lotus Elise in Silver with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 15 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 73.3%.

Across all 1997 Lotus Elise models, the average MOT pass rate is 78.3% with a typical mileage of 47,496 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 Elise fails its MOT is exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive, accounting for 3,173 recorded failures. If you're considering buying L13 LSE, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Elise typically stays on UK roads for around 30 years. At 29 years old, this Lotus Elise is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of L13 LSE?

You can check the full history of L13 LSE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was L13 LSE registered?

L13 LSE is a 1997 Lotus Elise, first registered on 22 April 1997.

Is L13 LSE safe to buy?

The MOT history for L13 LSE shows 15 tests with a 73.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does L13 LSE 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 L13 LSE. 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.