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L27 ESP

1998 Lotus Esprit

Red Petrol 1998cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires22 Oct 2026
Tests20 (17 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate85%

Mileage

56,976 mi
Last recorded56,976 miles
Recorded on16 Oct 2025
Typical for 1998 Lotus Esprit48,579 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationL27 ESP
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1998
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,998cc

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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

17 pass 3 fail
Pass 16 Oct 2025 56,976 miles
Pass 7 Oct 2024 54,383 miles

Front Coil spring corroded Both side (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Rear Coil spring corroded Both side (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Fail 7 Oct 2024 54,383 miles

Front Coil spring corroded Both side (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Rear Coil spring corroded Both side (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 23 Oct 2023 51,569 miles
Pass 30 Sep 2022 49,316 miles
Pass 30 Sep 2021 49,273 miles
Pass 23 Oct 2020 49,141 miles
Pass 5 Sep 2016 47,599 miles

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

Fail 1 Sep 2016 47,599 miles

Headlamp aim too low both (1.8)

Nearside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Pass 4 Sep 2015 46,683 miles

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Fail 28 Aug 2015 46,683 miles

Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault (3.4.1c)

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 8 Aug 2014 43,590 miles
Pass 30 Aug 2013 42,831 miles
Pass 13 Aug 2012 41,624 miles
Pass 31 Aug 2011 40,673 miles
Pass 31 Aug 2010 39,989 miles
Pass 1 Sep 2009 39,286 miles
Pass 27 Aug 2008 38,221 miles
Pass 1 Sep 2007 37,349 miles
Pass 11 Aug 2006 36,039 miles

Nearside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

How Reliable is the Lotus Esprit?

Based on 25,410 MOT tests across 2,324 vehicles.

80.6%
Pass Rate
515
Miles/Year
50
Year Lifespan
2,324
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 624
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 464
brake binding 455
parking brake recording little or no effort 332
Headlamp aim too low 326
Full Lotus Esprit reliability report

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L27 ESP is a 1998 Lotus Esprit in Red with a 1,998cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 85%.

Across all 1998 Lotus Esprit models, the average MOT pass rate is 85.0% with a typical mileage of 48,579 miles. This vehicle is performing in line with others of the same year.

The most common reason a Lotus Esprit fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 624 recorded failures. If you're considering buying L27 ESP, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Esprit typically stays on UK roads for around 50 years. At 28 years old, this Lotus Esprit is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of L27 ESP?

You can check the full history of L27 ESP by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was L27 ESP registered?

L27 ESP is a 1998 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 1 May 1998.

Is L27 ESP safe to buy?

The MOT history for L27 ESP shows 20 tests with a 85% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does L27 ESP 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 L27 ESP. 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.