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L31 SDL

2002 Lotus Elise

Blue Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires29 Jan 2027
Tests24 (20 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate83.3%

Mileage

61,101 mi
Last recorded61,101 miles
Recorded on30 Jan 2026
Typical for 2002 Lotus Elise36,462 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationL31 SDL
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year2002
ColourBlue
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

20 pass 4 fail
Pass 30 Jan 2026 61,101 miles
Fail 22 Jan 2026 61,098 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Pass 19 Dec 2024 55,915 miles

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

Fail 11 Dec 2024 55,911 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

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

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

Pass 10 Jan 2024 50,976 miles
Pass 12 Jan 2023 44,384 miles
Pass 29 Mar 2022 43,816 miles
Fail 17 Feb 2022 43,815 miles

Central Front Hazard warning switch inoperative (4.4.2 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Side repeater slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) Inner rack arm has excessive play ()

Pass 17 Feb 2021 43,431 miles

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Fail 17 Feb 2021 43,431 miles

Front Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))

Nearside Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Pass 4 Mar 2020 43,221 miles

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Inner Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Provides very little washer fluid

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Side repeater slightly discoloured (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 15 Mar 2019 41,896 miles
Pass 25 Apr 2018 39,232 miles

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

Pass 6 Apr 2017 36,698 miles
Pass 31 Mar 2016 34,190 miles
Pass 8 Apr 2015 33,076 miles
Pass 31 Mar 2014 32,555 miles
Pass 23 Mar 2013 32,208 miles
Pass 30 Mar 2012 31,899 miles
Pass 29 Mar 2011 31,559 miles
Pass 16 Mar 2010 31,272 miles
Pass 15 Aug 2008 29,947 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 28 Apr 2007 27,621 miles
Pass 22 Apr 2006 24,421 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

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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L31 SDL is a 2002 Lotus Elise in Blue with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 83.3%.

Across all 2002 Lotus Elise models, the average MOT pass rate is 82.9% with a typical mileage of 36,462 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 L31 SDL, 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 24 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 L31 SDL?

You can check the full history of L31 SDL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was L31 SDL registered?

L31 SDL is a 2002 Lotus Elise, first registered on 30 March 2002.

Is L31 SDL safe to buy?

The MOT history for L31 SDL shows 24 tests with a 83.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does L31 SDL 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 L31 SDL. 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.