CarVerify

Free Car Check

L818 PCL

1993 Lotus Esprit

Yellow Petrol 2174cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires14 Aug 2026
Tests27 (17 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate63%

Mileage

84,025 mi
Last recorded84,025 miles
Recorded on14 Aug 2025
Typical for 1993 Lotus Esprit63,105 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Lotus
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationL818 PCL
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1993
ColourYellow
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,174cc

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

17 pass 10 fail
Pass 14 Aug 2025 84,025 miles

Offside Front Upper Suspension component ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 14 Aug 2024 82,692 miles
Pass 15 Aug 2023 81,514 miles

n/s handbrake slightly low

Pass 27 Mar 2021 79,474 miles

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

Pass 31 Aug 2019 79,150 miles

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

Offside Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output (4.1.4 (b))

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

Pass 1 Aug 2018 77,241 miles
Pass 7 Aug 2017 74,737 miles

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

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Nearside Rear Coil spring mounting damaged but not seriously weakened (2.4.C.3c)

Offside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

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

Fail 1 Aug 2017 74,737 miles

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Nearside Rear Coil spring mounting damaged but not seriously weakened (2.4.C.3c)

Offside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

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

Pass 28 Jun 2016 73,594 miles

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

Fail 10 Jun 2016 73,594 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Tyre has a lump, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure inner side wall (4.1.D.1b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 5 Sep 2015 72,988 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Fail 5 Sep 2015 72,988 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Fail 29 May 2015 72,940 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Fuel pipe/s corroded

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

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Oil leak

coolant pipe has signs of coolant leak

o/s headlight has water inside of the lense

Pass 17 Jun 2014 71,812 miles

Nearside Rear Macpherson strut corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Offside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)

Fail 27 May 2014 71,808 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Power steering component(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

Pass 12 Apr 2013 71,030 miles

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

engine smokey when hot

oil light flashes on when engine hot

power steering rubbing waterhose

slight play nearside front wheel bearing

weep from powersteering

Fail 11 Apr 2013 71,030 miles

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

Bonnet cannot be secured in the closed position (8.4.1)

Nearside Front Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

Offside Front Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Power steering component(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

Rear Stop lamp remains on when the brakes are released (1.2.1e)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

slight play nearside front wheel bearing

Fail 5 Apr 2013 71,021 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Nearside Front Tyre has a lump, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

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

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Pass 10 Apr 2012 69,208 miles

Coolant leak

Oil leak

Fail 24 Mar 2012 69,204 miles

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Front coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a)

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Coolant leak

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

Oil leak

Pass 8 Mar 2011 67,497 miles

Oil leak

front suspension nutlocked

Fail 23 Feb 2011 67,491 miles

Nearside Inner Front Lower Suspension arm synthetic bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Outer Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not illuminating the registration plate (1.1.C.1e)

Offside Inner Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Registration plate lamp not illuminating the registration plate (1.1.C.1e)

Rear Exhaust has a part missing (7.1.1a)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Oil leak

Pass 3 Dec 2009 65,932 miles
Pass 26 Sep 2008 64,044 miles
Fail 12 Sep 2008 64,018 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Nearside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Offside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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 26 Feb 2007 59,575 miles
Pass 10 Jan 2006 56,739 miles

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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

L818 PCL is a 1993 Lotus Esprit in Yellow with a 2,174cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63%.

Across all 1993 Lotus Esprit models, the average MOT pass rate is 79.0% with a typical mileage of 63,105 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 Esprit fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 624 recorded failures. If you're considering buying L818 PCL, 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 33 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 L818 PCL?

You can check the full history of L818 PCL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was L818 PCL registered?

L818 PCL is a 1993 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 27 August 1993.

Is L818 PCL safe to buy?

The MOT history for L818 PCL shows 27 tests with a 63% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does L818 PCL 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 L818 PCL. 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.