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M897 LYM

1994 Lotus Elan

Green Petrol 1588cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires21 May 2027
Tests36 (22 pass, 14 fail)
Pass rate61.1%

Mileage

99,306 mi
Last recorded99,306 miles
Recorded on22 May 2026
Typical for 1994 Lotus Elan65,737 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationM897 LYM
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1994
ColourGreen
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

22 pass 14 fail
Pass 22 May 2026 99,306 miles
Fail 21 May 2026 99,306 miles

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing rough when rotated (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 15 May 2025 99,219 miles

Nearside Front Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel

Fail 15 May 2025 99,219 miles

Offside Front Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Parking brake lever has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment (1.1.6 (c))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid Both (3.5 (a))

Nearside Front Inner Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 7 May 2024 98,892 miles
Pass 11 May 2023 98,688 miles
Fail 10 May 2023 98,688 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))

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

Parking brake lever has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment (1.1.6 (c))

Offside Rear Shock absorber corroded

Pass 16 Sep 2021 98,573 miles
Pass 28 Sep 2020 98,409 miles
Fail 24 Sep 2020 98,402 miles

Emissions not tested (8.2.1.2 (d))

Offside Front Service brake excessively fluctuating (1.2.1 (e))

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

Parking brake lever has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment (1.1.6 (c))

Engine misfire

Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Offside parking brake performance poor

Pass 7 Oct 2019 97,853 miles

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Fail 24 Sep 2019 97,853 miles

Driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism not functioning as intended. (6.2.5 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 26 Sep 2018 94,256 miles
Fail 25 Sep 2018 94,250 miles

Offside Front Service brake excessively fluctuating (1.2.1 (e))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Pass 19 Sep 2017 91,242 miles
Fail 18 Sep 2017 91,242 miles

Nearside Front front brake excessively fluctuating (3.7.B.3)

Offside Front front brake excessively fluctuating (3.7.B.3)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

front brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 5 Sep 2016 87,996 miles
Fail 2 Sep 2016 87,996 miles

Nearside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Nearside Rear rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Offside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Offside Rear rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

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

Pass 21 Sep 2015 84,434 miles

Nearside front brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

Offside front brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

nearside and offside front tyres worn on inner shoulders

Fail 21 Sep 2015 84,434 miles

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

Nearside front brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

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

Offside front brake fluctuating, but not excessively (3.7.B.3)

nearside and offside front tyres worn on inner shoulders

Fail 10 Sep 2015 84,378 miles

Offside Inner Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.5.C.1a)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 5 Sep 2014 81,292 miles
Fail 4 Sep 2014 81,292 miles

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

Nearside front brake excessively fluctuating (3.7.B.3)

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

Offside Outer Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.5.C.1a)

Offside front brake excessively fluctuating (3.7.B.3)

Front Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Pass 2 Sep 2013 76,164 miles
Pass 5 Sep 2012 68,408 miles

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

o/s/rear brake binding slightly

Pass 20 Sep 2011 62,265 miles

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

very slight play offside rear wheel bearing

Fail 28 May 2011 59,902 miles

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

Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated (2.5.C.1a)

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

inner edges of front tyres wearing

Pass 28 May 2011 59,902 miles

Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated (2.5.C.1a)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

inner edges of front tyres wearing

Pass 6 Sep 2010 59,132 miles

Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Inner Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated (2.5.C.1a)

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Rear Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

both rear suspension spring corroded

n/s/f tyre wearing on inner edge

osf side lamp lens cracked

Pass 10 Sep 2009 57,766 miles

Nearside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 10 Sep 2009 57,766 miles

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

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Rear Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 23 Sep 2008 55,610 miles

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

Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

Pass 19 Sep 2007 52,144 miles

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

Pass 28 Sep 2006 48,155 miles
Fail 20 Sep 2006 48,155 miles

Nearside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear brake disc excessively pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Rear Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 8 Sep 2005 43,657 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 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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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.

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M897 LYM is a 1994 Lotus Elan in Green with a 1,588cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 36 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 61.1%.

Across all 1994 Lotus Elan models, the average MOT pass rate is 77.2% with a typical mileage of 65,737 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 M897 LYM, 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 32 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 M897 LYM?

You can check the full history of M897 LYM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was M897 LYM registered?

M897 LYM is a 1994 Lotus Elan, first registered on 29 October 1994.

Is M897 LYM safe to buy?

The MOT history for M897 LYM shows 36 tests with a 61.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does M897 LYM 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 M897 LYM. 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.