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P123 ESP

1998 Lotus Esprit

Black Petrol 3506cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 Apr 2027
Tests22 (18 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate81.8%

Mileage

28,389 mi
Last recorded28,389 miles
Recorded on23 Mar 2026
Typical for 1998 Lotus Esprit48,579 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationP123 ESP
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1998
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,506cc

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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

18 pass 4 fail
Pass 23 Mar 2026 28,389 miles
Pass 2 Apr 2025 28,109 miles
Fail 2 Apr 2025 28,109 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

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

Offside Headlamp aim too far to the right (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 18 Mar 2024 27,937 miles
Pass 7 Mar 2023 27,595 miles
Fail 28 Feb 2023 27,594 miles

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

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

Nearside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt rubbing on coolant hose (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Brake fluid warning lamp illuminated (1.1.10 (f))

Pass 28 Jan 2022 26,870 miles
Pass 19 May 2020 26,255 miles
Pass 1 Mar 2019 25,311 miles

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

Pass 5 Feb 2018 24,599 miles
Pass 19 Jul 2016 23,814 miles

Offside Rear Nail in tyre ()

Fail 13 Jul 2016 23,782 miles

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Offside Rear Nail in tyre ()

Pass 29 Jun 2015 23,074 miles

Nearside Inner Rear Tie bar/rod rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Inner Rear Tie bar/rod rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.C.1a)

Pass 12 Jun 2014 22,075 miles

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

Fail 20 May 2014 22,052 miles

Rear Exhaust catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard (7.1.3)

Pass 9 May 2013 21,721 miles

offside front oil cooler starting to leak

Pass 19 May 2012 21,276 miles

ns door mirror brocken

Pass 7 Mar 2011 20,450 miles
Pass 13 Mar 2010 183,381 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 2 Mar 2009 17,287 miles
Pass 1 Mar 2008 16,153 miles
Pass 8 Jul 2006 15,473 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

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P123 ESP is a 1998 Lotus Esprit in Black with a 3,506cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 81.8%.

Across all 1998 Lotus Esprit models, the average MOT pass rate is 85.0% with a typical mileage of 48,579 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 P123 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 P123 ESP?

You can check the full history of P123 ESP by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P123 ESP registered?

P123 ESP is a 1998 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 4 March 1998.

Is P123 ESP safe to buy?

The MOT history for P123 ESP shows 22 tests with a 81.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P123 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 P123 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.