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P803 SMX

1997 Caterham Seven (S3)

Silver Petrol 1998cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires18 Jul 2018
Tests13 (10 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate76.9%

Mileage

36,755 mi
Last recorded36,755 miles
Recorded on19 Jul 2017
Typical for 1997 Caterham Seven (S3)20,400 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationP803 SMX
MakeCaterham
ModelSeven (S3)
Year1997
ColourSilver
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,998cc

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

10 pass 3 fail
Pass 19 Jul 2017 36,755 miles

Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint offside and nearside front lower (2.5.B.1a)

Nearside Front Upper Front suspension has slight play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

nearside rear wheel bindng slightly by hand

Pass 7 Aug 2015 36,720 miles

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

offside and nearside lower balljoints slight play

Pass 1 Jul 2013 36,709 miles

Battery security poor

Coolant leak

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

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

Oil leak

Radiator lower hose perishing

Steering column universal joint has slight play (2.1.5)

Fail 27 Jun 2013 36,695 miles

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Nearside Side repeater missing (1.4.A.2b)

Offside Side repeater missing (1.4.A.2b)

Offside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Steering column universal joint has slight play (2.1.5)

Battery security poor

Coolant leak

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

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

Oil leak

Radiator lower hose perishing

Pass 2 Jul 2012 36,396 miles

Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Steering rack gaiter deteriorated (2.2.D.2d)

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.C.1b)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)

Pass 18 Jul 2011 35,180 miles

Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Steering rack gaiter deteriorated (2.2.D.2d)

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)

Fail 14 Jul 2011 35,180 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Offside Side repeater missing (1.4.A.2b)

Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Steering rack gaiter deteriorated (2.2.D.2d)

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

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)

Pass 14 May 2010 32,584 miles

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

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Offside Steering rack gaiter deteriorated (2.2.D.2d)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1b)

Pass 15 May 2009 29,954 miles
Pass 20 May 2008 28,333 miles
Fail 15 May 2008 28,269 miles

Nearside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d) DANGEROUS

Pass 27 Oct 2006 25,552 miles

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter deteriorated (2.2.D.2d)

Pass 28 Jul 2005 22,866 miles

How Reliable is the Caterham Seven (S3)?

Based on 32,485 MOT tests across 2,453 vehicles.

86.1%
Pass Rate
613
Miles/Year
55
Year Lifespan
2,453
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Stop lamp not working 476
Steering rack gaiter split 309
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 206
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 188
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 185
Full Caterham Seven (S3) reliability report

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P803 SMX is a 1997 Caterham Seven (S3) in Silver with a 1,998cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 13 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76.9%.

Across all 1997 Caterham Seven (S3) models, the average MOT pass rate is 86.2% with a typical mileage of 20,400 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 Caterham Seven (S3) fails its MOT is stop lamp not working, accounting for 476 recorded failures. If you're considering buying P803 SMX, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Caterham Seven (S3) typically stays on UK roads for around 55 years. At 29 years old, this Caterham Seven (S3) is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of P803 SMX?

You can check the full history of P803 SMX by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P803 SMX registered?

P803 SMX is a 1997 Caterham Seven (S3), first registered on 16 April 1997.

Is P803 SMX safe to buy?

The MOT history for P803 SMX shows 13 tests with a 76.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P803 SMX 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 P803 SMX. 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.