CarVerify

Free Car Check

R105 FRO

1998 Lotus Elise

Blue Petrol 1796cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires24 Apr 2027
Tests28 (20 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

214,584 mi
Last recorded214,584 miles
Recorded on23 Apr 2026
Typical for 1998 Lotus Elise48,523 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR105 FRO
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1998
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 8 fail
Pass 23 Apr 2026 214,584 miles

Engine covers and undertrays fitted, unable to check certain items.

Front Coil spring corroded N/S and O/S (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Coil spring corroded N/S and O/S (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 23 Apr 2025 214,001 miles

Engine covers and undertrays fitted unable to check certain items.

Front Coil spring corroded N/S and O/S (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Rear Coil spring corroded N/S and O/S (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Fail 22 Apr 2025 214,001 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))

Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault (7.1.6 (a))

Engine covers and undertrays fitted unable to check certain items.

Front Coil spring corroded N/S and O/S (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Front Windscreen wiper blade defective Split on both ends (3.4 (b) (i))

Rear Coil spring corroded N/S and O/S (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 25 Apr 2024 213,192 miles

Engine covers and undertrays fitted, unable to inspect certain items.

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

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

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

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

Pass 19 Apr 2023 209,297 miles

Engine covers and undertrays fitted unable to check certain items .

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 15 Mar 2022 207,750 miles

Covers and undertrays fitted preventing inspection of certain components.

Front Coil spring corroded o/s and n/s front springs corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Rear Coil spring corroded o/s & n/s rear springs corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 18 Mar 2021 207,041 miles

Front Coil spring corroded n/s & o/s (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Headlamp reflector slightly defective n/s & o/s (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Rear Coil spring corroded n/s & o/s (5.3.1 (b) (i))

engine cover & undertrays fitted unable to chck certain items

fuel cap seal starting to crack

Pass 23 Jul 2019 204,698 miles

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

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Stop lamp(s) with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning centre brake light (4.3.1 (a) (i))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 31 Jul 2017 200,866 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement "D" bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement "D" bush (2.4.G.2)

Fail 31 Jul 2017 200,866 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement "D" bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement "D" bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 4 Feb 2017 199,739 miles
Fail 1 Feb 2017 199,735 miles

Emissions not tested (7.3.A.1)

Front Brakes imbalanced across an axle 38% (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside Front position lamp(s) has less than 50% of the light sources illuminating (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe inadequately clipped (3.6.B.1)

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

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Pass 18 Feb 2016 190,097 miles
Fail 16 Feb 2016 190,097 miles

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

Front Brakes imbalanced across an axle 50% (3.7.B.5b)

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

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 4 Feb 2015 180,186 miles
Fail 2 Feb 2015 180,182 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Emissions not tested (7.3.A.1)

Front registration plate insecure (6.3.1b)

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

front brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

Pass 4 Feb 2014 169,755 miles
Fail 27 Jan 2014 169,751 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)

Front Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

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

Nearside Rear Braking system leaking (3.6.A.1)

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

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)

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

Pass 6 Feb 2013 159,017 miles
Fail 5 Feb 2013 159,014 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)

Nearside Front Front passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

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

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

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

Pass 18 Feb 2012 147,829 miles
Pass 14 Feb 2011 136,289 miles

Nearside Headlamp affected by the operation of another lamp (1.7.5c)

Offside Rear fog lamp affected by the operation of another lamp (1.3.2f)

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

Offside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 2 Feb 2010 125,280 miles

head light aims on limits

slight play in front suspension

Pass 10 Feb 2009 113,291 miles
Pass 22 Jan 2008 98,731 miles

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

Fail 22 Jan 2008 98,731 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Pass 14 Feb 2007 82,337 miles
Pass 14 Feb 2006 67,366 miles

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

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

R105 FRO is a 1998 Lotus Elise in Blue with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71.4%.

Across all 1998 Lotus Elise models, the average MOT pass rate is 78.8% with a typical mileage of 48,523 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 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 R105 FRO, 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 28 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 R105 FRO?

You can check the full history of R105 FRO by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R105 FRO registered?

R105 FRO is a 1998 Lotus Elise, first registered on 16 May 1998.

Is R105 FRO safe to buy?

The MOT history for R105 FRO shows 28 tests with a 71.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R105 FRO 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 R105 FRO. 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.