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R144 MFM

1997 Lotus Elise

Green Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 May 2027
Tests16 (13 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate81.3%

Mileage

72,467 mi
Last recorded72,467 miles
Recorded on23 Apr 2026
Typical for 1997 Lotus Elise47,496 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR144 MFM
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1997
ColourGreen
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

13 pass 3 fail
Pass 23 Apr 2026 72,467 miles
Pass 2 May 2025 70,285 miles
Pass 12 Jul 2022 70,191 miles

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

Pass 8 Jun 2021 69,593 miles
Pass 5 Jul 2017 69,329 miles
Pass 30 Jun 2015 68,622 miles
Pass 10 Aug 2013 67,066 miles
Pass 2 Aug 2012 62,343 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 29 Jul 2011 59,124 miles
Fail 21 Apr 2011 59,117 miles

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

Pass 24 Aug 2009 59,078 miles
Pass 24 Jul 2008 53,993 miles
Fail 14 Jul 2008 53,989 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Offside Headlamp damaged but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Pass 9 Jul 2007 50,191 miles

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

Pass 10 Jul 2006 42,581 miles
Fail 4 Jul 2006 42,581 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 hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Fuel cap/sealing device sealing washer deteriorated (7.2.4c)

Nearside Steering rack gaiter insecure (2.2.D.2d)

Offside Front Seat belt affected by an insecure seat fixing (5.2.1b)

steering rack very noisy when rocked

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

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R144 MFM is a 1997 Lotus Elise in Green with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 16 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 81.3%.

Across all 1997 Lotus Elise models, the average MOT pass rate is 78.3% with a typical mileage of 47,496 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 R144 MFM, 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 29 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 R144 MFM?

You can check the full history of R144 MFM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R144 MFM registered?

R144 MFM is a 1997 Lotus Elise, first registered on 4 September 1997.

Is R144 MFM safe to buy?

The MOT history for R144 MFM shows 16 tests with a 81.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R144 MFM 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 R144 MFM. 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.