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R181 EUF

1997 Lotus Elise

Blue Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires31 Aug 2026
Tests16 (13 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate81.3%

Mileage

117,995 mi
Last recorded117,995 miles
Recorded on1 Sep 2025
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

RegistrationR181 EUF
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1997
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

13 pass 3 fail
Pass 1 Sep 2025 117,995 miles

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

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

Offside Rear Suspension rod ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 19 Oct 2023 117,539 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

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

Pass 1 Jun 2019 117,399 miles

Coil spring corroded all (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 26 May 2018 116,277 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

all coil springs corroded

Pass 6 May 2017 115,031 miles

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

Pass 27 May 2016 113,917 miles

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

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

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

Pass 2 May 2015 112,645 miles
Pass 17 May 2014 111,347 miles

nearside front wheel bearing slightly noisey

Pass 24 May 2013 109,921 miles
Fail 23 May 2013 109,919 miles

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)

Pass 9 May 2009 107,651 miles
Pass 18 Apr 2008 102,058 miles

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Fail 14 Apr 2008 102,006 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)

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

Pass 10 Apr 2007 95,310 miles
Fail 10 Apr 2007 95,310 miles

Front registration plate missing (6.3.1a)

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

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

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Pass 18 Apr 2006 88,629 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

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R181 EUF is a 1997 Lotus Elise in Blue 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 R181 EUF, 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 R181 EUF?

You can check the full history of R181 EUF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R181 EUF registered?

R181 EUF is a 1997 Lotus Elise, first registered on 1 August 1997.

Is R181 EUF safe to buy?

The MOT history for R181 EUF 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 R181 EUF 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 R181 EUF. 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.