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R276 DSF

1997 Lotus Elise

Blue Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires24 May 2027
Tests23 (21 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate91.3%

Mileage

50,674 mi
Last recorded50,674 miles
Recorded on19 May 2026
Typical for 1997 Lotus Elise47,496 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

RegistrationR276 DSF
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

21 pass 2 fail
Pass 19 May 2026 50,674 miles
Pass 4 May 2025 48,406 miles
Pass 2 May 2024 46,561 miles

engine covers and under body covers fitted not allowing to check some components

Pass 25 Apr 2023 45,507 miles
Pass 27 Apr 2022 44,282 miles

engine covers and under body covers fitted not allowing to check some components

Pass 25 May 2021 43,332 miles

Offside Headlamp reflector slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Fail 18 May 2021 43,313 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Offside Front Position lamp light intensity significantly reduced (4.2.3 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt severely twisted (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Headlamp reflector slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Pass 5 Aug 2020 42,060 miles
Pass 10 Jul 2019 42,040 miles

Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect All four (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 13 Jul 2018 41,953 miles
Pass 30 Jun 2017 40,996 miles
Pass 1 Jul 2016 40,003 miles
Pass 10 Jul 2015 39,120 miles
Fail 3 Jul 2015 39,119 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high and too far to the right. (1.8)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 26 Jun 2014 38,436 miles
Pass 27 Jun 2013 37,364 miles
Pass 22 Jun 2012 35,399 miles
Pass 27 Jun 2011 33,896 miles
Pass 28 Jun 2010 31,534 miles
Pass 23 Jun 2009 28,920 miles
Pass 25 Jun 2008 25,934 miles
Pass 10 May 2007 13,299 miles
Pass 27 Jul 2006 11,775 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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R276 DSF is a 1997 Lotus Elise in Blue with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 91.3%.

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 R276 DSF, 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 R276 DSF?

You can check the full history of R276 DSF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R276 DSF registered?

R276 DSF is a 1997 Lotus Elise, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R276 DSF safe to buy?

The MOT history for R276 DSF shows 23 tests with a 91.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R276 DSF 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 R276 DSF. 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.