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R301 SOJ

1997 Rover Mini

Blue Petrol 1275cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires22 Jul 2026
Tests19 (11 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate57.9%

Mileage

54,541 mi
Last recorded54,541 miles
Recorded on23 Jul 2025
Typical for 1997 Rover Mini51,557 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR301 SOJ
MakeRover
ModelMini
Year1997
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,275cc

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

11 pass 8 fail
Pass 23 Jul 2025 54,541 miles
Pass 12 Jul 2024 53,487 miles
Fail 4 Jun 2024 53,478 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust emissions - engine idle speed too high (8.2.1.2 (e))

Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn both (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Service brake effort inadequate at a wheel (1.2.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Sub-frame attachment bracket/mounting insecure (5.3.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Service brake effort inadequate at a wheel (1.2.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn radious (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Rear Parking (secondary brake) on a single line braking system has inadequate effort at a wheel both (1.3.1 (a) (i))

Rear Sub-frame damaged and seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Windscreen wiper not working (3.4 (a))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Driver's door catch deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.3 (c) (i))

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

Pass 10 Mar 2020 52,625 miles
Fail 3 Mar 2020 52,596 miles

Main beam tell-tale not working (4.9.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Steering rack insecure (2.1.3 (a) (i))

Indicator tell-tale inoperative both (4.9.1 (a) (i))

Pass 9 Feb 2019 50,681 miles
Fail 9 Feb 2019 50,681 miles

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Fail 31 Jan 2019 50,678 miles

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle brake not working (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Sub-frame corroded and seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Pass 18 Jan 2018 49,335 miles

Suspension arm ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt both front (2.4.G.2)

Tyre worn close to the legal limit both rear on edges (4.1.E.1)

both front tyres has pershing cracks

corrsion under car

front brake discs corroded

misting of oil unde the car

Fail 11 Jan 2018 49,335 miles

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

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

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

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Suspension arm ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt both front (2.4.G.2)

Tyre worn close to the legal limit both rear on edges (4.1.E.1)

both front tyres has pershing cracks

corrsion under car

front brake discs corroded

misting of oil unde the car

Pass 16 Nov 2016 48,825 miles

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

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 12 Dec 2013 48,778 miles
Fail 10 Dec 2013 48,772 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

when carrying out emissions test car overheated and coolant went everywhere, emissions test was aborted

Fail 19 Oct 2013 48,760 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.2.6)

Pass 16 Oct 2009 45,618 miles
Pass 15 Oct 2008 23,829 miles
Pass 10 Oct 2007 19,666 miles

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Fail 20 Sep 2007 19,632 miles

Nearside Front Lower Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Nearside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Lower Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Offside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Pass 19 Sep 2006 18,883 miles

various rust patches

How Reliable is the Rover Mini?

Based on 519,169 MOT tests across 45,631 vehicles.

66.8%
Pass Rate
876
Miles/Year
47
Year Lifespan
45,631
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 32,036
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 24,016
Steering rack gaiter split 21,375
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 18,460
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 18,348
Full Rover Mini reliability report

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R301 SOJ is a 1997 Rover Mini in Blue with a 1,275cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 57.9%.

Across all 1997 Rover Mini models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.4% with a typical mileage of 51,557 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 Rover Mini fails its MOT is subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 32,036 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R301 SOJ, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Rover Mini typically stays on UK roads for around 47 years. At 29 years old, this Rover Mini is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R301 SOJ?

You can check the full history of R301 SOJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R301 SOJ registered?

R301 SOJ is a 1997 Rover Mini, first registered on 11 November 1997.

Is R301 SOJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for R301 SOJ shows 19 tests with a 57.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R301 SOJ 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 R301 SOJ. 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.