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R538 BVU

1998 Seat Ibiza

Blue Diesel 1896cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires9 Mar 2026
Tests32 (20 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate62.5%

Mileage

80,702 mi
Last recorded80,702 miles
Recorded on10 Mar 2025
Typical for 1998 Seat Ibiza80,858 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR538 BVU
MakeSeat
ModelIbiza
Year1998
ColourBlue
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine1,896cc

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 12 fail
Pass 10 Mar 2025 80,702 miles

Central Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both center brake pipes greased (1.1.11 (c))

Front Fluid leak, but not excessive various leaks (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge both front tyres worn outside edge + cracking (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced inner wheel arch (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing light cracking (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both rear brake pipes corroded going into distrobution block (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened trailing arm corroded (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement both rear trailing arm bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear both rear wheel arches corroded

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Fail 5 Mar 2025 80,699 miles

Nearside Rear Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced sill corroded (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Central Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both center brake pipes greased (1.1.11 (c))

Front Fluid leak, but not excessive various leaks (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge both front tyres worn outside edge + cracking (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced inner wheel arch (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing light cracking (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both rear brake pipes corroded going into distrobution block (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened trailing arm corroded (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement both rear trailing arm bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear both rear wheel arches corroded

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Pass 5 Mar 2024 78,903 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material all pipes greased (1.1.11 (c))

Central Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced both sills are slightly corroded (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 9 Mar 2023 76,637 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Various pipes greased (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front position light dull

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

lots of surface corrosion on underside

park brake has only just met MOT limits

Fail 9 Mar 2023 76,637 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Various pipes greased (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front position light dull

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

lots of surface corrosion on underside

park brake has only just met MOT limits

Pass 9 Mar 2022 74,126 miles

Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing both tyres (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced jacking point (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 9 Mar 2022 74,126 miles

Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing both tyres (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Nearside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced jacking point (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 2 Mar 2021 72,376 miles

Corrosion to underneath and suspension components.

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 25 Feb 2020 71,908 miles

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Fail 20 Feb 2020 71,903 miles

Front Registration plate inscription illegible (0.1 (b))

Offside Outer Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced Sill (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 21 Feb 2019 71,420 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 26 Feb 2018 70,525 miles

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened both (3.5.1i)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 6 Mar 2017 69,912 miles
Fail 6 Mar 2017 69,912 miles

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 2 Mar 2016 69,485 miles
Fail 1 Mar 2016 69,485 miles

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

Offside Obligatory mirror seriously deteriorated, affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

Offside front brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Pass 4 Mar 2015 69,217 miles
Fail 3 Mar 2015 69,214 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Fail 26 Feb 2014 68,536 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

n/s/r wheel bearing slightly noisey when rotated.

Pass 26 Feb 2014 68,536 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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 Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

n/s/r wheel bearing slightly noisey when rotated.

Pass 5 Mar 2013 67,933 miles
Fail 5 Mar 2013 67,930 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

Offside Rear Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

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

Pass 7 Mar 2012 67,350 miles
Pass 9 Mar 2011 66,576 miles
Fail 8 Mar 2011 66,573 miles

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

Pass 4 Mar 2010 65,835 miles
Fail 3 Mar 2010 65,832 miles

Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

engine undertray insecure.

Pass 5 Mar 2009 65,278 miles
Pass 27 Feb 2008 64,570 miles
Pass 9 Mar 2007 63,908 miles
Fail 6 Mar 2007 63,908 miles

Centre Front registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Offside Front Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

Pass 8 Mar 2006 62,602 miles

How Reliable is the Seat Ibiza?

Based on 3,964,856 MOT tests across 342,511 vehicles.

73.7%
Pass Rate
6,230
Miles/Year
31
Year Lifespan
342,511
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 119,614
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 54,702
Stop lamp not working 50,601
position lamp(s) not working 45,153
Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement 43,548
Full Seat Ibiza reliability report

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R538 BVU is a 1998 Seat Ibiza in Blue with a 1,896cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 32 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 62.5%.

Across all 1998 Seat Ibiza models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.5% with a typical mileage of 80,858 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 Seat Ibiza fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 119,614 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R538 BVU, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Seat Ibiza typically stays on UK roads for around 31 years. At 28 years old, this Seat Ibiza is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R538 BVU?

You can check the full history of R538 BVU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R538 BVU registered?

R538 BVU is a 1998 Seat Ibiza, first registered on 25 March 1998.

Is R538 BVU safe to buy?

The MOT history for R538 BVU shows 32 tests with a 62.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R538 BVU 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 R538 BVU. 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.