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R59 UBC

1998 Lotus Elise

Red Petrol 1998cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 Nov 2026
Tests24 (21 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate87.5%

Mileage

160,049 mi
Last recorded160,049 miles
Recorded on7 Nov 2025
Typical for 1998 Lotus Elise48,523 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationR59 UBC
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1998
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,998cc

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 3 fail
Pass 7 Nov 2025 160,049 miles
Pass 15 Nov 2024 159,304 miles
Pass 20 Nov 2023 158,804 miles
Pass 3 Nov 2022 157,752 miles
Pass 19 Nov 2021 157,019 miles
Pass 26 Nov 2020 155,025 miles
Pass 29 Nov 2019 153,596 miles
Pass 19 Sep 2018 152,299 miles
Pass 22 Sep 2017 149,352 miles
Pass 30 Sep 2016 147,352 miles

slight corrosion on front to rear brake pipe's

Pass 11 Sep 2015 145,558 miles
Pass 11 Sep 2014 142,586 miles
Pass 22 Aug 2013 138,323 miles
Pass 8 Sep 2012 133,828 miles

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Fail 20 Aug 2011 128,841 miles

Nearside Front Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 20 Aug 2011 128,841 miles

Nearside Front Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Front Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 8 Sep 2010 118,611 miles
Pass 5 Sep 2009 110,829 miles
Pass 11 Sep 2008 103,743 miles
Pass 10 Sep 2007 93,422 miles
Pass 11 Sep 2006 79,707 miles
Fail 6 Sep 2006 79,707 miles

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

Pass 22 Aug 2005 61,488 miles
Fail 20 Aug 2005 61,488 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)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high when the centre of the headlamp is below 850mm from the ground (1.6.B2)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too high when the centre of the headlamp is below 850mm from the ground (1.6.B2)

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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R59 UBC is a 1998 Lotus Elise in Red with a 1,998cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 87.5%.

Across all 1998 Lotus Elise models, the average MOT pass rate is 78.8% with a typical mileage of 48,523 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 R59 UBC, 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 28 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 R59 UBC?

You can check the full history of R59 UBC by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R59 UBC registered?

R59 UBC is a 1998 Lotus Elise, first registered on 4 March 1998.

Is R59 UBC safe to buy?

The MOT history for R59 UBC shows 24 tests with a 87.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R59 UBC 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 R59 UBC. 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.