CarVerify

Free Car Check

R678 XPU

1997 Rover Mini

Green Petrol 1275cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires31 Jul 2026
Tests28 (15 pass, 13 fail)
Pass rate53.6%

Mileage

82,953 mi
Last recorded82,953 miles
Recorded on1 Aug 2025
Typical for 1997 Rover Mini51,557 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Rover
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationR678 XPU
MakeRover
ModelMini
Year1997
ColourGreen
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

15 pass 13 fail
Pass 1 Aug 2025 82,953 miles

Offside Front Inner Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Upper Suspension component ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Fail 28 Jul 2025 82,952 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

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

Offside Front Inner Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Upper Suspension component ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 29 Jul 2024 82,685 miles

Offside Rear Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Pass 13 Jun 2023 82,506 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Fail 13 Jun 2023 82,506 miles

Nearside Rear Fuel hose damaged (6.1.3 (c) (ii))

Offside Front Bonded suspension unit insecurely attached (5.3.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Stop lamp(s) remains on when the brakes are released (4.3.2 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Upper Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Pass 26 Apr 2022 82,202 miles
Fail 25 Apr 2022 82,202 miles

Headlamp levelling device inoperative (4.1.5 (a))

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

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

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

Nearside Front Road wheel more than one fixing loose (5.2.1 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Upper Suspension component ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 11 May 2021 82,060 miles
Pass 5 May 2020 81,824 miles

Offside Front Lower Suspension component ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Upper Suspension component ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 4 May 2020 81,824 miles

Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing (1.1.2 (c))

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Windscreen wiper not working (3.4 (a))

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

Nearside Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension component ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Upper Suspension component ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 23 Mar 2016 81,822 miles

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 22 Mar 2016 81,821 miles

Battery insecure (1.9.1)

Hazard warning switch faulty (1.4.B.1d)

Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

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

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 11 Nov 2013 81,645 miles

Nearside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 4 Nov 2013 81,643 miles

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

Nearside Front Brake back plate(s) securing device excessively deteriorated (3.5.1j)

Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Front Direction indicator adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.4.A.2h)

Offside Headlamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.7.5c)

Offside Headlamp excessively deteriorated so that the light output is severely reduced (1.7.5a)

Nearside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

O/S/F Wheel Arch Insecure

Offside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 25 Oct 2012 81,520 miles

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

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

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Fail 24 Oct 2012 81,518 miles

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

Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

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

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 12 Oct 2011 74,917 miles

Nearside outer track rod end joint cover split/missing

Offside outer track rod end joint cover split/missing

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Pass 23 Jun 2010 74,555 miles

Nearside Front suspension has slight play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

offside rear sub frame mount area corroded

Fail 22 Jun 2010 74,555 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Nearside Front Lower Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is inadequately repaired (5.2.6)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Rear Sub-frame corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is inadequately repaired (2.4.A.3)

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

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

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

Nearside Front suspension has slight play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

offside rear sub frame mount area corroded

Pass 2 Sep 2009 71,791 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

rust & corrosion in various places

slight low effort o/s rear handbrake

Fail 28 Aug 2009 71,791 miles

Nearside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

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

Front bumper insecure

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

rust & corrosion in various places

slight low effort o/s rear handbrake

Fail 27 Jul 2009 71,704 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

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

Rear Sub-frame corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 30 Jun 2008 66,099 miles
Fail 28 Jun 2008 66,099 miles

Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Nearside Front suspension has excessive play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

lhr tyre worn to 3mm

Pass 24 May 2007 61,820 miles
Fail 24 May 2007 61,820 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported (7.1.1)

Pass 24 May 2006 58,409 miles
Fail 24 May 2006 58,408 miles

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

Offside Headlamp insecure (1.7.3)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1b)

both rear tyres near to wear limits, o/s/r badly worn on inner edge

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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

R678 XPU is a 1997 Rover Mini in Green with a 1,275cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 53.6%.

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 R678 XPU, 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 R678 XPU?

You can check the full history of R678 XPU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R678 XPU registered?

R678 XPU is a 1997 Rover Mini, first registered on 12 September 1997.

Is R678 XPU safe to buy?

The MOT history for R678 XPU shows 28 tests with a 53.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R678 XPU 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 R678 XPU. 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.