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R73 WAV

1998 Lotus Elise

Red Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires25 Jun 2027
Tests30 (19 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate63.3%

Mileage

110,501 mi
Last recorded110,501 miles
Recorded on25 Jun 2026
Typical for 1998 Lotus Elise48,523 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Lotus
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Finance
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR73 WAV
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1998
ColourRed
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

19 pass 11 fail
Pass 25 Jun 2026 110,501 miles
Pass 25 Jun 2025 109,305 miles
Pass 18 Jun 2024 107,351 miles
Pass 26 Jun 2023 106,784 miles
Pass 25 Jun 2022 106,321 miles

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 21 Apr 2022 106,300 miles

Headlamp not working on main beam both headlamps (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Brake hose ferrule excessively corroded (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

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

Pass 7 Apr 2021 106,081 miles

Nearside Rear Inner Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Inner Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

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

Fail 1 Apr 2021 106,081 miles

Nearside Headlamp light intensity severely reduced (4.1.4 (a))

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

Nearside Rear Inner Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Inner Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

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

Pass 25 Feb 2020 106,020 miles

Nearside Rear Inner Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Inner Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 29 Aug 2018 105,369 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Inner Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Inner Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 24 Aug 2018 105,357 miles

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

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Nearside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Inner Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Inner Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 20 Jun 2017 101,765 miles

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

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

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

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

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

Fail 19 Jun 2017 101,765 miles

Emissions not tested (7.3.A.1)

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

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

Nearside Rear 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 Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

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

Pass 1 Jun 2016 96,667 miles

Front Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

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

Offside Front Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Pass 16 May 2015 92,209 miles
Fail 8 May 2015 92,209 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Pass 15 Oct 2013 84,613 miles

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

slight noise from n/s/f wheel bearing

Fail 3 Oct 2013 84,613 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)

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

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

Offside Front Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bearing (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Nail in offside rear tyre

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin bearing (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

slight noise from n/s/f wheel bearing

Pass 11 May 2012 77,829 miles

Offside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Fail 9 May 2012 77,829 miles

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 30 Mar 2011 71,701 miles
Fail 18 Mar 2011 71,540 miles

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

Pass 14 Aug 2009 65,086 miles

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

Fail 7 Aug 2009 64,970 miles

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

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

Pass 12 Jun 2008 56,481 miles
Pass 13 Feb 2007 50,247 miles
Pass 28 Feb 2006 45,396 miles
Fail 23 Feb 2006 45,396 miles

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

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 10 Oct 2005 44,720 miles
Fail 6 Oct 2005 44,719 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Side repeater incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Hand operated control valve unit insecure (3.2.2a)

Steering rack insecure (2.2.B.1a)

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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R73 WAV is a 1998 Lotus Elise in Red with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 30 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.3%.

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 a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

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 R73 WAV, 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 R73 WAV?

You can check the full history of R73 WAV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R73 WAV registered?

R73 WAV is a 1998 Lotus Elise, first registered on 6 June 1998.

Is R73 WAV safe to buy?

The MOT history for R73 WAV shows 30 tests with a 63.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R73 WAV 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 R73 WAV. 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.