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R78 BCV

1997 Mazda MX-5

Green Petrol 1598cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires20 Sep 2026
Tests23 (20 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate87%

Mileage

66,539 mi
Last recorded66,539 miles
Recorded on26 Aug 2025
Typical for 1997 Mazda MX-585,711 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR78 BCV
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1997
ColourGreen
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,598cc

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 3 fail
Pass 26 Aug 2025 66,539 miles
Pass 22 Aug 2024 66,340 miles

Items removed from driver's view prior to test ()

Pass 24 Aug 2023 66,117 miles

Nearside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced OUTTER SILL PANELL (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Pass 31 Aug 2022 65,939 miles
Pass 24 Aug 2021 65,462 miles

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

Pass 7 Sep 2020 65,054 miles

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

Fail 7 Sep 2020 65,054 miles

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

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

Pass 23 Aug 2019 64,530 miles
Pass 12 Sep 2018 64,334 miles

Items removed from driver's view prior to test ()

Parking brake lever defective but can be satisfactorily operated Lever travel high. (1.1.6 (d))

Pass 29 Aug 2017 63,938 miles

O/S sill corrodied.

Pass 22 Aug 2016 63,408 miles

Corrosion on o/s/r outer sill.

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

Fail 22 Aug 2016 63,408 miles

Front registration plate delaminated (6.3.1d)

Corrosion on o/s/r outer sill.

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

Pass 27 Aug 2015 63,193 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 3 Sep 2014 62,963 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

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

corrosion on nearside rear outer sill

Pass 30 Aug 2013 62,151 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

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

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

offside front tyre wearing unevenly on outside edge

Pass 22 Aug 2012 60,514 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Fail 16 Aug 2012 60,406 miles

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is fractured (5.2.6)

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Pass 22 Aug 2011 58,728 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Pass 2 Sep 2010 57,235 miles
Pass 26 Aug 2009 56,884 miles
Pass 26 Aug 2008 55,874 miles
Pass 31 Aug 2007 54,420 miles

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

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

Pass 21 Aug 2006 53,659 miles

How Reliable is the Mazda MX-5?

Based on 2,502,760 MOT tests across 160,823 vehicles.

76.5%
Pass Rate
2,964
Miles/Year
36
Year Lifespan
160,823
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 44,475
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 41,962
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 35,980
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 33,281
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 32,722
Full Mazda MX-5 reliability report

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R78 BCV is a 1997 Mazda MX-5 in Green with a 1,598cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 87%.

Across all 1997 Mazda MX-5 models, the average MOT pass rate is 70.7% with a typical mileage of 85,711 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Mazda MX-5 fails its MOT is seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 44,475 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R78 BCV, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mazda MX-5 typically stays on UK roads for around 36 years. At 29 years old, this Mazda MX-5 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R78 BCV?

You can check the full history of R78 BCV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R78 BCV registered?

R78 BCV is a 1997 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 20 September 1997.

Is R78 BCV safe to buy?

The MOT history for R78 BCV shows 23 tests with a 87% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R78 BCV 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 R78 BCV. 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.