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R801 SDF

1998 Lotus Elise

Yellow Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires21 Oct 2026
Tests26 (20 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate76.9%

Mileage

52,585 mi
Last recorded52,585 miles
Recorded on10 Oct 2025
Typical for 1998 Lotus Elise48,523 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationR801 SDF
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year1998
ColourYellow
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

20 pass 6 fail
Pass 10 Oct 2025 52,585 miles

All tyres getting old

Pass 11 Oct 2024 52,554 miles
Fail 11 Oct 2024 52,554 miles

Position lamp not working right front (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 11 Oct 2023 52,518 miles
Pass 12 Oct 2022 52,455 miles
Pass 18 Oct 2021 52,397 miles
Pass 22 Oct 2020 52,329 miles
Pass 15 Oct 2019 52,210 miles
Pass 26 Jul 2018 52,096 miles
Pass 26 Jul 2017 52,085 miles
Fail 26 Jun 2017 52,078 miles

coil spring broken Left rear (2.4.C.1a)

Headlamp aim too high Both sides (1.8)

Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint Left rear (2.4.G.2)

Pass 20 Jun 2016 52,037 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

under trays fitted

Pass 22 Jun 2015 51,497 miles

Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover damaged, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Pass 24 Jun 2014 50,584 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Fail 24 Jun 2014 50,584 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 9 Jul 2013 49,758 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 16 Jul 2012 49,241 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 7 Jul 2011 48,851 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Suspension arm slightly distorted (2.4.G.1)

Fail 2 Jul 2011 48,848 miles

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

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

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Suspension arm slightly distorted (2.4.G.1)

Pass 2 Jul 2010 47,712 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 14 Jul 2009 46,568 miles

Inner Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 25 Jun 2008 45,799 miles

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

Fail 23 Jun 2008 45,791 miles

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

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

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

Fail 17 Jun 2008 45,668 miles

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Engine oil level on 'low' mark

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

Nearside Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside track rod end boot=badly perished

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

offside track rod end boot=badly perished

Pass 6 Jul 2007 44,926 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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)

Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 1 Jul 2006 43,482 miles

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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R801 SDF is a 1998 Lotus Elise in Yellow with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 76.9%.

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 R801 SDF, 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 R801 SDF?

You can check the full history of R801 SDF by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R801 SDF registered?

R801 SDF is a 1998 Lotus Elise, first registered on 15 May 1998.

Is R801 SDF safe to buy?

The MOT history for R801 SDF shows 26 tests with a 76.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R801 SDF 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 R801 SDF. 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.