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R889 VLY

1997 Rover Mini

Red Petrol 1275cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires27 Mar 2026
Tests20 (13 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate65%

Mileage

88,531 mi
Last recorded88,531 miles
Recorded on28 Mar 2025
Typical for 1997 Rover Mini51,557 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Rover
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR889 VLY
MakeRover
ModelMini
Year1997
ColourRed
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

13 pass 7 fail
Pass 28 Mar 2025 88,531 miles
Pass 25 Mar 2024 88,271 miles

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 24 Mar 2023 88,141 miles

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Inner wheel arch next to shock absorber mount (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Lower Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Lower Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Pass 28 Mar 2022 88,046 miles

Offside Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

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

both rear service brakes lower effort

Pass 7 Sep 2020 88,004 miles
Fail 16 Jun 2020 87,990 miles

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush excessively worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

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

Pass 15 Jul 2016 87,971 miles

Offside Rear Radius arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Fail 15 Jul 2016 87,971 miles

Nearside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Offside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

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

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

Offside Rear Radius arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Pass 6 Aug 2014 87,958 miles

Non obligatory mirror damaged

Offside Rear Radius arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Fail 1 Aug 2014 87,958 miles

Direction indicators not working (1.4.A.2c)

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Non obligatory mirror damaged

Offside Rear Radius arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Pass 23 Oct 2013 87,940 miles

Nearside Obligatory mirror damaged, but not seriously affecting the rear view (8.1.2a)

Fail 25 Jul 2013 87,934 miles

Direction indicators not working (1.4.A.2c)

Nearside Front Tie bar/rod attachment bracket/mounting nut missing (2.4.G.1)

Nearside Outer Lower Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

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

Offside Outer Lower Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

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

Offside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

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

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

Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

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

Offside Rear Radius arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Fail 13 Aug 2012 87,917 miles

Brake hydraulic reservoir fluid level below minimum level (3.6.G.1b)

Direction indicators not working (1.4.A.2c)

Driver's seat cannot be secured in the upright position. (6.2.A.2)

Nearside Front Lower Tie bar/rod locating pin retaining device missing (2.4.G.3b)

Nearside Front Passenger's seat insecure (6.2.A.1)

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

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

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

Offside Front Front constant velocity joint gaiter insecure to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.5.C.1a)

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

Offside Rear Radius arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

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

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

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

Spare wheel insecure (6.4.2)

Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

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

Fuel pipes corroded

Items removed from driver's view prior to test

Nearside Front Tie bar/rod rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

OSF spot light not working

Offside Front Tie bar/rod rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Various oil leaks

battery insecure

Pass 17 Jul 2010 86,966 miles

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

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

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

Offside Rear Radius arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

Oil leak

Rear Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Fail 13 Jul 2010 86,966 miles

Nearside Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Tyre has a lump, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (4.1.D.1b)

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

Offside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

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

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

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

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

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

Offside Rear Radius arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

Oil leak

Pass 28 Mar 2009 78,310 miles
Pass 27 Mar 2008 67,544 miles

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

Pass 26 Mar 2007 62,449 miles
Fail 17 Mar 2007 62,424 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 9 Mar 2006 60,995 miles

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

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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

R889 VLY is a 1997 Rover Mini in Red with a 1,275cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 65%.

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 R889 VLY, 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 R889 VLY?

You can check the full history of R889 VLY by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R889 VLY registered?

R889 VLY is a 1997 Rover Mini, first registered on 12 December 1997.

Is R889 VLY safe to buy?

The MOT history for R889 VLY shows 20 tests with a 65% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R889 VLY 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 R889 VLY. 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.