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SN04 CAU

2004 Lotus Elise

Purple Petrol 1796cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires11 Mar 2026
Tests20 (15 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

66,772 mi
Last recorded66,772 miles
Recorded on12 Mar 2025
Typical for 2004 Lotus Elise34,392 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationSN04 CAU
MakeLotus
ModelElise
Year2004
ColourPurple
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

15 pass 5 fail
Pass 12 Mar 2025 66,772 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

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

Pass 8 Jul 2023 66,629 miles
Pass 16 Jul 2022 66,462 miles
Pass 10 Jul 2021 66,263 miles
Pass 27 Jul 2020 65,623 miles

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

Pass 6 Feb 2019 64,984 miles
Fail 23 Jan 2019 64,980 miles

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Pass 14 Dec 2017 61,308 miles
Pass 8 Nov 2016 56,102 miles
Fail 8 Nov 2016 56,102 miles

Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 25 Nov 2015 52,092 miles
Pass 1 Dec 2014 41,439 miles

Crack in nearside lower part of screen but not obscuring drivers view of the road.

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Fail 1 Dec 2014 41,439 miles

Crack in nearside lower part of screen but not obscuring drivers view of the road.

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 10 Feb 2014 37,691 miles

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

full metal covers underside unable to fully inspect

Pass 22 May 2013 36,542 miles
Fail 22 May 2013 36,542 miles

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

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

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

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

Fail 17 May 2013 36,537 miles

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Pass 9 Jun 2010 34,440 miles

both front and rear discs corroded/pitted

front brake juddering slightly (3.7.A.2b)

rear brake juddering slightly (3.7.A.5b)

Pass 2 Jul 2009 32,973 miles
Pass 11 May 2007 24,540 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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SN04 CAU is a 2004 Lotus Elise in Purple with a 1,796cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 20 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

Across all 2004 Lotus Elise models, the average MOT pass rate is 83.9% with a typical mileage of 34,392 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 SN04 CAU, 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 22 years old, this Lotus Elise is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of SN04 CAU?

You can check the full history of SN04 CAU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was SN04 CAU registered?

SN04 CAU is a 2004 Lotus Elise, first registered on 21 April 2004.

Is SN04 CAU safe to buy?

The MOT history for SN04 CAU shows 20 tests with a 75% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does SN04 CAU 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 SN04 CAU. 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.