CarVerify

Free Car Check

SPR 173E

1996 Rover Mini

Red Petrol 1275cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires14 Mar 2027
Tests24 (14 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate58.3%

Mileage

56,416 mi
Last recorded56,416 miles
Recorded on27 Feb 2026
Typical for 1996 Rover Mini50,437 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Rover
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationSPR 173E
MakeRover
ModelMini
Year1996
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

14 pass 10 fail
Pass 27 Feb 2026 56,416 miles
Pass 15 Mar 2025 55,349 miles
Pass 9 Feb 2024 54,599 miles
Pass 28 Mar 2023 54,286 miles

Nearside Indicator tell-tale inoperative visual tell-tale on dash not working but has an audible tell-tale instead (4.9.1 (a) (i))

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

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Vehicle entire underside covered in underseal

Pass 29 Mar 2022 53,741 miles

Emissions tested to engine age ( jan 1992)

Front Subframe mounting repair covered in underseal (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Indicator tell-tale inoperative (4.9.1 (a) (i))

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

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Subframe mounting repair covered in underseal (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Fail 7 Jan 2022 53,736 miles

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

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Indicator tell-tale inoperative (4.9.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

Pass 13 Jan 2021 53,348 miles

Nearside Rear fuel pipe corroded

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

emissions test only just within limits

Fail 5 Jan 2021 53,348 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Nearside Rear fuel pipe corroded

Offside Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

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

emissions test only just within limits

Pass 19 Jul 2019 52,414 miles

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

Fail 19 Jul 2019 52,414 miles

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Fail 15 Jan 2019 52,393 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

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

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

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

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced inner sill/floor (7.1.1 (a) (i))

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

Corrosion to floor under drivers seat.

Offside Front seat, bolt fixing at front missing.

Pass 24 Jan 2018 52,208 miles
Pass 16 May 2017 52,149 miles
Fail 4 Nov 2016 59,124 miles

Central Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Emissions not tested (7.3.A.1)

Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (3.7.B.5b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 2 Dec 2015 51,860 miles
Fail 1 Dec 2015 51,860 miles

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

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

Fail 29 Oct 2015 51,838 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)

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

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

Nearside Front Lower Front suspension ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Nearside Front Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Nearside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

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

Offside Front Lower Front suspension ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Front Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

Fail 10 Sep 2015 51,760 miles

Battery insecure (1.9.1)

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)

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

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

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

Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded floor (2.4.A.3)

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

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

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

engine gearbox mountings

o/s wiper blade

rubber dust covers on all front suspension joints

slight brake judder

subframe mountings/ bushes

Pass 10 Sep 2014 50,015 miles
Pass 26 Sep 2013 46,176 miles

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

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

wipers only working on fast speed

Fail 25 Sep 2013 46,176 miles

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

Hazard warning lamps inoperative (1.4.B.1b)

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

wipers only working on fast speed

Pass 14 Jul 2012 46,179 miles
Fail 9 Jul 2012 46,165 miles

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

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)

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

Front Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on (8.2.1b)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 27 Oct 2010 46,543 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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

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

SPR 173E is a 1996 Rover Mini in Red with a 1,275cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 58.3%.

Across all 1996 Rover Mini models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.1% with a typical mileage of 50,437 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 SPR 173E, 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 30 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 SPR 173E?

You can check the full history of SPR 173E by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was SPR 173E registered?

SPR 173E is a 1996 Rover Mini, first registered on 30 December 1996.

Is SPR 173E safe to buy?

The MOT history for SPR 173E shows 24 tests with a 58.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does SPR 173E 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 SPR 173E. 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.