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VBY 518L

1988 Volkswagen Beetle

Black Petrol 1640cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires20 Aug 2021
Tests19 (13 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate68.4%

Mileage

84,167 mi
Last recorded84,167 miles
Recorded on12 Aug 2020
Typical for 1988 Volkswagen Beetle55,751 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationVBY 518L
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year1988
ColourBlack
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,640cc

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 6 fail
Pass 12 Aug 2020 84,167 miles
Pass 21 Aug 2019 64,144 miles
Pass 29 Sep 2017 64,080 miles
Pass 9 Sep 2016 63,953 miles
Pass 17 Jun 2016 63,935 miles
Pass 28 Aug 2015 63,913 miles
Fail 17 Jun 2015 63,913 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 31 May 2013 63,307 miles

Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Fail 31 May 2013 63,307 miles

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 31 May 2012 63,022 miles

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

one bolt missing from frame head to body

Fail 31 May 2012 63,022 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

one bolt missing from frame head to body

Pass 24 May 2011 62,556 miles

slight leak from steering box

slight play/roughness on steering colume when turned slightly

steering damper busy in drop arm slightly worn

Fail 24 May 2011 62,556 miles

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

slight leak from steering box

slight play/roughness on steering colume when turned slightly

steering damper busy in drop arm slightly worn

Pass 29 Apr 2010 62,121 miles

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

bolt missing from frame head mounting

oil leak from steering box area

speedo cable grommet not fitted

steering damper bush in drop arm slightly worn

Fail 27 Apr 2010 62,121 miles

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

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Outer Rear Anti-roll bar linkage insecure (2.4.G.1)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear position lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (1.1.A.3f)

Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

bolt missing from frame head mounting

oil leak from steering box area

speedo cable grommet not fitted

steering damper bush in drop arm slightly worn

Pass 10 Mar 2009 61,139 miles

steering damper(drop arm) bush slightly worn

Fail 24 Feb 2009 61,139 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Front Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release (5.2.5a)

Nearside Front Seat belt retracting mechanism defective (5.2.5b)

Offside Front Seat belt retracting mechanism defective (5.2.5b)

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

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

off side front shock absorber appears very hard - suggest investigation

oil cooler mounted by cable ties

one frame head boilt sheared off

steering damper(drop arm) bush slightly worn

both front flexible brake hoses very badly routed

Pass 20 Jun 2007 58,545 miles
Pass 28 Sep 2005 53,947 miles

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

brake pipes run through floor unable to inspect all

How Reliable is the Volkswagen Beetle?

Based on 1,719,137 MOT tests across 112,454 vehicles.

71.7%
Pass Rate
4,798
Miles/Year
56
Year Lifespan
112,454
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 44,561
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 33,096
Stop lamp not working 28,079
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 27,964
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 23,197
Full Volkswagen Beetle reliability report

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VBY 518L is a 1988 Volkswagen Beetle in Black with a 1,640cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68.4%.

Across all 1988 Volkswagen Beetle models, the average MOT pass rate is 71.8% with a typical mileage of 55,751 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 Volkswagen Beetle fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 44,561 recorded failures. If you're considering buying VBY 518L, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Volkswagen Beetle typically stays on UK roads for around 56 years. At 38 years old, this Volkswagen Beetle is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of VBY 518L?

You can check the full history of VBY 518L by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was VBY 518L registered?

VBY 518L is a 1988 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 1 November 1988.

Is VBY 518L safe to buy?

The MOT history for VBY 518L shows 19 tests with a 68.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does VBY 518L 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 VBY 518L. 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.