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VCU 285L

1973 Volkswagen Beetle

Blue Petrol 1285cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires16 Jan 2021
Tests14 (7 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate50%

Mileage

51,585 mi
Last recorded51,585 miles
Recorded on17 Jul 2019
Typical for 1973 Volkswagen Beetle46,746 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationVCU 285L
MakeVolkswagen
ModelBeetle
Year1973
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,285cc

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

7 pass 7 fail
Pass 17 Jul 2019 51,585 miles

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Fail 17 Jul 2019 51,584 miles

Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Offside Front Fuel pipe leaking excessively or a risk of fire (6.1.3 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Pass 23 Apr 2018 51,584 miles

oil leaks from engine

Fail 23 Apr 2018 51,584 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

oil leaks from engine

Pass 25 Apr 2017 50,316 miles
Fail 21 Apr 2017 50,314 miles

Nearside Front Inner Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) has less than 50% of the light sources illuminating (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Rear position lamp(s) has less than 50% of the light sources illuminating (1.1.A.3b)

Steering damper leaking oil (2.2.C.1f)

Pass 20 Apr 2016 47,602 miles
Fail 12 Apr 2016 47,565 miles

Driver's seat insecure (6.2.A.1)

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded chassis (2.2.C.1h)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 22 Apr 2015 44,897 miles
Fail 22 Apr 2015 44,896 miles

Driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism not functioning as intended. (6.2.A.3)

Driver's seat insecure (6.2.A.1)

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

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Front Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

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

Rear Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.5b)

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

Pass 23 Apr 2014 41,275 miles

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Oil leak

Fail 22 Apr 2014 41,275 miles

Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Oil leak

Pass 25 Apr 2013 38,208 miles

when driven vehicle tends to wander(possible tracking fault)

Fail 18 Apr 2013 38,208 miles

Brake pedal creeps down when held under pressure (3.3.B.1a)

Brake pedal spongy (3.3.B.1b)

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

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

when driven vehicle tends to wander(possible tracking fault)

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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VCU 285L is a 1973 Volkswagen Beetle in Blue with a 1,285cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 14 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 50%.

Across all 1973 Volkswagen Beetle models, the average MOT pass rate is 65.7% with a typical mileage of 46,746 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 VCU 285L, 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 53 years old, this Volkswagen Beetle is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of VCU 285L?

You can check the full history of VCU 285L by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was VCU 285L registered?

VCU 285L is a 1973 Volkswagen Beetle, first registered on 1 February 1973.

Is VCU 285L safe to buy?

The MOT history for VCU 285L shows 14 tests with a 50% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does VCU 285L 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 VCU 285L. 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.