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BLZ 53

1985 Lotus Esprit

White Petrol 2174cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires17 Nov 2026
Tests16 (12 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

53,878 mi
Last recorded53,878 miles
Recorded on14 Nov 2025
Typical for 1985 Lotus Esprit50,410 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationBLZ 53
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1985
ColourWhite
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,174cc

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

12 pass 4 fail
Pass 14 Nov 2025 53,878 miles

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

slight knock off n/s/f suspension

Pass 18 Nov 2024 53,091 miles

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

Pass 9 Nov 2023 52,380 miles

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

Pass 17 Nov 2022 51,582 miles

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

Fail 14 Nov 2022 51,545 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

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

Pass 8 Nov 2021 50,897 miles
Fail 2 Oct 2021 50,857 miles

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too low and too far to the left. (4.1.2 (a))

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

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Pass 5 Oct 2020 49,387 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe inadequately clipped or supported (1.1.11 (d) (i))

parking brake efficiency low

slight play in steering column

Fail 28 Sep 2020 49,385 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))

Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

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

Steering column has excessive movement up and down (2.2.2 (a))

Nearside Front Brake pipe inadequately clipped or supported (1.1.11 (d) (i))

Pass 27 Jun 2017 48,853 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 235/60/15 (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Rear brake bind

front brakepipes coated in paint

Pass 11 May 2016 46,978 miles

Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear brake binding slightly

slight play in steering

Pass 15 May 2015 44,950 miles

front and rear brakepipes slightly corroded

Fail 12 May 2015 44,945 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside rear brake binding (3.7.B.1)

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

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1b)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1a)

Coolant leak

front and rear brakepipes slightly corroded

Pass 17 Apr 2008 44,083 miles
Pass 14 Apr 2007 42,412 miles

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

Pass 17 Apr 2006 41,677 miles

battery insecure

both fuel cap sealing washers show light perishing

handbrake passes minimum efficiency required for an MOT although both wheels don't lock up

nearside front tyre wear indicates that tracking may need checked/adjusted. This tyre is also perished (195/60 15V)

some play at offside front inner track rod end (ball socket on steering rack)

How Reliable is the Lotus Esprit?

Based on 25,410 MOT tests across 2,324 vehicles.

80.6%
Pass Rate
515
Miles/Year
50
Year Lifespan
2,324
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 624
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 464
brake binding 455
parking brake recording little or no effort 332
Headlamp aim too low 326
Full Lotus Esprit reliability report

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BLZ 53 is a 1985 Lotus Esprit in White with a 2,174cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 16 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

Across all 1985 Lotus Esprit models, the average MOT pass rate is 80.4% with a typical mileage of 50,410 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 Esprit fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 624 recorded failures. If you're considering buying BLZ 53, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Esprit typically stays on UK roads for around 50 years. At 41 years old, this Lotus Esprit is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of BLZ 53?

You can check the full history of BLZ 53 by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was BLZ 53 registered?

BLZ 53 is a 1985 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 31 December 1985.

Is BLZ 53 safe to buy?

The MOT history for BLZ 53 shows 16 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 BLZ 53 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 BLZ 53. 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.