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D5 EXL

1987 Lotus Excel

Red Petrol 2174cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires8 Aug 2026
Tests25 (17 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate68%

Mileage

79,215 mi
Last recorded79,215 miles
Recorded on6 Aug 2025
Typical for 1987 Lotus Excel58,510 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationD5 EXL
MakeLotus
ModelExcel
Year1987
ColourRed
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

17 pass 8 fail
Pass 6 Aug 2025 79,215 miles
Pass 9 Aug 2024 78,089 miles
Pass 16 Feb 2023 75,655 miles

Offside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

exhaust mounting rubbers perished

Fail 3 Feb 2023 75,655 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Offside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

exhaust mounting rubbers perished

Fail 16 Sep 2022 75,653 miles

Brake pedal has insufficient reserve travel (1.1.2 (a))

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Headlamp not working on dipped beam x2 (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Exhaust system insecure silencer front mounting rubber broken (6.1.2 (a))

Power steering component leaking steering rack (2.1.5 (a))

Rear Service brake effort inadequate at a wheel x2 (1.2.1 (a) (i))

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component pump area (2.1.5 (a))

all exhaust mount rubber perished

play in steering rack inner joints

Pass 10 Sep 2021 75,400 miles

Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened All 4 discs (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Coil spring corroded All 4 coils (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Exhaust mounting defective All exhaust rubber hangers deteriorated (6.1.2 (a))

Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Both tyres worn inner edges (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Lower arm inner bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Worn on inner and outer edges (5.2.3 (e))

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

Oil leak, but not excessive Engine and gearbox and rear diff (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 1 Sep 2021 75,400 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases Front pipe to middle (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened All 4 discs (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Coil spring corroded All 4 coils (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Exhaust mounting defective All exhaust rubber hangers deteriorated (6.1.2 (a))

Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Both tyres worn inner edges (5.2.3 (e))

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Lower arm inner bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Worn on inner and outer edges (5.2.3 (e))

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

Oil leak, but not excessive Engine and gearbox and rear diff (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 17 Sep 2020 74,740 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Both (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive Engine and rear diff (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Both rear tyres worn on inner edges (5.2.3 (e))

Pass 17 Sep 2019 74,658 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Front Oil leak, but not excessive Engine and gear box (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Fail 23 Aug 2019 74,658 miles

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced Anchorage plate on rear of fiberglass body (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced Anchorage plate on rear of fiberglass body (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Front Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Offside Front Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

Oil leak, but not excessive Engine soaked in oil (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive Gear box wet (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 22 Aug 2018 74,360 miles

Gearbox oil leak

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

Nearside and offside flexi brake hose brackets touching the coil spring on the lock to lock check.

Offside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Split in nearside front tyre inner sidewall

Fail 15 Aug 2018 74,360 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded to flexi (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Gearbox oil leak

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

Nearside and offside flexi brake hose brackets touching the coil spring on the lock to lock check.

Offside Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

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

Rear brake imbalance only just met the requirements

Split in nearside front tyre inner sidewall

Pass 9 Aug 2017 74,250 miles

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

Pass 20 Aug 2016 74,031 miles

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded from master to flexi (3.6.B.2c)

all brake discs have slight corrosion

all tyres worn on edges

Pass 12 Aug 2015 73,532 miles

Front exhaust down pipe slight blow

Front tyres worn on edges

Offside Front Steering pivot point has slight play (2.2.B.1g)

Pass 27 May 2014 72,994 miles

Front Fuel hose slightly damaged (7.2.2)

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

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

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Pass 7 Dec 2012 72,170 miles

Engine oil leak

Front brake discs slightly corroded

Front exhaust section slight blow

Fuel cap seal poor

Offside front tyre worn low on edges

Offside rear light unit poor

Rear brake discs slightly corroded

Whole exhaust system corroded

Fail 6 Dec 2012 72,169 miles

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

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

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

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

Nearside Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Engine oil leak

Front brake discs slightly corroded

Front exhaust section slight blow

Fuel cap seal poor

Offside front tyre worn low on edges

Offside rear light unit poor

Rear brake discs slightly corroded

Whole exhaust system corroded

Pass 13 May 2011 65,967 miles

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

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 26 May 2010 62,398 miles

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

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Pass 22 Jul 2008 53,053 miles
Fail 25 Jun 2008 53,046 miles

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

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

Offside front brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

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

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

Pass 24 May 2007 96,876 miles
Fail 24 May 2007 96,876 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Pass 8 Jun 2006 86,881 miles

How Reliable is the Lotus Excel?

Based on 5,018 MOT tests across 458 vehicles.

75.4%
Pass Rate
606
Miles/Year
43
Year Lifespan
458
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Steering rack gaiter split 218
Brake pipe excessively corroded 128
brake binding 126
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 118
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 113
Full Lotus Excel reliability report

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D5 EXL is a 1987 Lotus Excel in Red with a 2,174cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68%.

Across all 1987 Lotus Excel models, the average MOT pass rate is 75.8% with a typical mileage of 58,510 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 Excel fails its MOT is steering rack gaiter split, accounting for 218 recorded failures. If you're considering buying D5 EXL, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Excel typically stays on UK roads for around 43 years. At 39 years old, this Lotus Excel is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of D5 EXL?

You can check the full history of D5 EXL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was D5 EXL registered?

D5 EXL is a 1987 Lotus Excel, first registered on 22 January 1987.

Is D5 EXL safe to buy?

The MOT history for D5 EXL shows 25 tests with a 68% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does D5 EXL 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 D5 EXL. 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.