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E15 RPT

1997 Lotus Esprit

Yellow Petrol 3506cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires8 Apr 2027
Tests15 (12 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate80%

Mileage

53,913 mi
Last recorded53,913 miles
Recorded on9 Apr 2026
Typical for 1997 Lotus Esprit46,303 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

RegistrationE15 RPT
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1997
ColourYellow
Fuel typePetrol
Engine3,506cc

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 3 fail
Pass 9 Apr 2026 53,913 miles
Pass 2 Apr 2025 53,864 miles
Pass 9 Aug 2023 53,746 miles
Pass 13 Jul 2022 53,443 miles
Fail 13 Jun 2022 53,426 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 manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Front Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))

Offside Rear Parking brake inoperative on one side (1.4.1 (a))

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

Rear Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))

Pass 21 May 2021 53,310 miles
Pass 27 Jun 2014 53,296 miles

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

Exhaust emits black smoke during acceleration (7.3.A.2c)

Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration (7.3.A.2c)

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

Fail 19 Jun 2014 53,295 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) DANGEROUS

Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a) DANGEROUS

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b) DANGEROUS

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

Exhaust emits black smoke during acceleration (7.3.A.2c)

Exhaust emits blue smoke during acceleration (7.3.A.2c)

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

Pass 25 Apr 2012 49,312 miles

Exhaust noisy (7.1.4)

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Pass 13 May 2011 47,502 miles
Pass 10 Dec 2009 44,371 miles
Pass 16 Oct 2008 42,923 miles

at the time of test correct number plates fitted

Pass 17 Aug 2007 41,263 miles
Pass 14 Jun 2006 39,526 miles
Fail 15 May 2006 39,526 miles

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

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

Nearside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

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

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Rear registration plate insecure (6.3.1b)

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

oil leak

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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E15 RPT is a 1997 Lotus Esprit in Yellow with a 3,506cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 15 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 80%.

Across all 1997 Lotus Esprit models, the average MOT pass rate is 82.4% with a typical mileage of 46,303 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 E15 RPT, 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 29 years old, this Lotus Esprit is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of E15 RPT?

You can check the full history of E15 RPT by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was E15 RPT registered?

E15 RPT is a 1997 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 5 August 1997.

Is E15 RPT safe to buy?

The MOT history for E15 RPT shows 15 tests with a 80% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does E15 RPT 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 E15 RPT. 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.