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FH51 MXE

2002 Lotus Esprit

Red Petrol 3506cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 May 2027
Tests23 (19 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate82.6%

Mileage

38,567 mi
Last recorded38,567 miles
Recorded on8 Apr 2026
Typical for 2002 Lotus Esprit27,592 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

RegistrationFH51 MXE
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year2002
ColourRed
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

19 pass 4 fail
Pass 8 Apr 2026 38,567 miles
Pass 2 May 2025 38,402 miles

Central Front Power steering pipe/hose slightly corroded (2.1.5 (g) (i))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing (5.3.2 (b))

Rear Fluid leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 2 Sep 2023 38,090 miles
Pass 5 Aug 2022 37,925 miles

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

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

Pass 7 Jun 2021 37,602 miles
Pass 4 Mar 2020 37,513 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Pass 24 Jan 2019 36,854 miles
Fail 5 Dec 2018 36,843 miles

Exhaust catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard (8.2.1.1 (a))

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

brake discs in poor condition

Fail 16 Nov 2018 36,810 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Offside Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 9 Nov 2017 36,253 miles
Pass 28 May 2016 35,461 miles

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

Pass 22 May 2015 34,490 miles
Fail 23 May 2014 32,991 miles

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

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.C.1b)

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 23 May 2014 32,991 miles

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.C.1b)

Play in steering rack inner joint(s)

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components

Pass 22 May 2013 32,801 miles

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

exhaust slightly noisy

Pass 28 Apr 2012 32,326 miles

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

Pass 22 Apr 2011 30,672 miles

Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

Exhaust noisy (7.1.4)

all discs corroded

front no plate corroded

Fail 12 Apr 2011 30,672 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

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

Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

Exhaust noisy (7.1.4)

all discs corroded

front no plate corroded

Pass 26 Mar 2010 26,688 miles
Pass 1 Apr 2009 22,750 miles

o/s/f tyre worn on inner edge

Pass 9 Apr 2008 18,212 miles
Pass 20 Apr 2007 12,314 miles
Pass 8 Jun 2006 10,494 miles

Service brake juddering slightly (3.7.C.2)

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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FH51 MXE is a 2002 Lotus Esprit in Red with a 3,506cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 82.6%.

Across all 2002 Lotus Esprit models, the average MOT pass rate is 84.6% with a typical mileage of 27,592 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 FH51 MXE, 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 24 years old, this Lotus Esprit is still in the earlier part of its expected life.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of FH51 MXE?

You can check the full history of FH51 MXE by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was FH51 MXE registered?

FH51 MXE is a 2002 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 19 March 2002.

Is FH51 MXE safe to buy?

The MOT history for FH51 MXE shows 23 tests with a 82.6% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does FH51 MXE 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 FH51 MXE. 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.