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M226 BCL

1995 Lotus Elan

Red Petrol 1588cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires13 Dec 2026
Tests23 (20 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate87%

Mileage

45,485 mi
Last recorded45,485 miles
Recorded on10 Dec 2025
Typical for 1995 Lotus Elan65,228 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

RegistrationM226 BCL
MakeLotus
ModelElan
Year1995
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,588cc
View full Lotus Elan reliability data

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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

20 pass 3 fail
Pass 10 Dec 2025 45,485 miles

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

Fail 10 Dec 2025 45,485 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

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

Pass 13 Dec 2024 45,064 miles

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

Pass 13 Dec 2023 45,001 miles
Pass 6 Dec 2022 44,869 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule (1.1.12 (f) (i))

Pass 14 Dec 2021 44,780 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe clips or supports missing, pipe adequately supported (1.1.11 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Brake pipe clips or supports missing, pipe adequately supported (1.1.11 (d) (i))

Pass 8 Dec 2020 44,434 miles
Pass 19 Nov 2019 44,430 miles
Pass 10 Dec 2018 44,390 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Fail 23 Nov 2018 44,338 miles

Offside Front Lower Suspension component ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Upper Suspension component ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Fluid leaking continuously posing a serious risk to road safety coolant (8.4.1 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim too far to the right (4.1.2 (a))

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Pass 13 Oct 2017 44,306 miles
Pass 21 Oct 2016 43,909 miles
Pass 12 May 2015 43,155 miles
Pass 2 May 2014 42,584 miles

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

Pass 2 May 2013 41,719 miles
Pass 9 May 2012 41,918 miles

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 18 May 2011 39,471 miles
Pass 24 May 2010 37,716 miles

Handbrake lever travel high.

Slight play in nearside rear wheel bearing.

Surface corrosion to front and rear suspension and brake components.

Fail 18 May 2010 37,672 miles

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

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

Handbrake lever travel high.

Slight play in nearside rear wheel bearing.

Surface corrosion to front and rear suspension and brake components.

Pass 21 May 2009 36,407 miles

Nail in nearside rear tyre

rear brake discs corrodeing

rear exhaust box corroded and blowing slightly

surface corrosion to all suspension components

Pass 20 May 2008 35,460 miles

brake pipe unions corroding

handbrake travel getting high

rearbrake discs slightly pitted

surface corrosion to front and rear suspension components

Pass 24 May 2007 32,919 miles
Pass 25 Apr 2006 30,578 miles

How Reliable is the Lotus Elan?

Based on 51,097 MOT tests across 4,280 vehicles.

77.4%
Pass Rate
554
Miles/Year
59
Year Lifespan
4,280
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 2,585
brake recording little or no effort 1,342
parking brake recording little or no effort 1,318
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 927
brake binding 845
Full Lotus Elan reliability report

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M226 BCL is a 1995 Lotus Elan in Red with a 1,588cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 23 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 87%.

Across all 1995 Lotus Elan models, the average MOT pass rate is 76.3% with a typical mileage of 65,228 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Lotus Elan fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 2,585 recorded failures. If you're considering buying M226 BCL, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Lotus Elan typically stays on UK roads for around 59 years. At 31 years old, this Lotus Elan is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of M226 BCL?

You can check the full history of M226 BCL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was M226 BCL registered?

M226 BCL is a 1995 Lotus Elan, first registered on 24 January 1995.

Is M226 BCL safe to buy?

The MOT history for M226 BCL shows 23 tests with a 87% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does M226 BCL 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 M226 BCL. 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.