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MLZ 939

1996 Lotus Esprit

Red Petrol 3506cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires26 Jun 2026
Tests24 (19 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate79.2%

Mileage

50,360 mi
Last recorded50,360 miles
Recorded on24 Jun 2025
Typical for 1996 Lotus Esprit48,465 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

RegistrationMLZ 939
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1996
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 5 fail
Pass 24 Jun 2025 50,360 miles
Pass 27 Jun 2024 49,699 miles
Pass 9 Jun 2023 49,523 miles
Pass 9 Jun 2022 48,891 miles
Pass 24 Apr 2021 48,860 miles
Pass 1 Feb 2020 47,973 miles
Pass 2 Jul 2018 46,571 miles
Pass 7 Jun 2017 45,184 miles

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

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

Pass 27 May 2016 44,467 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Pass 14 May 2015 43,584 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Oil leak

Pass 23 May 2014 41,992 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Oil leak

Fail 23 May 2014 41,992 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Front Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrules (3.6.B.4e)

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Oil leak

Pass 29 Jul 2013 40,719 miles

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

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

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

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

offside and nearside front and rear tyre treds cracking but not showing cords or ply

offside and nearside head lamp reflectors corroded but still gives aggod image

Fail 16 Jul 2013 40,719 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

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

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Offside Front coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

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

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

offside and nearside front and rear tyre treds cracking but not showing cords or ply

offside and nearside head lamp reflectors corroded but still gives aggod image

Pass 25 Jul 2012 38,409 miles
Fail 27 Jun 2012 38,409 miles

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Pass 20 Jul 2011 35,507 miles
Pass 15 Jul 2010 31,751 miles

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

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

wiper blade slightly deteriorated

Pass 31 Mar 2009 31,309 miles
Pass 30 Apr 2008 31,094 miles
Fail 25 Apr 2008 31,094 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) DANGEROUS

Pass 19 Apr 2007 30,519 miles
Fail 19 Apr 2007 30,519 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Offside Front front brake juddering slightly (3.7.A.2b)

Pass 13 Apr 2006 27,219 miles

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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MLZ 939 is a 1996 Lotus Esprit in Red with a 3,506cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 79.2%.

Across all 1996 Lotus Esprit models, the average MOT pass rate is 81.8% with a typical mileage of 48,465 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 MLZ 939, 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 30 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 MLZ 939?

You can check the full history of MLZ 939 by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was MLZ 939 registered?

MLZ 939 is a 1996 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 8 August 1996.

Is MLZ 939 safe to buy?

The MOT history for MLZ 939 shows 24 tests with a 79.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does MLZ 939 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 MLZ 939. 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.