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R542 BBK

1997 Lotus Esprit

Yellow Petrol 1998cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires23 Mar 2027
Tests24 (20 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate83.3%

Mileage

60,999 mi
Last recorded60,999 miles
Recorded on24 Mar 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

RegistrationR542 BBK
MakeLotus
ModelEsprit
Year1997
ColourYellow
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,998cc

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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 4 fail
Pass 24 Mar 2026 60,999 miles
Pass 5 Feb 2025 60,124 miles
Pass 15 Dec 2023 59,218 miles
Pass 22 Dec 2022 58,072 miles
Pass 7 Dec 2021 56,815 miles
Pass 16 Nov 2020 56,419 miles

Front Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Pass 5 Nov 2019 55,322 miles
Fail 4 Nov 2019 55,322 miles

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Pass 19 Nov 2018 54,649 miles
Pass 5 Dec 2017 54,392 miles
Pass 3 Sep 2016 53,330 miles
Pass 28 Aug 2015 52,122 miles
Fail 21 Aug 2015 52,122 miles

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 16 Aug 2014 50,230 miles
Pass 3 Aug 2013 48,725 miles
Pass 29 Aug 2012 46,658 miles
Pass 2 Nov 2011 46,310 miles

both metal underside fuel lines slight corrosion

Pass 9 Nov 2010 45,845 miles
Fail 2 Nov 2010 45,845 miles

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)

Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Pass 6 Oct 2009 43,790 miles

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

Pass 15 Oct 2008 41,128 miles
Pass 12 Oct 2007 37,096 miles

o/s front tyre worn hard on tread.

Fail 10 Oct 2007 37,096 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)

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

o/s front tyre worn hard on tread.

Pass 9 Aug 2006 30,000 miles

Slight corrosion at front and rear coil springs

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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R542 BBK is a 1997 Lotus Esprit in Yellow with a 1,998cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 83.3%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 R542 BBK, 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 R542 BBK?

You can check the full history of R542 BBK by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R542 BBK registered?

R542 BBK is a 1997 Lotus Esprit, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R542 BBK safe to buy?

The MOT history for R542 BBK shows 24 tests with a 83.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R542 BBK 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 R542 BBK. 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.