1998 Rolls Royce Silver Seraph 5.4L Petrol · R401 DTU
1998 Rolls Royce Silver Seraph (5.4L, petrol). First registered 12 Feb 1998. Recorded mileage 103,757 miles. MOT expired on 12 Jul 2024.
- Make & Model
- ROLLS ROYCE SILVER SERAPH
- Year / Origin
- 1998 · Reading
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Expired on 12 Jul 2024
- Road Tax
- —
- Recorded Mileage
- 103,757 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
- Fuel & Engine
- Petrol · 5.4L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
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R401 DTU Key Findings
- 2 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 13/07/2023
- 103,757 miles recorded at latest MOT
- No defects recorded at the latest MOT
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
R401 DTU MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
2 MOT tests are recorded for this 1998 Rolls Royce Silver Seraph (R401 DTU) between June 2022 and July 2023.
The record contains 2 passes and 0 failures.
No failures or advisories appear anywhere in the recorded tests, so the documented MOT record is relatively clean.
R401 DTU Mileage History
- 30/06/202298,208 mi
- 13/07/2023103,757 mi+5,549 mi
Average of roughly 5,362 miles per year across 2 recorded odometer readings.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
Dimensions & Weights
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Known faults for Rolls-Royce Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph
Our database tracks 3 specific mechanical faults and recurring failure patterns identified across UK MOT testing stations for this generation.
MOT Roadworthiness: Average
This rating reflects historical MOT pass rates and recurring advisory wear patterns from official DVSA test logs. Note that roadworthiness does not verify outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen records.
Verify lender finance agreements, insurance write-offs, police stolen registers, and mileage rollback.
Common Problems: ROLLS ROYCE SILVER SERAPH
Known issues reported by owners and MOT testers.
- BMW M73 V12 Cooling System & Auxiliary Water Valve Failure(Serious)
The 5.4-litre BMW M73 V12 operates in a very cramped, heavily insulated engine bay where high under-bonnet temperatures cause rapid aging of plastic and composite cooling components. The coolant expansion tank, plastic thermostat housing, radiator end-tanks, and auxiliary heater control valves become brittle and develop hairline fissures, leading to sudden coolant loss. If neglected, overheating can warp the all-aluminium V12 cylinder heads, creating severe repair bills.
- Passenger Seat Occupancy Mat Degradation & Airbag Warning Light(Moderate)
The Silver Seraph utilizes BMW-engineered Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) electronics, featuring a delicate passenger presence detection sensor mat embedded within the base cushion of the Connolly leather front passenger seat. With repeated passenger ingress, egress, and kneeling on the seat cushion, the thin printed circuit traces inside the sensor mat fracture. This triggers the airbag warning light on the dashboard and automatically fails the UK MOT test.
- Adaptive Suspension Bush Deterioration and Electronic Damper Wear(Moderate)
The Silver Seraph adopted a modern independent double-wishbone suspension setup with electronically managed variable dampers to control body movement. However, the sheer kerb weight of 2,350 kg rapidly degrades the rubber compound in the lower wishbone bushes, ball joints, and anti-roll bar drop links on poorly surfaced UK roads. Replacing worn bushes and OEM adaptive dampers requires specialist tooling and precision wheel alignment.
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ROLLS ROYCE SILVER SERAPH Model Intelligence & Reliability
Verified MOT failure trends, buying advice, and technical directory specifications.
Owner-reported defects, recurring MOT failure points, and estimated repair costs.
Browse production generations, registration statistics, and trim variants.
Historical MOT pass rates and DVLA records for 1998 model year cars.
- BMW M73 V12 Cooling System & Auxiliary Water Valve FailureSerious
The 5.4-litre BMW M73 V12 operates in a very cramped, heavily insulated engine bay where high under-bonnet temperatures cause rapid aging of plastic and composite cooling components. The coolant expansion tank, plastic thermostat housing, radiator end-tanks, and auxiliary heater control valves become brittle and develop hairline fissures, leading to sudden coolant loss. If neglected, overheating can warp the all-aluminium V12 cylinder heads, creating severe repair bills.
- Passenger Seat Occupancy Mat Degradation & Airbag Warning LightModerate
The Silver Seraph utilizes BMW-engineered Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) electronics, featuring a delicate passenger presence detection sensor mat embedded within the base cushion of the Connolly leather front passenger seat. With repeated passenger ingress, egress, and kneeling on the seat cushion, the thin printed circuit traces inside the sensor mat fracture. This triggers the airbag warning light on the dashboard and automatically fails the UK MOT test.
- Adaptive Suspension Bush Deterioration and Electronic Damper WearModerate
The Silver Seraph adopted a modern independent double-wishbone suspension setup with electronically managed variable dampers to control body movement. However, the sheer kerb weight of 2,350 kg rapidly degrades the rubber compound in the lower wishbone bushes, ball joints, and anti-roll bar drop links on poorly surfaced UK roads. Replacing worn bushes and OEM adaptive dampers requires specialist tooling and precision wheel alignment.
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