Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1998 Ferrari F355?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1998 Ferrari F355?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1998 Ferrari F355?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 1998 Ferrari F355 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 331 vehicles, the 1998 Ferrari F355 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 88.6%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1998 Ferrari F355?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1998 Ferrari F355 are: Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (37.1% of vehicles), Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (37.1% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (33.1% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1998 Ferrari F355?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Ferrari F355 (1998)

331 real MOT outcomes analysed • 88.6% first-time pass rate

1998 Ferrari F355

CarHunch analysed 331 real MOT records for the 1998 Ferrari F355. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 331 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The F355 passes its MOT first time at 88.5%, well above the UK average of 80%, and dangerous defects are rare at 8.2%—so these cars are mechanically sound when properly maintained. However, the median mileage of just 26,475 miles suggests most surviving examples are cherished garage queens rather than daily drivers, which skews the reliability picture toward optimistic.

With 1.68 failures and 3.7 advisories per vehicle on average, routine wear items and minor issues are common even on low-mileage cars, pointing to the complex nature of 1990s supercar ownership. If you're serious about buying one, budget for specialist servicing and have a pre-purchase inspection by a Ferrari-knowledgeable mechanic—these aren't cars you can ignore between MOTs.

The 1998 Ferrari F355 passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (88.6% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

88.6%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

8.2%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.68

Over 13.5 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

26k

Middle half: 18k–36k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 88.6% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 3.7 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 331 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 331 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 37.1%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive · Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits · Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive · …

Other issues 37.1%

Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay

Tyre wear 33.1%

Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 12.5%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 7.6%

Nearside Front Coil spring corroded

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 331 Ferrari F355 cars.

Before you buy a 1998 Ferrari F355

Based on MOT data from 331 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 8.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (99%)	329	88.5%	1.69

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,390 Ferrari F355 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 69.6%

967

Yellow 9.6%

133

Blue 9%

125

Black 5.9%

Silver 2.9%

Grey 1.6%

Green 0.6%

Maroon 0.4%

White 0.4%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Ferrari F355 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

26,475

typical

17,654

low mileage

36,031

high mileage

Half of all 1998 Ferrari F355 vehicles fall between 17,654 and 36,031 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 17,654 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 17,654–36,031 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1998 Ferrari F355s sit.

⚠ Over 48,641 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1998 Ferrari F355 — Still on the Road

Most 1998 Ferrari F355s are still being driven.

153 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 71% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

13.5

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.68

Avg failures per vehicle

3.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Ferrari F355: All F355 years → Which year to buy? →

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