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B178 ETL

1985 Volkswagen Transporter

White Petrol 1915cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 May 2027
Tests27 (16 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate59.3%

Mileage

65,998 mi
Last recorded65,998 miles
Recorded on29 May 2026
Typical for 1985 Volkswagen Transporter59,390 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Volkswagen
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationB178 ETL
MakeVolkswagen
ModelTransporter
Year1985
ColourWhite
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,915cc

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

16 pass 11 fail
Pass 29 May 2026 65,998 miles

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened both sides (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Pass 21 Aug 2021 65,653 miles

Nearside Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Rear Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

Offside Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Fail 5 Aug 2021 65,650 miles

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

N/s/f disc back plate corroded

N/s/f out rigger corroded

N/s/r drum back plate corroded

Nearside Rear Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

O/s/f disc back plate missing

O/s/r brake drum back plate corroded

Pass 17 Aug 2020 65,194 miles

Nearside Rear Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

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

Fail 14 Aug 2020 65,194 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Road wheel slightly distorted (5.2.2 (c) (i))

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

Pass 20 Aug 2019 62,162 miles

Nearside Front Lower and offside front floor and sill and nearside panel corroded

fuel filler neck rubber pipe deteriorated

random areas on body and underside of vehicle corroded

Fail 15 Jul 2019 65,162 miles

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded and seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Lower Suspension spring mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength seat (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Other passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength lower inner arch to sill and sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension rod attachment bracket/mounting insecure drop link retaining washer corroded missing (5.3.3 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension arm corroded and seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Lower Suspension spring mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength seat (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength sill end (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Lower and offside front lower floor and sill corroded

fuel pipe filler neck rubber pipe deteriorated

random areas on body and under vehicle corroded

Pass 19 Jun 2018 64,572 miles
Pass 24 Jun 2017 64,349 miles
Fail 12 Jun 2017 64,325 miles

Front Brakes imbalanced across an axle 30% (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded step (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion (6.1.C.1)

Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded sill (2.4.A.3)

Pass 10 Mar 2016 63,868 miles
Fail 29 Feb 2016 63,864 miles

Main beam 'tell-tale' not working (1.7.4c)

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded sill (5.2.6)

Pass 2 Mar 2015 63,070 miles
Pass 3 Mar 2014 61,831 miles

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

corrosion under n/s/f step.(not structual)

Pass 12 Oct 2012 60,859 miles
Pass 23 Sep 2011 59,484 miles

Slight judder N/S/F brake disc

Fail 9 Sep 2011 59,484 miles

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (7.3.B.1b)

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Slight judder N/S/F brake disc

Pass 17 Nov 2010 58,589 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

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

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

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

Fail 3 Nov 2010 58,589 miles

Nearside Front Passenger's seat insecure (6.2.A.1)

Nearside Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

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

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

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

Pass 16 Sep 2009 57,158 miles

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

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

Fail 7 Sep 2009 57,158 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Offside Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

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

Pass 5 Sep 2008 53,386 miles

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

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

Fail 5 Sep 2008 53,386 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (7.3.B.1b)

Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

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

Pass 3 Sep 2007 49,022 miles

Headlamp main beam warning lamp not working

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

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

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

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

Oil leak

Suspension joint nearside upper dust cover split/missing

Fail 30 Aug 2007 48,999 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high and too far to the right. (1.8)

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Headlamp main beam warning lamp not working

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

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

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

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

Oil leak

Suspension joint nearside upper dust cover split/missing

Pass 23 Aug 2006 44,745 miles
Fail 3 Aug 2006 44,741 miles

Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b) DANGEROUS

Front brake pads appear low

O/s step holed

O/s/f track control arm bush starting to split

Rear brake flexi pipe ferrules rusted

How Reliable is the Volkswagen Transporter?

Based on 5,346,355 MOT tests across 357,225 vehicles.

73.0%
Pass Rate
5,816
Miles/Year
42
Year Lifespan
357,225
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Registration plate lamp not working 89,943
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 68,503
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 59,686
position lamp(s) not working 56,717
Stop lamp not working 56,335
Full Volkswagen Transporter reliability report

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Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

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B178 ETL is a 1985 Volkswagen Transporter in White with a 1,915cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 59.3%.

Across all 1985 Volkswagen Transporter models, the average MOT pass rate is 65.8% with a typical mileage of 59,390 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 Volkswagen Transporter fails its MOT is registration plate lamp not working, accounting for 89,943 recorded failures. If you're considering buying B178 ETL, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Volkswagen Transporter typically stays on UK roads for around 42 years. At 41 years old, this Volkswagen Transporter is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of B178 ETL?

You can check the full history of B178 ETL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was B178 ETL registered?

B178 ETL is a 1985 Volkswagen Transporter, first registered on 15 March 1985.

Is B178 ETL safe to buy?

The MOT history for B178 ETL shows 27 tests with a 59.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does B178 ETL 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 B178 ETL. 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.