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B388 VUM

1985 Land Rover Defender

Red Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires19 Sep 2026
Tests22 (18 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate81.8%

Mileage

130,668 mi
Last recorded130,668 miles
Recorded on9 Sep 2025
Typical for 1985 Land Rover Defender122,807 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationB388 VUM
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1985
ColourRed
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,495cc

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

18 pass 4 fail
Pass 9 Sep 2025 130,668 miles

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Pass 20 Sep 2024 130,302 miles
Fail 20 Sep 2024 130,302 miles

Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 11 Aug 2023 129,690 miles
Pass 18 Oct 2021 128,629 miles

both front tyres cracked

front brake disc inner faces deteriorated

nearside rear tyre cracked

Pass 15 Oct 2020 127,527 miles

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Fail 15 Oct 2020 127,527 miles

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Steering box drop arm likely to become detached Retightened drop arm nut, customer to check (2.1.3 (a) (ii))

Pass 14 Oct 2019 125,906 miles

Brake master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Corrosion to brake pedal box assy (1.1.21 (e) (i))

Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive corrosion evident at all seat belt mountings (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Pass 9 Oct 2018 125,139 miles
Fail 1 Oct 2018 125,135 miles

All position lamps not working Switch fault, can be switched on/off when wiggling switch (4.2.1 (a))

Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced "B" post (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced "B" post (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Drag link end ball joint worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment Loose in threads of drag link tube (2.1.3 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Pass 27 Sep 2017 123,967 miles
Pass 29 Sep 2016 123,572 miles
Pass 21 Sep 2015 122,638 miles
Pass 26 Sep 2014 120,406 miles
Pass 2 Apr 2013 118,153 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.C.1b)

Fail 2 Apr 2013 118,153 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.C.1b)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 3 Apr 2012 115,701 miles

Nearside Rear Lower Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Pass 27 Aug 2010 115,451 miles
Pass 26 Aug 2009 11,547 miles
Pass 27 Aug 2008 107,251 miles
Pass 31 Jul 2007 102,906 miles

Centre Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

handbrake only just making the required effort

rear chassis slightly corroded at n/s

Pass 30 Aug 2006 96,314 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

How Reliable is the Land Rover Defender?

Based on 2,960,045 MOT tests across 181,953 vehicles.

72.3%
Pass Rate
3,550
Miles/Year
43
Year Lifespan
181,953
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush 77,499
Brake pipe excessively corroded 77,229
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 57,749
position lamp(s) not working 53,914
Stop lamp not working 52,341
Full Land Rover Defender reliability report

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B388 VUM is a 1985 Land Rover Defender in Red with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 81.8%.

Across all 1985 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.3% with a typical mileage of 122,807 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Land Rover Defender fails its MOT is shock absorber has an excessively worn bush, accounting for 77,499 recorded failures. If you're considering buying B388 VUM, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Land Rover Defender typically stays on UK roads for around 43 years. At 41 years old, this Land Rover Defender is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of B388 VUM?

You can check the full history of B388 VUM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was B388 VUM registered?

B388 VUM is a 1985 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 1 March 1985.

Is B388 VUM safe to buy?

The MOT history for B388 VUM shows 22 tests with a 81.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does B388 VUM 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 B388 VUM. 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.