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B71 ECS

1985 Land Rover Defender

Blue Petrol 2495cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires25 Feb 2026
Tests26 (16 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate61.5%

Mileage

60,544 mi
Last recorded60,544 miles
Recorded on26 Feb 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
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationB71 ECS
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1985
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
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

16 pass 10 fail
Pass 26 Feb 2025 60,544 miles

Central Vehicle structure is repaired but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (d) (i))

Nearside Front Seat belt webbing slightly damaged or frayed (7.1.2 (b))

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 14 Feb 2024 58,584 miles

Offside Front Vehicle structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Vehicle structure slightly corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.1.6 (i) (i))

Pass 6 Feb 2023 56,029 miles

Nearside Front Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Offside Front Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Offside Front Cab or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security footwell (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Front Suspension component ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

hand brake travel getting high

hazards not working pre 1986

Fail 31 Jan 2023 56,016 miles

Lower Steering column universal joint insecure (2.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Axle with loose fixing bolts (5.1.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.1.6 (i) (i))

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

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Vehicle structure excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.1.6 (i) (i))

Nearside Front Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Offside Front Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Offside Front Cab or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security footwell (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Front Suspension component ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

hand brake travel getting high

hazards not working pre 1986

Pass 26 Feb 2022 52,114 miles
Fail 24 Feb 2022 52,102 miles

Nearside Front Lower Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Front Lower Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Steering column has excessive movement up and down (2.2.2 (a))

Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt drop arm joint (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Pass 25 Feb 2021 49,348 miles
Fail 24 Feb 2021 49,348 miles

All direction indicators not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Fuel cap/sealing device ineffective (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush excessively worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 2 Oct 2020 48,783 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases down pipe area (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 3 Oct 2019 48,753 miles

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

Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Fuel tank mounting corroded

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive gearbox and rear differential (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Steering box worn, but not excessively bearings stiff (2.1.1 (c) (i))

Vehicle heavily undersealed

Fail 30 Sep 2019 48,753 miles

Indicator switch inoperative (4.4.2 (a) (ii))

Nearside Towbar excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting cross member (6.1.6 (i) (i))

Offside Rear Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

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

Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Fuel tank mounting corroded

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Oil leak, but not excessive gearbox and rear differential (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Steering box worn, but not excessively bearings stiff (2.1.1 (c) (i))

Vehicle heavily undersealed

Pass 21 Sep 2018 48,652 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Body mounting fixing insecure, but overall security not significantly reduced excessively corroded (6.2.2 (c) (i))

Offside Rear axle seal leaking

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Towbar slightly corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.1.6 (i) (i))

underside of vehicle corroded and covered in under seal.

Fail 20 Sep 2018 48,652 miles

Offside Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded near bumper mounting (2.1.2 (e) (i))

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Front Body mounting fixing insecure, but overall security not significantly reduced excessively corroded (6.2.2 (c) (i))

Offside Rear axle seal leaking

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Towbar slightly corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.1.6 (i) (i))

underside of vehicle corroded and covered in under seal.

Pass 27 Apr 2017 48,414 miles

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

both doors corroded

Fail 20 Apr 2017 48,413 miles

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Rear fog lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp inop when stops are used (1.3.2f)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Nearside Non obligatory mirror damaged ()

Oil leak ()

both doors corroded

Pass 6 May 2016 47,968 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases manifold to down pipe (7.1.2)

oil leak from rear axle.

slight oil leak rocker cover area

Fail 5 May 2016 47,968 miles

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases manifold to down pipe (7.1.2)

oil leak from rear axle.

slight oil leak rocker cover area

Pass 20 May 2015 47,244 miles

all brake pipes rusty

slight play in o/s/f wheel bearing

Fail 18 May 2015 47,244 miles

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

Nearside Front Seat belt retracting mechanism defective (5.2.5b)

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper not operating over a large enough area to give an adequate view (8.2.1c)

Offside Front Lower Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

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

all brake pipes rusty

slight play in o/s/f wheel bearing

Fail 18 May 2015 47,244 miles

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

Nearside Front Seat belt locking mechanism does not secure or release (5.2.5a)

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper not operating over a large enough area to give an adequate view (8.2.1c)

Offside Front Lower Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

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

all brake pipes rusty

slight play in o/s/f wheel bearing

Pass 15 Jun 2013 47,235 miles
Pass 29 Mar 2012 47,206 miles
Pass 28 Apr 2011 46,991 miles
Fail 27 Apr 2011 46,991 miles

Offside Front Driver's door does not latch securely closed (6.2.B.1a)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Pass 10 May 2010 46,492 miles
Pass 23 Apr 2009 45,896 miles

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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B71 ECS is a 1985 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 26 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 61.5%.

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 a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

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 B71 ECS, 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 B71 ECS?

You can check the full history of B71 ECS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was B71 ECS registered?

B71 ECS is a 1985 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 3 April 1985.

Is B71 ECS safe to buy?

The MOT history for B71 ECS shows 26 tests with a 61.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does B71 ECS 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 B71 ECS. 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.