CarVerify

Free Car Check

B988 EMR

1985 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2496cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires9 Feb 2027
Tests27 (21 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate77.8%

Mileage

327,537 mi
Last recorded327,537 miles
Recorded on10 Feb 2026
Typical for 1985 Land Rover Defender122,807 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationB988 EMR
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1985
ColourBlue
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,496cc

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

21 pass 6 fail
Pass 10 Feb 2026 327,537 miles

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

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

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

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

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

Rear Prop shaft bearing has slight play (6.1.7 (b) (i))

Fail 22 Dec 2025 327,537 miles

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

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

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

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

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

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

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

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

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

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

Rear Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Pass 4 Dec 2024 326,025 miles

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

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

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

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

Rear Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush all4 (5.3.2 (c))

fuel tank bracket corroded

Fail 3 Dec 2024 326,025 miles

Rear Suspension component ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt axle (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

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

Nearside Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

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

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

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

Rear Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush all4 (5.3.2 (c))

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))

fuel tank bracket corroded

Pass 1 Dec 2023 324,083 miles
Pass 22 Nov 2022 323,181 miles

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

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

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

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

Pass 23 Nov 2021 322,255 miles

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

Pass 17 Nov 2020 320,155 miles

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

Pass 5 Nov 2019 318,194 miles

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

Pass 2 Nov 2018 316,790 miles

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive shocker tower (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Headlamp reflector slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive shocker tower (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Fail 25 Oct 2018 316,783 miles

Nearside Rear Brake disc contaminated (1.1.14 (b))

Offside Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded floor pan (2.1.2 (e) (i))

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive shocker tower (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Headlamp reflector slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive shocker tower (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 19 Oct 2017 315,876 miles

Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

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

Nearside Front swivel housing leaking oil slightly

Nearside Rear tyre slightly perished

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

Offside Front drivers floor pan slightly corroded

Oil leak ()

Pass 17 Nov 2016 315,108 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive shocker mount (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Upper Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive shocker mount (2.4.A.3)

Oil leak ()

Rear Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 28 Sep 2015 314,080 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

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

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

slight oil leak nearside rear hub seal

Pass 1 Oct 2014 313,075 miles

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Oil leak

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Rear upper axle support ball joint dust cover slightly deteriorated

Pass 28 Nov 2013 310,671 miles
Pass 18 Oct 2012 303,944 miles

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

Pass 29 Sep 2011 297,258 miles
Pass 13 Oct 2010 293,660 miles

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Offside Front Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Fail 12 Oct 2010 293,660 miles

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Offside Front Direction indicators slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Pass 21 Oct 2009 289,540 miles
Fail 16 Oct 2009 289,563 miles

Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Pass 18 Oct 2008 287,385 miles
Pass 20 Oct 2007 280,424 miles
Pass 19 Oct 2006 266,741 miles
Pass 20 Oct 2005 257,076 miles

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Fail 19 Oct 2005 257,076 miles

Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine (7.4.B.3b)

Offside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (6.1.B.2)

Rear registration plate deteriorated (6.3.1d)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

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.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

B988 EMR is a 1985 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,496cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 77.8%.

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 B988 EMR, 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 B988 EMR?

You can check the full history of B988 EMR by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was B988 EMR registered?

B988 EMR is a 1985 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 19 February 1985.

Is B988 EMR safe to buy?

The MOT history for B988 EMR shows 27 tests with a 77.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does B988 EMR 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 B988 EMR. 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.