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BT53 TUW

2003 Land Rover Discovery

Black Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires31 Mar 2027
Tests30 (19 pass, 11 fail)
Pass rate63.3%

Mileage

173,760 mi
Last recorded173,760 miles
Recorded on3 Mar 2026
Typical for 2003 Land Rover Discovery100,620 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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Vehicle Details

RegistrationBT53 TUW
MakeLand Rover
ModelDiscovery
Year2003
ColourBlack
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

19 pass 11 fail
Pass 3 Mar 2026 173,760 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly twisted (1.1.12 (b) (i))

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

Parking brake has little reserve travel

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced Both sills corroded and holed @ rear (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Pass 1 Apr 2025 170,268 miles

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Front Bump stop missing

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

Parking brake has little reserve travel

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

Fail 22 Nov 2024 170,191 miles

Brake master cylinder/servo mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded Wheel arch (1.1.21 (e) (i))

Brake prescribed area is excessively corroded ABS modulator, wheel arch (1.1.21 (e) (i))

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

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing rough when rotated (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Drag link end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Nearside Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Bump stop missing

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

Parking brake has little/no reserve travel

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

Pass 30 Nov 2023 166,564 miles

Brake fluid warning lamp illuminated (1.1.10 (f))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both front to rear (1.1.11 (c))

Offside Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Bump stop missing

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

Parking brake has little reserve travel

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

Pass 5 Dec 2022 163,874 miles

Brake fluid warning lamp illuminated (1.1.10 (f))

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

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

Parking brake travel high

vehicle undersealed

Fail 1 Dec 2022 163,864 miles

Driver's seat fore and aft adjustment mechanism not functioning as intended. (6.2.5 (b) (i))

Offside Front Wheel bearing rough when rotated (5.1.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Brake fluid warning lamp illuminated (1.1.10 (f))

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

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

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

Parking brake travel high

vehicle undersealed

Pass 22 Nov 2021 157,276 miles

Brake fluid warning lamp illuminated (1.1.10 (f))

Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output both (4.1.4 (b))

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

Vehicle undersealed inc all metal brake pipes

parking brake travel high

Fail 10 Nov 2021 157,268 miles

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play rear of hub (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Brake fluid warning lamp illuminated (1.1.10 (f))

Headlamp has a product on the lens but not seriously reducing light output both (4.1.4 (b))

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

Vehicle undersealed inc all metal brake pipes

parking brake travel high

Pass 26 Nov 2020 152,422 miles

Coolant leak ()

Nearside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear tow bar locking nut ineffective

Offside Rear tow bar nut ineffective

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

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

Fail 25 Nov 2020 152,416 miles

Central Rear Body mounting fixings missing (6.2.2 (c) (i))

Central Rear Body mounting fixings missing (6.2.2 (c) (i))

Central Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is inadequately repaired nearside (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Central Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is inadequately repaired offside (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Front Registration plate inscription illegible obscured (0.1 (b))

Nearside Drag link end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Nearside Drag link end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Headlamp insecure (4.1.1 (c))

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Headlamp insecure (4.1.1 (c))

Coolant leak ()

Offside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear tow bar locking nut ineffective

Offside Rear tow bar nut ineffective

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

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

Pass 9 May 2019 146,034 miles

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

Front Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

Parking brake lever ratchet mechanism obviously worn slightly high (1.1.6 (b) (i))

oil leak

slight under body corrosion

Fail 30 Apr 2019 146,031 miles

Emissions not tested (8.2.2.2 (e))

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Front Steering box has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))

oil leak

slight under body corrosion

Pass 17 Jan 2018 142,701 miles
Fail 17 Jan 2018 142,701 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Pass 19 Jan 2017 138,521 miles
Pass 23 Jan 2016 135,826 miles
Pass 17 Jan 2015 127,572 miles

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

nearside rear seat has a child seat fitted so full inspection of the seat and belt was not possible

Pass 15 Jan 2014 120,519 miles

Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

oil leak

Pass 22 Jan 2013 111,580 miles
Fail 22 Jan 2013 111,580 miles

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

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

Pass 8 Jul 2011 103,796 miles

Steering system slightly rough (2.2.D.1)

Pass 6 Jul 2010 85,447 miles

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

Fail 6 Jul 2010 85,447 miles

Centre Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Pass 29 Jun 2009 64,246 miles

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

osf tyre cut in side wall

Fail 29 Jun 2009 64,246 miles

Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing (3.3.A.1b)

Nearside Front Drag link end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

osf tyre cut in side wall

Pass 6 Jan 2009 55,922 miles
Pass 18 Dec 2007 43,510 miles
Fail 18 Dec 2007 43,510 miles

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Pass 1 Dec 2006 35,319 miles
Fail 1 Dec 2006 35,319 miles

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

How Reliable is the Land Rover Discovery?

Based on 4,388,972 MOT tests across 325,470 vehicles.

72.7%
Pass Rate
6,904
Miles/Year
36
Year Lifespan
325,470
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Brake pipe excessively corroded 153,632
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 141,712
Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 136,366
position lamp(s) not working 91,214
Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush 88,089
Full Land Rover Discovery 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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BT53 TUW is a 2003 Land Rover Discovery in Black with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 30 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 63.3%.

Across all 2003 Land Rover Discovery models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.2% with a typical mileage of 100,620 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 Discovery fails its MOT is brake pipe excessively corroded, accounting for 153,632 recorded failures. If you're considering buying BT53 TUW, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Land Rover Discovery typically stays on UK roads for around 36 years. At 23 years old, this Land Rover Discovery is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of BT53 TUW?

You can check the full history of BT53 TUW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was BT53 TUW registered?

BT53 TUW is a 2003 Land Rover Discovery, first registered on 12 December 2003.

Is BT53 TUW safe to buy?

The MOT history for BT53 TUW shows 30 tests with a 63.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does BT53 TUW 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 BT53 TUW. 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.