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BWS 1V

1997 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires24 Mar 2027
Tests32 (20 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate62.5%

Mileage

158,151 mi
Last recorded158,151 miles
Recorded on23 Mar 2026
Typical for 1997 Land Rover Defender117,879 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationBWS 1V
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1997
ColourBlue
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

20 pass 12 fail
Pass 23 Mar 2026 158,151 miles

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

Pass 25 Mar 2025 157,427 miles
Pass 14 Mar 2024 156,867 miles

Chassis and suspension showing signs of corrosion throughout

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

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

Pass 15 Sep 2022 155,276 miles

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

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

showing signs of corrosion throughout the vehicle structure

Fail 13 Sep 2022 155,273 miles

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

Nearside Rear Position lamp light intensity significantly reduced (4.2.3 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

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

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

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

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

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

showing signs of corrosion throughout the vehicle structure

Pass 2 Sep 2021 154,784 miles

showing signs of corrosion throughout the vehicle structure

Fail 24 Aug 2021 154,780 miles

Central Exhaust fumes entering cabin (6.1.2 (b) (i))

Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Direction indicator adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.4.3 (b))

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

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

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

Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Pass 19 Aug 2020 149,139 miles
Fail 17 Aug 2020 149,136 miles

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

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

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

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

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

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

Pass 22 Aug 2019 139,488 miles

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

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

showing signs of corrosion throughout the vehicle structure

Fail 16 Aug 2019 139,482 miles

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

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

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

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

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

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

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

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

Front Prop shaft joint so worn it is likely to fail (6.1.7 (c) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

showing signs of corrosion throughout the vehicle structure

Pass 3 Sep 2018 126,367 miles

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

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

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

Fail 29 Aug 2018 126,363 miles

Central Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Rear Shock absorbers damaged to the extent that it does not function (5.3.2 (b))

Offside Front Seat belt damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

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

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

Offside Rear Shock absorbers damaged to the extent that it does not function (5.3.2 (b))

Nearside Front Inner Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

Pass 21 Aug 2017 118,962 miles

showing signs of corrosion throughout the vehicle structure

Pass 7 Sep 2016 113,651 miles

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

Fail 5 Sep 2016 113,649 miles

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged sufficient to significantly weakened the webbing (5.2.2a)

Nearside Rear Rear position lamp(s) incorrect colour side light white (1.1.A.3e)

Offside Front Seat belt damaged sufficient to significantly weakened the webbing (5.2.2a)

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

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

Pass 1 Sep 2015 99,990 miles

front and rear metal brake pipes slightly corroded

n/s o/s rear brake discs slightly worn, pitted ,

showing signs of slight corrosion throughout the vehicle structure

Pass 5 Sep 2014 93,832 miles

both front hubs damp

child seat fitted centre front

front exhaust flexi deterioating

n/s o/s rear and front to rear metal brake pipes rusty

n/s o/s rear chasis rusty

n/s rear shocker bushes splitting and deterioating

oil leak

rear brake discs corroded

slight damage to n/s front seatbelt

Fail 2 Sep 2014 93,829 miles

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

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

Offside Front Seat belt damaged sufficient to significantly weakened the webbing (5.2.2a)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Power steering component(s) leaking from a failed seal (2.3.3b)

Rear Suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

both front hubs damp

child seat fitted centre front

front exhaust flexi deterioating

n/s o/s rear and front to rear metal brake pipes rusty

n/s o/s rear chasis rusty

n/s rear shocker bushes splitting and deterioating

oil leak

rear brake discs corroded

slight damage to n/s front seatbelt

Pass 3 Sep 2013 91,661 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

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

Rear Shock absorber has a slightly worn bush (2.7.4)

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

Pass 11 Sep 2012 89,604 miles

Nearside Inner Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

Fail 10 Sep 2012 89,604 miles

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Nearside Inner Front Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

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

Steering box has a slight oil leak (2.2.D.2e)

Pass 4 Oct 2011 87,451 miles
Fail 16 Sep 2011 87,389 miles

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

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

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

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

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

o/s/f brake disc very badly corroded but pads look new

Pass 23 Sep 2010 85,434 miles
Pass 1 Sep 2009 83,574 miles
Fail 1 Sep 2009 83,574 miles

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

Offside Front Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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

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

Pass 13 Oct 2008 81,093 miles
Pass 12 Sep 2007 75,242 miles
Fail 11 Sep 2007 75,242 miles

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

Offside Front Seat belt has a cut which has significantly weakened the webbing (5.2.2a)

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

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Power steering component(s) has slight seepage from a component (2.3.3b)

Pass 6 Sep 2006 69,355 miles
Fail 1 Sep 2006 69,354 miles

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

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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BWS 1V is a 1997 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 32 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 62.5%.

Across all 1997 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 69.5% with a typical mileage of 117,879 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 BWS 1V, 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 29 years old, this Land Rover Defender is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of BWS 1V?

You can check the full history of BWS 1V by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was BWS 1V registered?

BWS 1V is a 1997 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 10 September 1997.

Is BWS 1V safe to buy?

The MOT history for BWS 1V shows 32 tests with a 62.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does BWS 1V 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 BWS 1V. 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.