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C163 BEL

1986 Land Rover Defender

Black Diesel 2496cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires9 Feb 2027
Tests27 (18 pass, 9 fail)
Pass rate66.7%

Mileage

45,531 mi
Last recorded45,531 miles
Recorded on30 Jan 2026
Typical for 1986 Land Rover Defender124,952 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

RegistrationC163 BEL
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1986
ColourBlack
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

18 pass 9 fail
Pass 30 Jan 2026 45,531 miles

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

Nearside Front Steering linkage ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Fail 19 Jan 2026 45,529 miles

Hazard warning switch inoperative (4.4.2 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Headlamp are incorrectly positioned (4.1.4 (a))

Offside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn axle mount bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Nearside Front Steering linkage ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

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

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

Pass 10 Feb 2025 43,943 miles

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

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

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

Fail 22 Jan 2025 43,941 miles

Front Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 1 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Front Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt DROP ARM BALL JOINT (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

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

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

Offside Front Brake disc contaminated (1.1.14 (b))

Exhaust mounting defective (6.1.2 (a))

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

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

Offside Front Axle has slight vertical movement between stub axle and axle beam Top Kingpin bearing has play (5.1.2 (c) (i))

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

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

Pass 30 Jan 2024 40,186 miles
Fail 23 Jan 2024 40,156 miles

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

Offside Front Lower Steering column universal joint has excessive wear or play (2.2.2 (c))

Offside Steering box insecure (2.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing (5.3.2 (b))

Pass 31 Jan 2023 35,935 miles

Nearside Front Oil leak, but not excessive hub (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Sub-frame ball joint has slight play on drop arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Oil leak, but not excessive hub (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 28 Jan 2023 35,934 miles

Central Rear Prop shaft bearing excessively worn (6.1.7 (b) (i))

Central Rear Prop shaft securing bolt loose (6.1.7 (a) (i))

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

Offside Front Steering column universal joint insecure (2.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Oil leak, but not excessive hub (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Sub-frame ball joint has slight play on drop arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Oil leak, but not excessive hub (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 19 Jan 2022 31,444 miles
Pass 6 Jan 2021 30,964 miles
Pass 14 Dec 2019 117,782 miles

Wheel/tyre protruding beyond wheel arch ()

exhaust in poor condition

Pass 9 Jan 2019 117,782 miles

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

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

slight corrosion under vehicle

Pass 29 Dec 2017 11,690 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Exhaust noisy (7.1.4)

Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (2.5.A.3a)

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

Nearside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush (2.5.A.3a)

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

Offside Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

slight corrosion under vehicle

Pass 3 Jan 2017 113,686 miles

Both front hub seals slight oil leak

Pass 24 Jun 2014 113,152 miles

both rear chassis slightly corroded

front pads low

slight play in n/s/r wheel bearing

Pass 3 Apr 2013 112,231 miles

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

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

Rear Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Fail 3 Apr 2013 112,227 miles

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

Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Front registration plate obscured (6.3.1d)

Hazard warning lamps inoperative (1.4.B.1b)

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

Nearside Rear Trailing arm attachment bracket/mounting nut missing (2.4.G.1)

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

Offside Rear Trailing arm attachment bracket/mounting nut missing (2.4.G.1)

Towbar component insecure (6.6.1)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

Rear Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 30 Mar 2012 110,952 miles
Pass 8 Apr 2011 110,071 miles
Pass 30 Mar 2010 105,300 miles

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

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

Pass 8 May 2009 104,135 miles

o/s/r shock damaged

Fail 6 May 2009 104,135 miles

Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Brake pipe kinked (3.6.B.2b)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Front Axle king pin has excessive play in pin and/or bush adversely affecting the steering (2.5.A.3a)

Offside Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

o/s/r shock damaged

Fail 12 Mar 2009 104,109 miles

Brake pedal has insufficient reserve movement (3.3.A.5)

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

Hazard warning switch faulty (1.4.B.1d)

Hazard warning tell tale not working correctly (1.4.B.1e)

Nearside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (4.1.D.2)

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

Nearside Headlamp aim not tested (1.8.A.1c)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (4.1.D.2)

Offside Front brake disc contaminated by oil (3.5.1h)

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

Offside Rear position lamp(s) excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance (1.1.A.3d)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1a)

Oil leak

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

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

slight oil leak offside front hub

Pass 14 Mar 2008 102,664 miles
Fail 13 Mar 2008 102,664 miles

Nearside Front Side repeater incomplete (1.5.A1b)

Nearside Front Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Rear Upper Shock absorber detached (2.7.2b)

Pass 23 Jan 2007 99,583 miles
Fail 20 Jan 2007 99,583 miles

Nearside Front Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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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C163 BEL is a 1986 Land Rover Defender in Black with a 2,496cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 66.7%.

Across all 1986 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 68.7% with a typical mileage of 124,952 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 C163 BEL, 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 40 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 C163 BEL?

You can check the full history of C163 BEL by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C163 BEL registered?

C163 BEL is a 1986 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 24 April 1986.

Is C163 BEL safe to buy?

The MOT history for C163 BEL shows 27 tests with a 66.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C163 BEL 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 C163 BEL. 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.