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C289 OVW

1985 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2500cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires11 Jan 2027
Tests15 (11 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate73.3%

Mileage

59,277 mi
Last recorded59,277 miles
Recorded on12 Jan 2026
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

RegistrationC289 OVW
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1985
ColourGreen
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,500cc

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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

11 pass 4 fail
Pass 12 Jan 2026 59,277 miles

Front Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced bulk head slight corrosion both sides (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Front chassie has small cut

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

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

Pass 8 Jan 2025 55,771 miles

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

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

Fail 19 Dec 2024 55,771 miles

Exhaust system insecure midle mount (6.1.2 (a))

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

Suspension arm attachment bracket/mounting insecure rear axle a frame,balljoint nut loose (5.3.3 (a) (i))

Offside Engine mounting excessively loose nut hand tight (6.1.8 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

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

Pass 22 Dec 2023 49,449 miles
Fail 13 Dec 2023 49,437 miles

Emissions unable to be completed Due to exhaust leaks (8.2.2.2 (e))

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases Front, Centre & rear pipes (6.1.2 (a))

Offside Front Steering locking device ineffective Nut is loose (2.1.3 (d))

Nearside Rear Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 9 Jan 2023 42,480 miles
Pass 4 Feb 2022 33,272 miles
Fail 2 Feb 2022 33,259 miles

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Pass 4 Jan 2021 31,383 miles
Pass 1 May 2019 31,383 miles
Fail 1 May 2019 31,383 miles

Rear fog lamp missing (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 13 Feb 2018 31,394 miles
Pass 21 Dec 2015 31,383 miles
Pass 15 May 2015 31,383 miles
Pass 1 May 2014 30,354 miles

foot plate on o/s holed

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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C289 OVW is a 1985 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,500cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 15 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 73.3%.

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 C289 OVW, 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 C289 OVW?

You can check the full history of C289 OVW by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C289 OVW registered?

C289 OVW is a 1985 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 31 December 1985.

Is C289 OVW safe to buy?

The MOT history for C289 OVW shows 15 tests with a 73.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C289 OVW 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 C289 OVW. 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.