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C518 BTT

1985 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires28 Apr 2027
Tests35 (21 pass, 14 fail)
Pass rate60%

Mileage

185,455 mi
Last recorded185,455 miles
Recorded on29 Apr 2026
Typical for 1985 Land Rover Defender122,807 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationC518 BTT
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1985
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

21 pass 14 fail
Pass 29 Apr 2026 185,455 miles

Brake pedal wearing smooth (1.1.2 (c))

Nearside Driver's door catch deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.3 (c) (i))

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

Nearside Front tyre perishing

Offside Driver's door catch deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.3 (c) (i))

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

Offside Front indicator side repeater inoperative

Offside Front tyre perishing

Offside Rear tyre perishing

Rear Driver's door catch deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.3 (c) (i))

tyre perishing

Pass 16 Apr 2025 184,642 miles

All direction indicators flashing more than 120 times a minute (4.4.4 (a))

Offside Driver's door catch deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.3 (c) (i))

Fail 16 Apr 2025 184,642 miles

All direction indicators flashing more than 120 times a minute (4.4.4 (a))

Nearside Headlamp aim too high and too far to the right. (4.1.2 (a))

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

Offside Driver's door catch deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.3 (c) (i))

Offside Headlamp aim too high and too far to the right. (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 26 Apr 2024 184,057 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement to chassis (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement to chassis (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Fail 24 Apr 2024 184,057 miles

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

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

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement to chassis (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement to chassis (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively rear propshaft front most joint (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Pass 26 Apr 2023 183,111 miles

Nearside Front Vehicle structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security spring mounting (6.2.2 (d) (i))

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

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

Fail 26 Apr 2023 183,111 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a))

Nearside Front Vehicle structure or chassis corroded within 30cm of a mounting, but not seriously affecting overall security spring mounting (6.2.2 (d) (i))

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

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

Pass 29 Apr 2022 182,146 miles
Fail 27 Apr 2022 182,146 miles

Central Front Prop shaft joint excessively worn (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Fuel system component leaking fuel leak off hoses (6.1.3 (b) (i))

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

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

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

Pass 28 Apr 2021 180,533 miles

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

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

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement front most (5.3.4 (a) (i))

front radius arms to chassis rubber slightly detreated

Fail 21 Apr 2021 180,532 miles

Exhaust emissions exceed level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine (8.2.2.2 (b))

Nearside Front Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

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

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

Offside Front 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))

Oil leaking excessively from engine (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Parking brake lever has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment (1.1.6 (c))

All direction indicators flashing more than 120 times a minute (4.4.4 (a))

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

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

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

Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement front most (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

front radius arms to chassis rubber slightly detreated

Pass 24 Apr 2020 179,140 miles

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

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

Steering box leaking oil (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Fail 21 Apr 2020 179,135 miles

Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))

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

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Towbar excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting Chassi (6.1.6 (i) (i))

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Passenger's seat insecure Centre seat base (6.2.6 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Passenger's seat insecure Seat base (6.2.6 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

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

Steering box leaking oil (2.1.1 (e) (i))

Pass 10 Apr 2019 176,868 miles

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

Fail 9 Apr 2019 176,863 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Towbar excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.1.6 (i) (i))

Offside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Rear Towbar excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.1.6 (i) (i))

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

Pass 18 Apr 2018 174,967 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage (2.3.3b)

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

Fail 17 Apr 2018 174,960 miles

Offside Front Panhard rod has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Vehicle structure excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.6.6)

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

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

Power steering pipe(s) or hose(s) has slight seepage (2.3.3b)

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

Pass 20 Apr 2017 172,192 miles
Pass 19 Apr 2016 169,171 miles
Pass 22 Apr 2015 166,024 miles
Fail 17 Apr 2015 166,017 miles

Nearside Front Axle swivel joint has excessive play in a swivel pin (2.5.A.3b)

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

Offside Front Axle swivel joint has excessive play in a swivel pin (2.5.A.3b)

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

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

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

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Vehicle structure excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.6.6)

Rear propshaft u/j worn

Pass 15 Apr 2014 160,481 miles
Fail 11 Apr 2014 160,472 miles

Driver's door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Nearside Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Body has a sharp edge caused by damage (6.1.C.1)

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.C.1b)

Oil leak from engine

Pass 9 Apr 2013 157,374 miles

Nearside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Offside Front Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Pass 20 Apr 2012 152,069 miles
Fail 4 Apr 2012 151,914 miles

Driver's door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.B.1b)

Front registration plate character(s) likely to be misread (6.3.4b)

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

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 1 Apr 2011 146,420 miles
Fail 31 Mar 2011 146,398 miles

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

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

Pass 24 Mar 2010 140,316 miles

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

Pass 7 May 2009 133,901 miles

Nearside Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

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

Fail 7 May 2009 133,901 miles

Nearside Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

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

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Pass 26 Mar 2008 124,845 miles
Pass 20 Mar 2007 116,820 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

Oil leak

mist of fuel oil on pump ok at time of test

Pass 23 Mar 2006 116,031 miles
Fail 20 Mar 2006 116,031 miles

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

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Fuel cap/sealing device sealing washer missing (7.2.4c)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low when the centre of the headlamp is below 850mm from the ground (1.6.B2)

Offside Headlamp aim too low when the centre of the headlamp is below 850mm from the ground (1.6.B2)

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

C518 BTT is a 1985 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 35 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 60%.

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 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 C518 BTT, 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 C518 BTT?

You can check the full history of C518 BTT by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C518 BTT registered?

C518 BTT is a 1985 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 6 August 1985.

Is C518 BTT safe to buy?

The MOT history for C518 BTT shows 35 tests with a 60% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C518 BTT 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 C518 BTT. 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.