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C653 BYM

1986 Land Rover Defender

Red Diesel 2286cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires18 Feb 2027
Tests9 (7 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate77.8%

Mileage

159,567 mi
Last recorded159,567 miles
Recorded on12 Feb 2026
Typical for 1986 Land Rover Defender124,952 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationC653 BYM
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1986
ColourRed
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,286cc

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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

7 pass 2 fail
Pass 12 Feb 2026 159,567 miles
Pass 19 Feb 2025 157,079 miles
Fail 19 Feb 2025 157,079 miles

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

Pass 5 Jul 2021 152,346 miles

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

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

Nearside Front Wheel bearing slightly noisy (5.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly damaged (1.1.11 (c))

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

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

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing all 4 (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

difficult to be sure of welding repairs due to application of sealant

Fail 2 Jul 2021 152,287 miles

Driver's door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle (6.2.3 (a))

Front Registration plate insecure (0.1 (a))

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

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

Nearside Side repeater missing (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced (7.1.1 (a) (i))

Offside Side repeater missing (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

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

Rear Registration plate does not conform to the specified requirements (0.1 (d))

Steering box has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering box fitted) (2.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Drag link end ball joint worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment (2.1.3 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Exhaust noisy (8.1.1 (a))

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

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

Offside Front Brake pipe slightly damaged (1.1.11 (c))

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

Offside Front Tyre obviously under inflated (5.2.3 (l))

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

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing all 4 (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

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

Pass 20 May 2017 145,083 miles

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

Pass 13 Jun 2016 145,055 miles
Pass 9 Jun 2015 143,447 miles
Pass 11 Jun 2014 140,122 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Offside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

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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C653 BYM is a 1986 Land Rover Defender in Red with a 2,286cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 9 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 77.8%.

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 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 C653 BYM, 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 C653 BYM?

You can check the full history of C653 BYM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C653 BYM registered?

C653 BYM is a 1986 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 7 May 1986.

Is C653 BYM safe to buy?

The MOT history for C653 BYM shows 9 tests with a 77.8% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C653 BYM 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 C653 BYM. 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.