CarVerify

Free Car Check

C83 BWT

1985 Land Rover Defender

Green Diesel 2495cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires12 Jun 2026
Tests32 (17 pass, 15 fail)
Pass rate53.1%

Mileage

128,029 mi
Last recorded128,029 miles
Recorded on13 Jun 2025
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
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationC83 BWT
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1985
ColourGreen
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

17 pass 15 fail
Pass 13 Jun 2025 128,029 miles
Fail 12 Jun 2025 128,029 miles

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

Pass 30 Apr 2024 125,560 miles
Pass 10 May 2023 125,054 miles

Bulkhead coroded

Offside Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Fail 2 May 2023 125,023 miles

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

Bulkhead coroded

Offside Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 23 Feb 2022 123,491 miles
Fail 23 Feb 2022 123,491 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (4.1.2 (a))

Brake hydraulic reservoir close to minimum mark (1.1.10 (d) (i))

Pass 19 Mar 2021 122,173 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Nearside Front Upper Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced below windscreen (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Front Upper Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced below the windscreen (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Fail 22 Jan 2021 122,171 miles

Battery insecure and likely to fall from carrier battery box excessively corroded. (4.13 (a) (ii))

Front Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt steering box ball joint (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rear Stop lamp(s) all not working (4.3.1 (a) (iii)) DANGEROUS

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Front Steering linkage ball joint has slight play steering box arm ball joint (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Pass 16 Jan 2020 121,533 miles

Central Front Lower Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Offside Front passenger door pillar deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.3 (c) (i))

Offside Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Upper Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Fail 18 Dec 2019 121,532 miles

Exhaust system insecure (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Headlamp lens seriously defective (4.1.1 (b) (ii))

Nearside Outer Floor excessively deteriorated (6.2.4 (a) (i))

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Nearside Front passenger door pillar deteriorated so the door cannot be readily opened or closed (6.2.3 (c) (i))

Nearside Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced front floor (6.1.1 (c) (i))

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

Nearside Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front passenger door pillar deteriorated but the door can still be readily opened and closed (6.2.3 (c) (i))

Offside Headlamp lens slightly defective (4.1.1 (b) (i))

Offside Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced front floor (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Upper Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Pass 6 Sep 2018 121,160 miles

Both front floors corroded and holed

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Fail 23 Aug 2018 121,156 miles

Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Mounting on the rear axle (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Rear Tyre has ply or cords exposed (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Both front floors corroded and holed

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 21 Dec 2016 120,836 miles

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

Fail 21 Dec 2016 120,836 miles

Nearside Front Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion A post (6.1.C.1)

Rear fog lamp switch faulty (1.3.1a)

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

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

Pass 12 Jan 2016 119,688 miles
Fail 7 Jan 2016 119,688 miles

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

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

Nearside Registration plate lamp insecure (1.1.C.1c)

Offside Front Ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt pitman arm (2.2.C.1c)

Pass 12 Dec 2014 118,843 miles
Fail 11 Dec 2014 118,432 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

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

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

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

Pass 22 Nov 2013 117,518 miles

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

Fail 18 Nov 2013 117,518 miles

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

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

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

Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

Offside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

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

Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7) DANGEROUS

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

Pass 17 Dec 2012 116,877 miles
Fail 12 Dec 2012 116,877 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

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

Offside Front Power steering component(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

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

Pass 12 Dec 2011 115,448 miles
Fail 8 Dec 2011 115,448 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Front Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on (8.2.1b)

Offside Front Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Offside Rear Direction indicator not working (1.4.A.2c)

Pass 9 Dec 2010 114,181 miles
Fail 1 Dec 2010 114,181 miles

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Fail 13 Aug 2010 114,089 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.D.1a)

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

Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Headlamp aim too far to the left (1.8)

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

Pass 24 Jul 2009 111,405 miles
Fail 7 Jul 2009 111,405 miles

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

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

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Offside Rear Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Power steering component(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

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

Pass 24 Jul 2008 105,869 miles

Nearside rear drum back plate is misting with oil

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

Pass 11 Jan 2007 99,695 miles

side wall on the nearside rear tyre deteriorating

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

C83 BWT is a 1985 Land Rover Defender in Green with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 32 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 53.1%.

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 C83 BWT, 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 C83 BWT?

You can check the full history of C83 BWT by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was C83 BWT registered?

C83 BWT is a 1985 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 10 October 1985.

Is C83 BWT safe to buy?

The MOT history for C83 BWT shows 32 tests with a 53.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does C83 BWT 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 C83 BWT. 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.