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D520 BDU

1986 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires11 Apr 2027
Tests25 (17 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate68%

Mileage

35,030 mi
Last recorded35,030 miles
Recorded on23 Mar 2026
Typical for 1986 Land Rover Defender124,952 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationD520 BDU
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1986
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

17 pass 8 fail
Pass 23 Mar 2026 35,030 miles
Pass 26 Mar 2025 24,936 miles
Pass 22 Mar 2024 20,588 miles
Pass 31 Mar 2023 16,740 miles
Pass 5 Apr 2022 14,618 miles
Pass 1 Apr 2021 11,143 miles
Pass 24 Mar 2020 8,144 miles
Pass 28 Mar 2019 2,084 miles
Pass 12 Apr 2018 226,732 miles
Fail 4 Apr 2014 226,694 miles

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

Nearside Front Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Nearside Front Upper Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

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

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

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

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

Offside Front Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

Offside Rear Direction indicators incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

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

Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering box fitted) (2.2.A.1a)

Nearside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Nearside rear bump stop missing

Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside front door badly corroded

Offside rear door strap missing

Oil leak

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.C.1b)

Revers light not working

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

Pass 9 Apr 2013 221,387 miles

Nearside Drag link end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Drag link end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

rear A frame ball joint dust cover deteriorated

Pass 9 Mar 2012 217,570 miles

Offside Front Body has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Steering column universal joint has slight play (2.1.5)

exhaust corroded

nearside rear bumpstop missing

Pass 11 Mar 2011 215,872 miles

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Fail 11 Mar 2011 215,872 miles

Rear fog lamp switch faulty (1.3.1a)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Offside Drag link end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

Offside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 19 Mar 2010 212,763 miles

Faint patten on both front headlamps

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

Gearbox has oil leak

N/S/R bumpstop missing

Play in n/s/f wheel

Play in o/s/r wheel

Seat and seatbelts removed from rear

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Fail 12 Mar 2010 212,729 miles

Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Nearside Rear Seat belt insecurely fixed to the vehicles structure (5.2.1a)

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Offside Rear brake drum contaminated by oil (3.5.1h)

Power steering pump drive system defective (2.3.6)

Rear Statutory seat belt missing (5.1.1)

Steering system excessively tight (2.2.D.1)

Faint patten on both front headlamps

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

Gearbox has oil leak

N/S/R bumpstop missing

Play in n/s/f wheel

Play in o/s/r wheel

Seat and seatbelts removed from rear

Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.2.A.1a)

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 10mm circle within zone 'A' (8.3.1a)

Pass 13 Mar 2009 210,975 miles

chassis corroded

ctr brakepipe corroded at rear near brakehose

doors in poor condition

drivers wiper split on end

freeplay at steering approx 45mm

n/s/f swivel joint leaking

o/s/r indicator faded

pas pump wet

rear door heavily corroded

travel in footbrake

Fail 6 Mar 2009 210,953 miles

Offside Front Seat belt has a cut which has significantly weakened the webbing (5.2.2a)

Offside Rear brake drum contaminated by oil (3.5.1h)

travel in footbrake

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.C.1a)

chassis corroded

ctr brakepipe corroded at rear near brakehose

doors in poor condition

drivers wiper split on end

freeplay at steering approx 45mm

n/s/f swivel joint leaking

o/s/r indicator faded

pas pump wet

rear door heavily corroded

Pass 13 Mar 2008 209,323 miles

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

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

Nearside Headlamp not in good working order but not adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Offside Front Axle swivel joint has slight play (2.5.A.3b)

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Oil leak

Fail 22 Feb 2008 209,200 miles

Nearside Outer Rear Lower Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Nearside Outer Rear passenger seat cannot be secured in the upright position. (6.2.3)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.6.1)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)

Nearside Headlamp not in good working order but not adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Nearside hub seal has slight leak.

Offside Front brake disc slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

Offside Headlamp not in good working order but not adversely affecting beam image (1.2.4a)

Offside Rear Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Pass 24 Feb 2007 200,157 miles
Fail 23 Feb 2007 200,157 miles

Rear Rear fog lamp missing (1.3.2a)

Fail 9 Feb 2007 199,856 miles

Axle swivel joint has excessive movement between a swivel joint and its housing (2.5.A.1b)

Offside Front wheel bearing has excessive play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

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

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

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

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

handbrake tell tale inoperative

Pass 27 Feb 2006 191,240 miles
Fail 6 Jan 2006 191,067 miles

Brake pedal spongy (3.3.B.1b)

Nearside Front Braking system leaking (3.6.A.1)

Offside Front Headlamp aim too high (hotspot upper edge above the horizontal 0% line) (1.6.D1)

Offside Rear Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Parking brake lever has no reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

Power steering component(s) leaking (2.3.3b)

Power steering malfunctioning (2.3.3a)

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

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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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

D520 BDU is a 1986 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 25 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 68%.

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 D520 BDU, 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 D520 BDU?

You can check the full history of D520 BDU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was D520 BDU registered?

D520 BDU is a 1986 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 12 September 1986.

Is D520 BDU safe to buy?

The MOT history for D520 BDU shows 25 tests with a 68% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does D520 BDU 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 D520 BDU. 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.