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F185 ETH

1989 Land Rover Defender

Beige Diesel 2500cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires2 Nov 2026
Tests8 (5 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate62.5%

Mileage

8,721 mi
Last recorded8,721 miles
Recorded on3 Nov 2025
Typical for 1989 Land Rover Defender127,912 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationF185 ETH
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1989
ColourBeige
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

5 pass 3 fail
Pass 3 Nov 2025 8,721 miles
Pass 15 Jun 2023 2,201 miles

Nearside Rear Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Fail 15 Jun 2023 2,201 miles

Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing (1.1.2 (c))

Nearside Rear Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Prop shaft securing bolt loose (6.1.7 (a) (i))

Pass 6 Jul 2022 1 miles
Pass 25 Jun 2021 1 miles
Fail 5 May 2021 1 miles

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

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

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

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

Steering box leaking to the extent that oil is dripping (2.1.1 (e) (ii))

Steering box drop arm likely to become detached Drop arm nut locking device loose (2.1.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 17 Apr 2020 1 miles
Fail 16 Apr 2020 1 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

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

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

Nearside Front Wheel/tyre protruding beyond wheel arch ()

Offside Front Wheel/tyre protruding beyond wheel arch ()

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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F185 ETH is a 1989 Land Rover Defender in Beige with a 2,500cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 8 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 62.5%.

Across all 1989 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.8% with a typical mileage of 127,912 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 F185 ETH, 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 37 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 F185 ETH?

You can check the full history of F185 ETH by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was F185 ETH registered?

F185 ETH is a 1989 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 31 December 1989.

Is F185 ETH safe to buy?

The MOT history for F185 ETH shows 8 tests with a 62.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does F185 ETH 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 F185 ETH. 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.