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M539 SYB

1994 Land Rover Defender

Blue Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires3 Jun 2027
Tests28 (20 pass, 8 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

248,218 mi
Last recorded248,218 miles
Recorded on1 Jun 2026
Typical for 1994 Land Rover Defender120,267 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
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Finance
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationM539 SYB
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1994
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

20 pass 8 fail
Pass 1 Jun 2026 248,218 miles

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

Hazard warning tell-tale is not a flashing light (4.9.2 (a))

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

Pass 4 Jun 2025 240,222 miles

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

Nearside Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Rear Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Fail 2 Jun 2025 240,222 miles

Nearside Headlamp insecure (4.1.1 (c))

Offside Headlamp insecure (4.1.1 (c))

Windscreen washer jets misaligned and not providing sufficient fluid to the windscreen (3.5 (a))

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

Nearside Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Rear Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Pass 30 May 2024 234,619 miles

Hazard warning tell-tale inoperative (4.9.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

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

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

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel, requires adjustment

Fail 28 May 2024 234,619 miles

Front Steering linkage fouling Track rod bar to axle (2.1.4 (a))

Nearside Front Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush excessively worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn Radius arm, front bush behind axle (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn Radius arm, front bush infront of axle (5.3.4 (a) (i))

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

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp lens defective such that emitted light is adversely affected (4.5.1 (b) (ii))

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

Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn Trailing arm to axle bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Wheel bearing play so excessive that directional control is impaired (5.1.3 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Hazard warning tell-tale inoperative (4.9.1 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

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

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

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

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel, requires adjustment

Pass 9 Feb 2023 231,576 miles
Pass 7 Dec 2021 224,953 miles

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

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

Rear Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively Rear UJ (6.1.7 (c) (i))

Pass 11 Nov 2020 219,384 miles
Pass 22 Oct 2019 211,889 miles

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

Offside Front Lower Axle swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush slightly worn (5.1.2 (b) (i))

Pass 29 Nov 2018 209,125 miles

Nearside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

Offside Front Seat belt slightly damaged (7.1.2 (b) (i))

Pass 10 Nov 2017 204,984 miles

Offside Rear Reflector repaired with tape

Slight play in steering arm drop link ball joint

Pass 4 Nov 2016 196,892 miles

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

Pass 23 Oct 2015 188,188 miles

Front position lamp(s) deteriorated, but still visible from a reasonable distance Both headlamp chromes (1.1.A.3d)

Nearside Front Front position lamp(s) deteriorated, but still visible from a reasonable distance Small hole in lenes (1.1.A.3d)

Nearside Rear Front position lamp(s) slightly discoloured (1.1.A.3e)

Some damage to near side lower body panels,but no sharpe edges

Pass 23 Oct 2014 181,644 miles

Coolant leak

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) slightly discoloured (1.1.A.3e)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Nearside Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

Offside Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

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

Oil leak

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

diff has slight leak

Fail 21 Oct 2014 181,644 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Coolant leak

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) slightly discoloured (1.1.A.3e)

Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Nearside Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

Offside Seat belt stitching slightly frayed (5.2.2b)

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

Oil leak

Parking brake lever has little reserve travel (3.1.6b)

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

diff has slight leak

Pass 22 Oct 2013 175,218 miles

Nearside Rear position lamp(s) slightly discoloured (1.1.A.3e)

Offside Rear reflector slightly damaged but function not impaired (1.5.1c)

some corrosion in rear crossmember not excessive enough to fail

Pass 10 Oct 2012 168,717 miles

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

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

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

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Prop-shaft universal joint worn

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

slight damage to front number plate but still legagable...

small corner piece missing off of osr reflector...

Fail 8 Oct 2012 168,651 miles

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

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

Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

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

Offside Front Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

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

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

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

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

Nearside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

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

Offside Front Seat belt damaged but not affecting the operation of the belt (5.2.2a)

Prop-shaft universal joint worn

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

slight damage to front number plate but still legagable...

small corner piece missing off of osr reflector...

Pass 11 Oct 2011 158,562 miles

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

Nearside Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Offside Rear reflector slightly damaged but function not impaired (1.5.1c)

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

Fail 11 Oct 2011 158,558 miles

Nearside Front Tyre(s) incorrect because tyres with different aspect ratios are fitted on the same axle. (4.1.A.1a)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

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

Nearside Seat belt damaged but webbing not significantly weakened (5.2.2a)

Offside Rear reflector slightly damaged but function not impaired (1.5.1c)

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

cut in side wall ,not deep enough to reach cords, front nearside.

Pass 13 Oct 2010 147,991 miles
Fail 13 Oct 2010 147,991 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

front brake pads low

steering dampner bush worn

Pass 13 Oct 2009 135,802 miles
Fail 9 Oct 2009 135,723 miles

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

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

Nearside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

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

Nearside Rear Upper Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (2.7.4)

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

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Rear Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

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

Both outer seat belts have slight fraying

Both radius arms have slightly worn bush's

Pass 9 Oct 2008 130,040 miles
Pass 15 Oct 2007 124,686 miles
Fail 12 Oct 2007 124,625 miles

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

Pass 11 Oct 2006 119,097 miles

Front 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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M539 SYB is a 1994 Land Rover Defender in Blue with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71.4%.

Across all 1994 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 68.3% with a typical mileage of 120,267 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 M539 SYB, 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 32 years old, this Land Rover Defender is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of M539 SYB?

You can check the full history of M539 SYB by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was M539 SYB registered?

M539 SYB is a 1994 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 1 October 1994.

Is M539 SYB safe to buy?

The MOT history for M539 SYB shows 28 tests with a 71.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does M539 SYB 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 M539 SYB. 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.