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M878 BCV

1994 Land Rover Defender

Black Diesel 2495cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires1 Jun 2027
Tests34 (19 pass, 15 fail)
Pass rate55.9%

Mileage

110,000 mi
Last recorded110,000 miles
Recorded on2 Jun 2026
Typical for 1994 Land Rover Defender120,267 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

RegistrationM878 BCV
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1994
ColourBlack
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

19 pass 15 fail
Pass 2 Jun 2026 110,000 miles

Fluid leak, but not excessive front wheel hub seals (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fluid leak, but not excessive steering box (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 26 May 2026 110,000 miles

Offside Rear Brake disc contaminated (1.1.14 (b))

Fluid leak, but not excessive front wheel hub seals (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fluid leak, but not excessive steering box (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 24 Feb 2025 110,000 miles
Pass 15 May 2023 110,000 miles

Nearside Front Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced to the left of the spring (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Front outer door skin corroded

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

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

oily underneath

rear cross member corroded (towbar removed)

rusty underneath

Fail 27 Apr 2023 110,000 miles

Nearside Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded chassis (2.1.2 (e) (i))

Nearside Obligatory mirror seriously damaged, affecting the rear view (3.3 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded chassis (2.1.2 (e) (i))

Vehicle structure excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.1.6 (i) (i))

Offside Rear Shock absorbers likely to become detached (5.3.2 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced to the left of the spring (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Front outer door skin corroded

Nearside Rear shock corroded

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

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

oily underneath

rusty underneath

Pass 29 Apr 2022 110,000 miles

engine oily

o/s/f tyre starting to go out of shape

Fail 26 Apr 2022 110,000 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))

Nearside Headlamp light intensity severely reduced (4.1.4 (a))

Nearside Vehicle structure excessively corroded within 30cm of towbar mounting (6.1.6 (i) (i))

Offside Front Wheel bearing has excessive play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

engine oily

o/s/f tyre starting to go out of shape

Pass 1 Apr 2021 110,000 miles

Front shockabsorber bushes have slight play.

offside rear crosmember webb corroded

Fail 10 Feb 2021 110,000 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe likely to become detached or damaged (1.1.11 (d) (ii))

Nearside Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.1.2 (e) (i))

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

Offside Front Position lamp light intensity significantly reduced (4.2.3 (a) (ii))

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

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

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

Power steering pump leaking (2.1.5 (a))

Rear Registration plate inscription illegible (0.1 (b))

Offside Rear Vehicle structure is so weakened by corrosion within 30cm of a towbar mounting, the towbar is likely to become detached (6.1.6 (i) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Front shockabsorber bushes have slight play.

Offside Rear cross member bebb corroded.

Pass 19 Feb 2020 110,000 miles

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

Offside Front Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front wheelbearing has slight play

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

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

speedo stuck between numbers.

Fail 18 Feb 2020 110,000 miles

Front Registration plate inscription illegible (0.1 (b))

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (4.1.2 (a))

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

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

Offside Rear Rear reflector missing (4.8.2 (a) (ii))

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

Offside Front Lower Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush (5.3.2 (c))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front wheelbearing has slight play

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

Power steering component has slight seepage from a component steering box (2.1.5 (a))

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

speedo stuck between numbers.

Pass 19 Feb 2019 110,000 miles

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

battery warning light glowing

Fail 19 Feb 2019 110,000 miles

Nearside Rear Service brake excessively binding (1.2.1 (f))

Nearside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

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

battery warning light glowing

reverse light not working

Pass 8 Feb 2018 110,000 miles
Fail 8 Feb 2018 110,000 miles

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

Pass 1 Mar 2017 109,999 miles

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

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

Fail 1 Mar 2017 109,999 miles

Nearside Headlamp does not operate immediately when selected on main beam (1.7.4a)

Nearside Headlamp does not operate immediately when selected on main beam (1.7.4a)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

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

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

Pass 25 Feb 2016 110,000 miles

Brake pipe slightly corroded front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Offside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

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

Fail 25 Feb 2016 110,000 miles

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

Brake pipe slightly corroded front to rear (3.6.B.2c)

Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

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

Offside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)

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

Pass 7 Jul 2014 110,000 miles

Nearside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Fail 7 Jul 2014 110,000 miles

Nearside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

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

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 15 May 2013 110,000 miles
Fail 14 May 2013 110,000 miles

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

Centre Rear Upper Torque/reaction arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

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

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

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Pass 17 Apr 2012 110,000 miles

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

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

Pass 1 Apr 2011 110,000 miles

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

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

Pass 16 Apr 2010 109,993 miles
Fail 16 Apr 2010 109,993 miles

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Pass 2 Apr 2009 106,723 miles

Nearside outer track rod end joint cover split/missing

Oil leak

Fail 2 Apr 2009 106,723 miles

Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

Nearside outer track rod end joint cover split/missing

Oil leak

Fail 15 Apr 2008 103,676 miles

Offside Front Brake hose leaking (3.6.A.1)

Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

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

Pass 15 Apr 2008 103,676 miles
Pass 12 Apr 2007 100,048 miles
Fail 12 Apr 2007 100,048 miles

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

Nearside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)

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

Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated (8.2.2)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

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

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

Pass 6 Apr 2006 97,312 miles

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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M878 BCV is a 1994 Land Rover Defender in Black with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 34 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 55.9%.

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 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 M878 BCV, 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 M878 BCV?

You can check the full history of M878 BCV by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was M878 BCV registered?

M878 BCV is a 1994 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 28 October 1994.

Is M878 BCV safe to buy?

The MOT history for M878 BCV shows 34 tests with a 55.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does M878 BCV 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 M878 BCV. 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.