2004 Land Rover Discovery 2.5L Diesel · 456 ML

The vehicle most recently passed its MOT on 9 March 2026, with advisories relating to offside front seat belt webbing damage and tyres worn close to the legal limit on the inner edges. Looking across the recorded MOT history, the overall trend is broadly stable but carries several recurring themes worth noting. The corrosion advisory around the offside rear vehicle structure within 30 centimetres of the towbar mounting has appeared in 2022, 2024, and 2025, suggesting a persistent or slowly progressing area of structural concern rather than a one-off finding. The exhaust minor leak advisory has similarly recurred in 2023, 2024, and 2025, indicating that the rear exhaust section may be approaching the end of its service life. Suspension component wear, particularly anti-roll bar ball joint dust covers and slight play in track rod ends and anti-roll bar joints, has also featured across multiple tests from 2019 through 2025, pointing to gradual wear in the front and rear suspension linkage that buyers should monitor. With 151,240 miles recorded on a 2004 Discovery, the vehicle has covered approximately 6,875 miles per year over its 22-year life, which is broadly typical for its age and suggests neither unusually heavy motorway use nor prolonged standing. The MOT interval spacing between 2019 and 2026 is fairly consistent at one test per year, with annual mileage appearing modest. That said, the average figure masks what may have been periods of heavier or lighter use, and at this overall mileage a vehicle of this age will inevitably have worn or replaced major drivetrain and suspension consumables multiple times. Given the recurring advisories, a prospective buyer should carry out a focused inspection before purchase. The offside rear bodywork around the towbar mounting should be closely examined for any visible corrosion bubbling, perforation, or structural weakening, as Land Rover Discovery chassis and body structures in this age bracket are notoriously susceptible to rot in load-bearing sections, and the recurrence of this advisory suggests active deterioration. On the road, listen for exhaust hiss or ticking under acceleration, particularly from the rear section, and feel for any vibration or drone that would indicate an exhaust joint or mount failure. The suspension should be evaluated by pushing down on each corner to check for excessive bounce or clonks over uneven surfaces, and during a test drive listen for knocking or creaking from the front and rear anti-roll bar linkages, which historically have shown play on this vehicle. Tyre inner-edge wear, as flagged in the most recent MOT, often points to misalignment, worn suspension bushes, or sagging coil springs on a Discovery of this mileage, so the tyres should be inspected for uneven wear patterns and the suspension geometry and bush condition assessed professionally. Beyond the recorded defects, the calendar age of this Discovery demands attention to time-based degradation regardless of mileage. Tyres more than five years old should be checked for sidewall cracking and perishing, even if tread depth remains adequate, and the spare tyre should be examined similarly. Brake discs, particularly on a vehicle that may have stood for extended periods, are prone to surface corrosion and binding calipers, so a test drive should include several firm stops from moderate speed to confirm smooth, vibration-free braking and to free off any seized caliper slides. Check that the 12V battery is recent and securely mounted, as Land Rover electrical systems are sensitive to voltage drop, and verify the service history for timely replacement of brake fluid, coolant, and automatic or transfer box fluid if fitted, all of which degrade with calendar age. Finally, confirm that the seat belt webbing damage noted at the latest test has been rectified, as frayed belts are a safety-critical item and would warrant replacement rather than continued monitoring.