2002 Land Rover Defender 2.5L Diesel · D3 MBC

The vehicle is currently roadworthy, but the maintenance history reveals a pattern of reactive rather than proactive upkeep. While it passed its latest test on 19 June 2025 at 229,426 miles, this followed a failure just one day prior due to an ABS fault, lighting issues, and poor tyres. The recurring presence of an oil leak across all recorded tests from 2024 to 2025 suggests a persistent issue that the owner has chosen to monitor rather than rectify. At 229,426 miles over approximately 24 years, the Defender has averaged roughly 9,500 miles per year, which is consistent with typical usage for a vehicle of this age. The data shows steady progression between tests, with roughly 3,000 miles covered between April 2023 and May 2024, and another 3,300 miles between May 2024 and June 2025. This consistent mileage interval suggests the vehicle is used regularly, which generally helps prevent the seal degradation and corrosion often associated with long periods of inactivity. A buyer must prioritise a thorough inspection of the ABS system, as the warning lamp remained active through the 2024 and 2025 cycles. The repeated failures regarding cracking and perishing tyres across multiple years indicate a neglect of basic consumable maintenance, which likely extends to rubber bushings and suspension components. Given the persistent oil leak, a close visual inspection is required to determine if the source is a simple gasket or a more significant engine seal failure. Furthermore, the age and mileage necessitate a check of the structural integrity and chassis rails for corrosion, as these areas are not highlighted in the recent MOT history but are critical failure points for this model.