1988 Land Rover Defender 3.5L Petrol · E480 HFW
1988 Land Rover Defender (3.5L, petrol). First registered 04 Feb 1988. Recorded mileage 164,058 miles. MOT valid until 14 Nov 2026. Taxed until 01 Dec 2026.
- Make & Model
- LAND ROVER DEFENDER
- Year / Origin
- 1988 · Chelmsford
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Valid until 14 Nov 2026
- Road Tax
- Taxed (01 Dec 2026)
- Recorded Mileage
- 164,058 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
- Fuel & Engine
- Petrol · 3.5L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
Thinking of buying this vehicle? Free MOT and tax checks do not cover legal ownership. If outstanding finance exists, finance companies have legal right to repossess without compensation.
E480 HFW Key Findings
- 5 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 05/11/2025
- 164,058 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 4 defects noted at the latest MOT
- Recurring lighting items (6 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
E480 HFW MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
5 MOT tests are recorded for this 1988 Land Rover Defender (E480 HFW) between November 2021 and November 2025.
The record contains 5 passes and 0 failures.
The record shows no MOT failures, although 14 advisory notices note items to monitor.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Lighting (6 issues), Exhaust & Emissions (3 issues), Steering (3 issues), Brakes (1 issue). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 14 advisory notices are recorded. Advisories flag items that passed but may need attention before the next test; they are not evidence of how well the vehicle has been serviced.
E480 HFW Mileage History
- 15/11/2021152,260 mi
- 08/11/2022154,948 mi+2,688 mi
- 08/11/2023156,189 mi+1,241 mi
- 06/11/2024159,647 mi+3,458 mi
- 05/11/2025164,058 mi+4,411 mi
Average of roughly 2,970 miles per year across 5 recorded odometer readings.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
Dimensions & Weights
Diagnostic & Valuation Intelligence
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Known faults for Land Rover Defender (Classic L316)
Our database tracks 4 specific mechanical faults and recurring failure patterns identified across UK MOT testing stations for this generation.
MOT Roadworthiness: Excellent
This rating reflects historical MOT pass rates and recurring advisory wear patterns from official DVSA test logs. Note that roadworthiness does not verify outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen records.
Verify lender finance agreements, insurance write-offs, police stolen registers, and mileage rollback.
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LAND ROVER DEFENDER Model Intelligence & Reliability
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