1991 Land Rover Defender 2.5L Diesel · H554 COD

The vehicle holds a current pass from the 29 December 2025 MOT test at 215,235 miles, with no defects recorded. That is the only entry on the official record I have. A single clean pass does not establish a maintenance trend one way or another. It shows the Defender met the minimum roadworthiness standards on that day, but it offers no evidence of how the vehicle was cared for across the preceding years. Mileage sits at roughly 6,150 miles per year across 35 years, which is typical for a vehicle of this age. The 215,235 miles logged in December 2025 aligns with genuine year-round use rather than sporadic weekend runs or long periods of standing. The absence of any earlier MOT entries prevents me from verifying whether that mileage accumulated steadily or came in sudden bursts. I cannot tell whether the vehicle covered its miles in short trips or sustained motorway cruising, and frequent cold starts and low-speed work place a different strain on the drivetrain than steady long-distance travel. With no advisories or failures logged, the file gives a buyer nothing obvious to chase. That said, a single pass on a 35-year-old Defender carries limited predictive weight. Rust on the chassis outriggers, crossmembers, and bulkhead footwells is the classic failure point on these vehicles and takes hold quietly between tests. Pay close attention to the suspension bushes and coil spring seats, and check the brake discs and calipers for binding, as a vehicle of this weight and age wears those components steadily. The record implies the previous keeper presented the vehicle in a compliant condition at test time. It does not prove that cosmetic corrosion, oil seepage from the transfer box or swivel housings, or general driveline slack were absent. Have a mechanic inspect the chassis rails and outriggers with a probe, and look underneath for fresh underseal that might mask structural repairs. A clean MOT pass is encouraging, but on a Defender of this vintage, the physical evidence beneath the vehicle counts far more than the paperwork.