2004 Land Rover Range Rover 2.9L Diesel · LL04 YNT

The most recent DVSA examination on 15 September 2025 resulted in a Pass, but it carries three advisories that warrant close attention from any prospective buyer. The front inner brake pads were noted as wearing thin, and the nearside and offside rear inner sills show corrosion of the integral body structure, although structural rigidity is currently not considered significantly reduced. Looking back through the recent test history, the overall maintenance trend is broadly stable in that the vehicle has consistently passed its MOT, but there is a recurring theme that has not been fully resolved. Rear brake pad wear has been flagged as an advisory in three of the last four tests, rear tyre wear on the offside has been a persistent advisory since 2022, and the corrosion on the rear inner sills has been progressively noted from 2024 onwards, indicating it is being monitored rather than rectified. A serious parking brake efficiency defect was recorded as a Dangerous failure in August 2023, and although the vehicle subsequently passed, the underlying cause should be confirmed as properly rectified. The recorded mileage of 169,375 miles over approximately 22 years equates to around 7,700 miles annually, which is broadly typical for a vehicle of this age and broadly in line with average UK usage. There are no obvious large gaps between MOT records or sudden unexplained mileage jumps in the visible test history, suggesting consistent rather than erratic use. At this cumulative mileage, the mechanical expectations for a Range Rover of this vintage include significant wear on suspension components, bushes, dampers, prop shafts, drive belts and the air suspension system if fitted, alongside general drivetrain wear. Higher-mileage diesel and petrol luxury SUVs of this generation commonly present with tired engine mounts, worn transfer box components, and oil leaks from the engine and transmission sumps. Given the recurring advisories, a physical inspection and test drive should focus carefully on the braking system. With rear brake pad wear flagged repeatedly and front inner pads now noted as thin, the buyer should inspect all four corners for pad and disc condition, check for lipping or scoring on the brake discs, and listen for any binding calipers or brake shudder under deceleration. The parking brake, which was once assessed at less than 50 percent efficiency and categorised as Dangerous, should be specifically tested on a hill to confirm it holds the vehicle firmly without excessive travel, and the rear caliper mechanisms, cables or electronic actuators should be examined for seizure or corrosion. Uneven rear tyre wear, particularly on the offside, has been a consistent advisory since 2022 and often points to misalignment, worn rear suspension bushes, weak dampers, or a tracking issue, so the buyer should inspect the inner and outer edges of all tyres for uneven wear patterns and check for any suspension clonks, knocking or wandering behaviour on the test drive. Equally important is a thorough structural and underbody inspection. The advisories on both rear inner sills and the rear subframe mounting prescribed area suggest corrosion is present and should be expected to progress. The buyer should arrange for the vehicle to be placed on a ramp to allow close inspection of the sills, jacking points, subframe mountings, rear crossmembers, and outriggers for any bubbling, perforation, or structural weakness that could move the corrosion from advisory into failure category at the next test. Beyond the MOT record, practical age-related checks should include a careful look at the tyres for sidewall perishing and cracking, as older tyres can deteriorate through age even with adequate tread, verification of brake fluid and coolant service history due to calendar-based degradation, a 12 volt battery health test, and confirmation of recent cambelt or timing chain service. Air suspension components, where fitted, are a known weakness on this model and should be checked for leaks, sagging overnight, and compressor operation, while a scan for any stored diagnostic trouble codes is strongly advised given the vehicle's age and complexity.