1997 Land Rover Defender 2.5L Diesel · R218 BUH
1997 Land Rover Defender (2.5L, diesel). First registered 01 Aug 1997. Recorded mileage 175,356 miles. MOT valid until 06 Feb 2027. Taxed until 01 Oct 2026.
- Make & Model
- LAND ROVER DEFENDER
- Year / Origin
- 1997 · Reading
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Valid until 06 Feb 2027
- Road Tax
- Taxed (01 Oct 2026)
- Recorded Mileage
- 175,356 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Non-Compliant (Pre-Euro 6 Diesel)
- Fuel & Engine
- DIESEL · 2.5L
- 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.
R218 BUH Key Findings
- 5 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 07/02/2026
- 175,356 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 1 historical MOT failure
- 2 defects noted at the latest MOT
- Recurring tyres items (11 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
R218 BUH 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 1997 Land Rover Defender (R218 BUH) between November 2022 and February 2026.
The record contains 4 passes and 1 failure.
The most recent test on 07 February 2026 was a pass, although the earlier record includes 1 failure that buyers may want to investigate.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Tyres (11 issues), Brakes (8 issues), Steering (3 issues), Lighting (3 issues), Exhaust & Emissions (2 issues). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 22 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.
Recorded failure items include: “Nearside Rear Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure deep cracking in tread area (5.2”; “Driver's view of the road through the swept area of the windscreen significantly affected by an obstruction wipers not ”; “Offside Front Seat belt webbing significantly weakened cut greater than 4mm (7.1.2 (b))”.
R218 BUH Mileage History
- 11/11/2022163,084 mi
- 23/10/2023170,643 mi+7,559 mi
- 27/01/2025173,272 mi+2,629 mi
- 07/02/2025173,273 mi+1 mi
- 07/02/2026175,356 mi+2,083 mi
Average of roughly 3,786 miles per year across 5 recorded odometer readings.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
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MOT Roadworthiness: Average
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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