1997 Land Rover Defender 2.5L Diesel · R973 BDU
1997 Land Rover Defender (2.5L, diesel). First registered 24 Nov 1997. Recorded mileage 151,260 miles. MOT valid until 05 Apr 2027. Taxed until 01 Apr 2027.
- Make & Model
- LAND ROVER DEFENDER
- Year / Origin
- 1997 · Reading
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Valid until 05 Apr 2027
- Road Tax
- Taxed (01 Apr 2027)
- Recorded Mileage
- 151,260 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.
R973 BDU Key Findings
- 5 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 07/04/2026
- 151,260 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 2 historical MOT failures
- 10 defects noted at the latest MOT
- Recurring tyres items (12 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
R973 BDU 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 (R973 BDU) between February 2024 and April 2026.
The record contains 3 passes and 2 failures.
The most recent test on 07 April 2026 was a pass, although the earlier record includes 2 failures that buyers may want to investigate.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Tyres (12 issues), Lighting (5 issues), Suspension (3 issues), Steering (3 issues), Windscreen (1 issue). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 24 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: “Offside Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt box”; “Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play front (2.1.3 (b) (i))”; “Offside Rear Upper Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))”.
R973 BDU Mileage History
- 23/02/2024144,427 mi
- 29/02/2024144,428 mi+1 mi
- 03/02/2025147,550 mi+3,122 mi
- 15/02/2025147,649 mi+99 mi
- 07/04/2026151,260 mi+3,611 mi
Average of roughly 3,226 miles per year across 5 recorded odometer readings.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
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MOT Roadworthiness: Good
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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