2009 Land Rover Discovery 3.0L Diesel · RM02 AGM

The Discovery presents a mixed mechanical picture at its most recent MOT on 8 October 2024, passing at 104,064 miles but carrying two advisory-level corrosion notices on both rear lower suspension wishbones. That pass followed a failure the previous day on 7 October 2024 at 104,060 miles, where both rear brake discs were seriously weakened and the same rear wishbone corrosion was flagged. The owner clearly addressed the brake discs immediately before retesting, yet the suspension corrosion advisories remained unresolved across both tests. Viewed against the longer timeline, the maintenance trend is not cleanly improving. The vehicle failed its 2023 test on 2 October 2023 at 99,142 miles for a split CV boot, structural corrosion on the offside rear suspension mounting area, a binding offside rear brake, and a worn offside front rear suspension bush, then passed a week later on 10 October 2023 at 99,144 miles with advisories on a front wheel bearing and chassis corrosion. The 2022 test on 4 October 2022 at 92,091 miles recorded zero defects, meaning the current corrosion and wear issues have accumulated noticeably in the last four years. The mileage progression tells a coherent story. Between October 2022 and October 2023 the vehicle covered roughly 7,050 miles, then added only about 4,920 miles in the following twelve months to October 2024. That second-year accumulation is lower than the vehicle's lifetime average of around 6,100 miles per year, suggesting lighter recent use or extended periods of standing. The narrow four-mile gap between the 2024 failure and pass on consecutive days confirms the owner was reactive to immediate failures rather than carrying out thorough preventive maintenance, which is a pattern worth noting. A buyer should treat the rear suspension and corrosion history as the primary concern. The rear lower wishbone corrosion has been flagged in both 2024 tests without being repaired, and the 2023 failure identified structural corrosion on the offside rear suspension mounting area along with heavy chassis corrosion. Any inspection must include a thorough underside examination of the rear subframe mounting points, wishbone bushes, and chassis rails for advanced corrosion or previous welding repairs. The rear braking system also demands scrutiny. Both rear discs were condemned as seriously weakened in October 2024, and the offside rear brake was binding in 2023, which points to potential caliper seizure or handbrake mechanism issues that may persist. The nearside front wheel bearing has shown slight play across both 2023 tests, and the offside front rear suspension bush was excessively worn in 2023, so a road test should check for suspension clunks, vague steering, and drivetrain vibration. Finally, the split CV boot from the 2023 failure should have been replaced, but the joint itself should be inspected for play or contamination, as neglected CV joints can fail without warning on a vehicle of this weight.