2005 Land Rover Discovery 4.0L Petrol · W50 RAA

A persistent cluster of supplementary restraint system advisories has defined the MOT history of this 2005 Land Rover Discovery, with the airbag warning lamp illumination issue recorded at both the November 2024 and November 2025 tests, alongside a separate battery warning light advisory noted at the most recent examination. Aside from these recurring electrical instrument advisories and a single oil leak observation from late 2021, the vehicle has maintained an otherwise clean pass record across the documented 2021 to 2025 testing window, with two completely defect-free passes in 2022 and 2023. The pattern suggests the underlying airbag warning lamp fault has neither been rectified nor worsened into a failure, but its recurrence over consecutive years indicates a standing electrical or sensor issue that warrants pre-purchase investigation rather than dismissal. With 97,958 miles accumulated over approximately twenty-one years, this Discovery averages around 4,665 miles annually, a figure notably below typical mileage expectations for a vehicle of this age and class. Such modest usage frequently reflects a combination of light running and prolonged stationary periods, both of which carry specific mechanical consequences for a Land Rover of this vintage. Intermittent use accelerates degradation of rubber and elastomer components such as drive shaft boots, suspension bushes, and brake hydraulic seals through drying and perishing, while underloaded operation can allow brake discs to corrode prematurely on the friction surfaces. The annual accumulation rate appears reasonably consistent across the five recorded tests, with no obvious long gaps in MOT history to suggest extended off-road storage, though the mileage progression should still be physically verified against the odometer and service documentation. Prospective buyers should treat the recurrent airbag warning lamp advisory as a priority item, as a lamp that fails to illuminate on ignition may indicate either a failed bulb, a disconnected or removed airbag module, a crash data lock, or a deeper fault within the supplementary restraint system that could prevent deployment in a collision. A diagnostic scan using a tool capable of reading Land Rover specific airbag fault codes is essential, and any history of crash repair or dashboard removal should be investigated, as these are common triggers for the advisory in older vehicles. The battery warning light advisory from November 2025 also warrants alternator output testing and a parasitic drain check, particularly given the likelihood of long periods of inactivity where a weak 12V battery can mask charging faults. The oil leak advisory from November 2021, combined with the note that various rubber boots were coated in silicone sealant making inspection difficult, should prompt careful physical examination on a ramp or over an inspection pit before purchase. Buyers should look for fresh oil residue around the sump, timing cover, rocker cover gasket, and any rear main seal areas, while being wary that silicone-coated components can obscure active leaks or, conversely, mask deteriorated original parts. A test drive should focus on detecting any suspension knocks or clonks over uneven surfaces, paying particular attention to the front radius arms, track rod ends, and Panhard rod bushes, all known wear items on the Discovery 3 platform that can deteriorate rapidly with age regardless of mileage. Brake pedal feel should be assessed for sponginess indicative of corroded brake pipes, a common structural advisory on older Land Rovers, while any pulling under braking or uneven disc surface should be inspected visually for the corrosion typically associated with low-mileage vehicles of this type.