Question on quality of newish Defenders

Hi all
Excuse my foray into the rufty tufty side of the forum. I promise to wipe my feei as I leave.
I have seen a 90 with a good looking body knocking about recently, but it has a private plate. Being so nice I wondered if it was one of the last. So did the obvious : a reg check
Turns out its an early 2015.
I then followed the rabbit hole to see how a newish 90 is doing condition wise. Have to say I was surprised. It has failed all MoTs since 2018. Nothing major but definitely surprised.These were the fails when it was 3 years old. The ones since have been lamps, bushes, shocks again and a couple of other things.
Is this usual?
Thanks for answers

• Front Prop shaft joint excessively worn (6.1.7 (c) (i))
• Nearside Rear Lower Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))
• Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded front to rear both pipes (1.1.11 (c)

gold rover said:

Hi all
Excuse my foray into the rufty tufty side of the forum. I promise to wipe my feei as I leave.
I have seen a 90 with a good looking body knocking about recently, but it has a private plate. Being so nice I wondered if it was one of the last. So did the obvious : a reg check
Turns out its an early 2015.
I then followed the rabbit hole to see how a newish 90 is doing condition wise. Have to say I was surprised. It has failed all MoTs since 2018. Nothing major but definitely surprised.These were the fails when it was 3 years old. The ones since have been lamps, bushes, shocks again and a couple of other things.
Is this usual?
Thanks for answers

• Front Prop shaft joint excessively worn (6.1.7 (c) (i))
• Nearside Rear Lower Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush (5.3.2 (c))
• Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded front to rear both pipes (1.1.11 (c)

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Prop joint (uj?) and shock bush aren’t too much of a surprise, I wouldn’t have expected a brake line to corrode so soon though. In general though, it’s quite normal for a Defender to need this sort of attention almost annually, so don’t be too put off!

bluedog333 said:

Prop joint (uj?) and shock bush aren’t too much of a surprise, I wouldn’t have expected a brake line to corrode so soon though. In general though, it’s quite normal for a Defender to need this sort of attention almost annually, so don’t be too put off!

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Thanks for the response. I suppose it's just different to the Range Rover and what I would see at 3 years old.

My 2012 has never failed an MOT, not even had an advisory. But I do look after it and keep it well maintained.

If not protected they rust for fun.

gold rover said:

Thanks for the response. I suppose it's just different to the Range Rover and what I would see at 3 years old.

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Defender might have worked for a living ie off road/salt/mud etc.