Expertise needed, BMW or L serie engine?

Hi all,

I am in the process of purchasing a Freelander and have spotted a nice X reg (09/2000) station wagon at a local dealers.

It's advertised as a Td4 ES 1951cc, which would lead me to believe it's the BMW diesel engine. The dealer has assured me it is.

I have been to have a look and also test drove it, I'm impressed with it's condition.

However the engine bay, particularly the black plastic cover looks totally different to a 2002 Td4 that is on the same forecourt.

On "my" Freelander the oil filler is under a flap, the other vehicle has a visible cap.

When I got home I did a vehicle check at mycarcheck.com and it shows
it as a 1994cc diesel with an engine number beginning 20T2N18. The VIN number matches the registration, the VIN begins SALLNABB7YA******.
I took the number from the metal plate.

Could someone enlighten me as to what engine it has?

I would really like to buy the Freelander and have been told that the BMW engine is the best.


Many thanks.

Had the same problem.. ended up it is a Rover L series engine. My vin number matches yours (SALLNABB7YA...). Landrover dealer's computer says it is a TD4, but in fact it is a XEDI, with the Rover L series engine.

If the engine bay looks like the pictures below and you can see the oil filter in front on the left hand below with the dipstick having a yellow ring on top it is possibly a real Td4. To be sure you can check on the aluminium oilfilterhousing, which is screwed on the engine block, whether you see the BMW logo and the written BMW in letters above it. Picture shows with a yellow arrow where to look for the logo and BMW name. (Picture with the yellow arrow is taken of a Rover75 having tghe same BMW M47 engine as the Td4, only the enginecover is slightly different. The 2nd picture is of a genuine Td4).

Well the dealer maintained that it was simply listed wrong, it's actually an XEDi.

Anyhoo we bought it in the end, £500 off the advertised price and a year's road tax, new MOT and service.

Thanks for all of your help.

Hpoe your very happy with the engine, its a good'n can't speak for the rest of the car though. As I've said before on here, think of it as a rover and you won't mind the problems quite as much.