Freebie 1.8 petrol PLEASE READ!

Folks,
for anyone considering or owning a 1.8 petrol, suggest you have a read of these, and then do a search on here for HGF.

Before anyone shoots at me that theirs hasn't failed etc, this is to try and save someone the grief and dosh from theirs failing. forewarned is forearmed etc. And before I get acused of scaremongering and being 'anti-freelander', I drove a '98 Xedi for over 130k miles, with the bills to prove it. If you still doubt this advice, look at honest john to see what he sez on GL's, also check any of the moptoring advice sites to see what they say.

Preloved | land rover freelander head gasket failure discussion uk
FreeLander Head Gasket

If you do buy one an it starts costing upwards of £6k to fix (poor old Dafty), you could borrow these an give it a Viking funeral

Take5 said:

If you do buy one an it starts costing upwards of £6k to fix (poor old Dafty), you could borrow these an give it a Viking funeral

Click to expand...

You'll find that MHM admitted his engine bills were £1800 which was paid by his insurance.

Queue MHM

mine woulda bin £4.5k if it hadn't still bin under warranty.
an that wuz just the injun

Yu is wasting yo time, Cashew - most peeps either dont listen to the tales of woe, think it wont happen to them, think it only happens to cars not serviced or looked after. Added to that they invariably dont look or ask before they buy, only afterwards. Let em suffer, I say - there are good ones out there (queue Blippy), but I wouldnt want to take bets on any being a good one before purchase.



Balance Costs Sales
-£6,153.00 £10,319.47 -£4,166.47
purchase £6,500.00
warranty £843.05
vis valves £711.64
cutting out £132.19
light bulbs £8.99
4 new tyres £299.90
weld chassis £160.80
GB sticker £2.49
tow bar £295.00
70k service + propshaft £593.90
Head gasket+ £597.52
coolant tank cap £3.11
hire car £120.00
Ep80/90 oil+Paint £17.48
Drop link £19.42
T_Cut & car polish £13.98 -£13.98
GB sticker -£2.49
Trade in price -£4,000.00
tow bar -£150.00


these are costs TO ME - and doesnt included costs paid for by the warranty .

Yer right Hatters, just thought it would warrant a sticky, I'm just getting dare I say it a bit bored of the same old question 'me 1.8 is running like a bag of spanners/is using oil like no tomorrow, why is it gonna cost me several grand to fix?'

I feel sorry for the poor daft sods, but then again, yer can lead a horse to water....

The Mad Hat Man said:

Yu is wasting yo time, Cashew - most peeps either dont listen to the tales of woe, think it wont happen to them, think it only happens to cars not serviced or looked after. Added to that they invariably dont look or ask before they buy, only afterwards. Let em suffer, I say - there are good ones out there (queue Blippy), but I wouldnt want to take bets on any being a good one before purchase.



Balance Costs Sales
-£6,153.00 £10,319.47 £4,166.47
purchase £6,500.00
warranty £843.05
vis valves £711.64
cutting out £132.19
light bulbs £8.99
4 new tyres £299.90
weld chassis £160.80
GB sticker £2.49
tow bar £295.00
70k service + propshaft £593.90
Head gasket+ £597.52
coolant tank cap £3.11
hire car £120.00
Ep80/90 oil+Paint £17.48
Drop link £19.42
T_Cut & car polish £13.98 £13.98
GB sticker £2.49
Trade in price £4,000.00
tow bar £150.00


these are costs TO ME - and doesnt included costs paid for by the warranty .

Click to expand...

I can't believe you included these in there....and you forgot the fire orange air freshener, curling tongs and the bulk hair spray....

Take5 said:

If you do buy one an it starts costing upwards of £6k to fix (poor old Dafty), you could borrow these an give it a Viking funeral

Click to expand...

Christ Take, how big is that box, number of times it appears.....

The Mad Hat Man said:

Yu is wasting yo time, Cashew - most peeps either dont listen to the tales of woe, think it wont happen to them, think it only happens to cars not serviced or looked after. Added to that they invariably dont look or ask before they buy, only afterwards. Let em suffer, I say - there are good ones out there (queue Blippy), but I wouldnt want to take bets on any being a good one before purchase.



Balance Costs Sales
-£6,153.00 £10,319.47 £4,166.47
purchase £6,500.00
warranty £843.05
vis valves £711.64
cutting out £132.19
light bulbs £8.99
4 new tyres £299.90
weld chassis £160.80
GB sticker £2.49
tow bar £295.00
70k service + propshaft £593.90
Head gasket+ £597.52
coolant tank cap £3.11
hire car £120.00
Ep80/90 oil+Paint £17.48
Drop link £19.42
T_Cut & car polish £13.98 £13.98
GB sticker £2.49
Trade in price £4,000.00
tow bar £150.00


these are costs TO ME - and doesnt included costs paid for by the warranty .

Click to expand...

Ive seen some ****e and scaremongering on here but how can any daft tw*t count

GB stickers (X2)
T-cut & polish
towbar (again x2 but with different prices)
And general wear & tear (bulbs,tyres etc)

Into the overall costs of running a car...pehaps if you had spent a couple of quid on anti freeze, oil and a fookin manual your motor might have lasted a bit longer and you might have got a bit more sympathy

Obviously ya warranty wernt worth the paper it was on or someone turned your pockets over big style...Vis valves cost £400 If weld chassis means rear chassis mount it about 1/2 hr work and £30 max... 70k service ... If ya buys a car that needs a service you have 3 choices diy/pay for it/risk things going tits up. Head gasket...see comment on oil and coolant above...

And whos fault was all this

Sorry mate you have just ****ed all over your biased opinionated arguments with that post.

ffs Doobrey - that was cut n pasted straight from an excel spreadsheet - hence the headings of "Balance Costs Sales". where there are two prices the first is wot it cost - the second is wot it was sold fur. Yup it includes some minor items, but the costs are real. Antifreeze, oil and a manual are included. "Vis valves cost £400" - you dont know what was done, so you cant comment - duz your costing include manifold complete? This was done before the usual trick of swapping to a Rover 75 manifold. The price of £700 also includes a new Throttle body and fitting.
The cost of the head gasket was circa £1800 - the cost of £597 is my contribution for stuff not covered by warranty - ie oils, antifreeze, crack detection of heads, skimming etc.

I dont give a **** what you think, that is what it cost me. Maybe I could have got it done cheaper, but it shouldnt have needed to be done.
The Freelander is a crap design, poorly built, by peeps with no interest, sold by peeps with no aftercare or interest in their customers. I learnt the hard way, as did several others on here. I hope yours is "a goodun". As Cashew says above "try and save someone the grief and dosh from theirs failing. forewarned is forearmed ".

Northern Irelander said:

You'll find that MHM admitted his engine bills were £1800 which was paid by his insurance.

Queue MHM

Click to expand...

ah dint see the relevance of that, its still money thats bin paid out to sort faults

The Mad Hat Man said:

ffs Doobrey - that was cut n pasted straight from an excel spreadsheet - hence the headings of "Balance Costs Sales". where there are two prices the first is wot it cost - the second is wot it was sold fur. Yup it includes some minor items, but the costs are real. Antifreeze, oil and a manual are included.

Click to expand...

Could see it was a cut and paste which is why I asked about the oil etc...Thought if you is anal enough to add GB sticker in there then you would certainly add in the oil and antifreeze...If it was only done at servicing time (or when it went bang)then no wonder it fooked up...personally never had a landrover (any model) that hasnt leaked one fluid or another and needed topping up at regular intervals....then again have always checked regularly never had to lay silly money out for fixing

"Vis valves cost £400" - you dont know what was done, so you cant comment - duz your costing include manifold complete? This was done before the usual trick of swapping to a Rover 75 manifold. The price of £700 also includes a new Throttle body and fitting.

Click to expand...

No dont know what was done and therefore gave a price I knew (V6 complete...not reepair) ) and assumed 1.8 to be cheaper.... As I didnt know I have just checked with main stealer and depending on engine number vary between £100 & £150 (complete...not repair kit) and a fairly simple repair but must admit was just as they closed so think I may have got the office monkey (will happily be corrected if you know different)

The cost of the head gasket was circa £1800 - the cost of £597 is my contribution for stuff not covered by warranty - ie oils, antifreeze, crack detection of heads, skimming etc.

Click to expand...

Crack detection....they obviously saw your crack when they dropped your trousers and give it a good spanking... If all them bits are needed to do a job that is covered by warranty then they too would be covered. Dunno what they cost nowadays but cant imagine all those extras costing mor than £200 in total and thats being generous (Note 1.8 only has 1 head)

I dont give a **** what you think, that is what it cost me. Maybe I could have got it done cheaper, but it shouldnt have needed to be done.
The Freelander is a crap design, poorly built, by peeps with no interest, sold by peeps with no aftercare or interest in their customers. I learnt the hard way, as did several others on here. I hope yours is "a goodun". As Cashew says above "try and save someone the grief and dosh from theirs failing. forewarned is forearmed ".

Click to expand...

Personally dont give a **** what you say either but just trying to give a balanced opinion on here not all freelanders are perfect but as Ive said in the past a lot depends on how they are (and have been) looked after by past and present owners, I think a lot of the problem is that FL is a stepping stone from ""normal"" motor and is often the first LR a person has owned.

Any LR needs the extra few minutes spent for a regular quick check, it will also take a bit more sevicing, I personally kick the arse out of mine and because I do I ensure all fluids are changed at 1/2 their stated intervals or less...And all servicing carried out correctly well before its stated in the book....Yes it has had problems....yes it has bit me on the ass and needed money spending when not expected but to read your posts you would imagine they are all the devil incarnate...

As Ive said in the past...just coz it happened to you it wont happen to all.... Please do not take this as a personal attack on you..it aint..I too have had problem vehicles in the past, luckily have had the knowledge to ensure I did not end up out of pocket, even though some (mainly series vehicles) have come with more problems than anticipated.

Out of interest how long did/what miles did you own the Devils Child???

slob said:

ah dint see the relevance of that, its still money thats bin paid out to sort faults

Click to expand...

Yes very true money that was paid out on a problem that should have never existed.

However, it wasnt £6k as pointed out, but £1.8k, and MHM's engine was the V6, not the 1.8 k-series

Take5 should have mentioned that normal repairs for the hgf in the 1.8k series are from £300 (back street) to £1200 (dealer).

Worst case scenario is a new/recon engine at £1750 or so.

It shouldnt happen in a modern day motor, but then again cars arent built to last these days.

HGF also occurs in Fiats, the new Mini2 and Range Rover 4.0 HSE have been known to dump oil everywhere

Northern Irelander said:

Worst case scenario is a new/recon engine at £1750 or so

Click to expand...

Oh so not bad on a 4 grand car then

Sirus said:

Oh so not bad on a 4 grand car then

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Maybe you should make this a sticky, for me personally Im waiting for the day when the ar$e drops right out of the k-series market.

In my local paper,

1999 Rover 75, 2.5 v6, 600quid, needs slight engine attention.

1999 Freelanders going for around £1500, not good for anyone selling but good for those who want cheap parts to salvage.

doobreydog said:

just trying to give a balanced opinion on here not all freelanders are perfect but as Ive said in the past a lot depends on how they are (and have been) looked after by past and present owners, I think a lot of the problem is that FL is a stepping stone from ""normal"" motor and is often the first LR a person has owned.

Any LR needs the extra few minutes spent for a regular quick check, it will also take a bit more sevicing, I personally kick the arse out of mine and because I do I ensure all fluids are changed at 1/2 their stated intervals or less...And all servicing carried out correctly well before its stated in the book....Yes it has had problems....yes it has bit me on the ass and needed money spending when not expected but to read your posts you would imagine they are all the devil incarnate...

I too have had problem vehicles in the past, luckily have had the knowledge to ensure I did not end up out of pocket, even though some (mainly series vehicles) have come with more problems than anticipated.

Click to expand...

My italics Doobrey, but if yer gotta service a car twice as often as specced to keep it running ok, either a) the manufacture got its service schedule tits up or b) the motor is just plain unreliable.

Lets put it this way matey, I loved me GL, but then again I was prepared to get under her with the spanners on a regular basis, knowing her to be a finnicky cow at the best of times. Total over the top (ie normal servicing/consumables) cost for 130k miles is approx £3.5k, which ain't too bad, but thats with a lot of the spannering mesen.I just agree with most opinion that the GL has inherent design faults which will cost you loads of money, the 'K' engine being equal top of the list alongside the drivetrain faults, and as i said in my first post, "this is to try and save someone the grief and dosh from theirs failing".

Northern Irelander said:

Maybe you should make this a sticky, for me personally Im waiting for the day when the ar$e drops right out of the k-series market.

In my local paper,

1999 Rover 75, 2.5 v6, 600quid, needs slight engine attention.

1999 Freelanders going for around £1500, not good for anyone selling but good for those who want cheap parts to salvage.

Click to expand...

Smack on the nail NI, I got £1300 for mine with several faults needing sorting. Bloke took her and another one to Poland, not sure whether for breaking or repair..

Northern Irelander said:

However, it wasnt £6k as pointed out, but £1.8k, and MHM's engine was the V6, not the 1.8 k-series

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NI - I have never said that the HGF cost £6K - just that the "Devils Child" cost me £6K-£6.5K in the 13 months and 4057miles that I used it for, and I dont consider that value for money. As stated above, mine was a KV6, not a 1.8. I commented in reply to T5's request, however, engine excepted, the other faults on all models of Hippoo are similar.

None of us are saying that every Hippoo will cost that or be a pile of ****e.
Peeps that want to buy one (or have just bought one) need to know that there is a higher than average chance of them getting a pup and need to go into it with their eyes wide open.
When I bought the V6 I knew about its poor fuel consumption and never complained about its 19 to the gallon. I just maintain that if, as Doobrey says "is that (a) FL is a stepping stone from ""normal"" motor and is often the first LR a person has owned." then it will do more harm to the LR marque than good.
I exchanged my Hippoo for an Nissan, and (touch wood) it has only cost me circa £900 in 15000 miles [excluding depreciation]. My Series and my Disco were/are forever going wrong (or not going right), but the cost to fix is peanuts in comparison to the Hippoo.

cashybai said:

My italics Doobrey, but if yer gotta service a car twice as often as specced to keep it running ok, either a) the manufacture got its service schedule tits up or b) the motor is just plain unreliable.

Lets put it this way matey, I loved me GL, but then again I was prepared to get under her with the spanners on a regular basis, knowing her to be a finnicky cow at the best of times. Total over the top (ie normal servicing/consumables) cost for 130k miles is approx £3.5k, which ain't too bad, but thats with a lot of the spannering mesen.I just agree with most opinion that the GL has inherent design faults which will cost you loads of money, the 'K' engine being equal top of the list alongside the drivetrain faults, and as i said in my first post, "this is to try and save someone the grief and dosh from theirs failing".

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As said I do kick the arse out of mine... it does not lead a very pampered life... apart from normal servicing/wear and tear items which I do myself, it has so far cost in ""unexpected bills"" around £600 in over 40k miles (which includes fitting new belts, water pump etc ...a service item that wont be needed next year, ( clue to when your laptop needs eating ) but was done as precation while thermostat was getting sorted) ..... There was other work carried out within first few weeks of my ownership due to dealer I bought it from not fixing things that I had requested prior to my collection or had gone wrong just after, (including all fluids and ancillaries needed) but not paid for by me.

Personally do think LR got their servicing wrong ... fine for on road but with little mention of off road prep and additional sevicing. How many rear diffs are shagged out by the lack of 10 minutes fitting an extended breather that costs about a quid to do... more importantly why didnt LR do it in first place.



My belt and braces approach to fluid changes and servicing schedule is due to experience gained over many years of LR ownership and as this is my only vehicle/daily driver I like to keep it in good running order.

MHM just that the "Devils Child" cost me £6K-£6.5K in the 13 months and 4057miles

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I can understand your problems now but still say if that was under warranty youve had your arse spanked big style.

Cheapest off roader Ive ever owned was Nissan ... very rarely saw tarmac...no servicing.... cost MOTs + £20 in tank patch stuff for four years..... excellent motor and as it stood me nowt gave it away when I moved back to civilisation....NISSAN SUNNY cant beat em

yer care to enlighten us as to why driving off road 'wears' out yer fluids quicker than on-road driving.

ah can see yer air filter might get bunged up in dusty conditions maybe even wet muddy conditions , depend whether yer got a snorkel or not. but I just can't see how driving off road is gonna wear out yer fluids any quicker than on road would.

all my cars for as long as i can remember have bin lucky to get an oil change ever two years regardless of miles covered and i've never (yet) had any problems because of this.
servicing schedules are set delibratly low because they can sell more bits and it also ensure that your oil etc never get to a point where its useless.

i've heard all the stories about acids in the oil and lose of viscosity, but i've never seen any proof of this.
me jag just had it second oil change in 5 years,and around 70,000miles it still starts on the button and has no smoke, clunks or any other signs of wear