Freelander Problems and lack of dealer response

Was wondering whether any one has had a similar let down with a
Freelander. I run a fleet of cars for the company and have never
encountered so many problems as I have with this one vehicle.

First registered Jan 2001 - model GS 1.8 K series engine

Week one - fuel pump went - dealer was only prepared to offer a
courtesy car for one day despite the fact that the repair would take
longer.

Three months - problem with LH front suspension

20966 miles - dealer fitted new pump and new head gasket

car continued loosing cooling water
steering wheel shake not cured by wheel balancing
malfunction of radio

All services carried out as per schedule and by franchised dealers

79552 miles - loosing even more water so dealer fitted water pump -
total service bill from franchised dealer £1396

November 2003 - another water pump fitted. Dealer taken by surprise
when we told him that he had only recently fitted one, so he
reluctantly waived the charge when pointing him at the sky high
invoice from the last service.

Final insult - heat gasket blown at 84000 miles car stranded on
roadside


Can not sell the vehicle without a working engine. Ouch.
Manufacturer not willing to contribute towards costs. Total spend so
far £3595 and that is without the cost of a replacement engine needed
in order to sell the vehicle.

In message <[email protected]>, Anthony
<[email protected]> writes

>Was wondering whether any one has had a similar let down with a
>Freelander. I run a fleet of cars for the company and have never
>encountered so many problems as I have with this one vehicle.

As a recovery operator I can assure you that you are not on your own.
The 'K' series engine is well know for cylinder head problems!!

--
Graham Jones

On 27 Apr 2004 04:01:31 -0700, [email protected] (Anthony)
wrote:

>Was wondering whether any one has had a similar let down with a
>Freelander. I run a fleet of cars for the company and have never
>encountered so many problems as I have with this one vehicle.
>
>First registered Jan 2001 - model GS 1.8 K series engine

That tells us all we need to know.

BBC Watchdog did a feature on this K series engine on 21st October
2003. You can review what they had to say here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/reports/transport8.shtml

This is a motor that you will probably not want to keep on your fleet.
Trouble is, the K series engine problems are so well known that you
may have difficulty getting more than scrap value for the car.

Fortunately I've got the diesel Freelander so don't have the issue to
contend with.

PoP

---
http://www.ukdiy.org.uk

Anthony wrote:
> Was wondering whether any one has had a similar let down with a
> Freelander. I run a fleet of cars for the company and have never
> encountered so many problems as I have with this one vehicle.
>
> First registered Jan 2001 - model GS 1.8 K series engine

snip

>
> Final insult - heat gasket blown at 84000 miles car stranded on
> roadside
>
>
> Can not sell the vehicle without a working engine. Ouch.
> Manufacturer not willing to contribute towards costs. Total spend so
> far £3595 and that is without the cost of a replacement engine needed
> in order to sell the vehicle.

I'll give you 500 quid for it with the blown engine....

In message <[email protected]>, Anthony
<[email protected]> writes

>Was wondering whether any one has had a similar let down with a
>Freelander. I run a fleet of cars for the company and have never
>encountered so many problems as I have with this one vehicle.

As a recovery operator I can assure you that you are not on your own.
The 'K' series engine is well know for cylinder head problems!!

--
Graham Jones

On 27 Apr 2004 04:01:31 -0700, [email protected] (Anthony)
wrote:

>Was wondering whether any one has had a similar let down with a
>Freelander. I run a fleet of cars for the company and have never
>encountered so many problems as I have with this one vehicle.
>
>First registered Jan 2001 - model GS 1.8 K series engine

That tells us all we need to know.

BBC Watchdog did a feature on this K series engine on 21st October
2003. You can review what they had to say here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/reports/transport8.shtml

This is a motor that you will probably not want to keep on your fleet.
Trouble is, the K series engine problems are so well known that you
may have difficulty getting more than scrap value for the car.

Fortunately I've got the diesel Freelander so don't have the issue to
contend with.

PoP

---
http://www.ukdiy.org.uk

PoP <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> On 27 Apr 2004 04:01:31 -0700, [email protected] (Anthony)
> wrote:
>
> >Was wondering whether any one has had a similar let down with a
> >Freelander. I run a fleet of cars for the company and have never
> >encountered so many problems as I have with this one vehicle.
> >
> >First registered Jan 2001 - model GS 1.8 K series engine
>
> That tells us all we need to know.
>
> BBC Watchdog did a feature on this K series engine on 21st October
> 2003. You can review what they had to say here:
>
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/reports/transport8.shtml
>
> This is a motor that you will probably not want to keep on your fleet.
> Trouble is, the K series engine problems are so well known that you
> may have difficulty getting more than scrap value for the car.
>
> Fortunately I've got the diesel Freelander so don't have the issue to
> contend with.
>
> PoP
>
> ---
> http://www.ukdiy.org.uk

When all is said and done, I was wondering whether anyone thinks there
is any mileage in joining forces and taking a class action against the
manufaturer who it seems is clearly not owning up to the fact that
they are responsible by virtue of either bad design or quality control
during manufacture. In our case the car was continuously loosing
water so that the claim about the mileage being too high or having
gone past the three year warantee is not just since the problem had
never been eliminated.

Anthony wrote:
> Was wondering whether any one has had a similar let down with a
> Freelander. I run a fleet of cars for the company and have never
> encountered so many problems as I have with this one vehicle.
>
> First registered Jan 2001 - model GS 1.8 K series engine

snip

>
> Final insult - heat gasket blown at 84000 miles car stranded on
> roadside
>
>
> Can not sell the vehicle without a working engine. Ouch.
> Manufacturer not willing to contribute towards costs. Total spend so
> far £3595 and that is without the cost of a replacement engine needed
> in order to sell the vehicle.

I'll give you 500 quid for it with the blown engine....

On 29 Apr 2004 03:51:35 -0700, [email protected] (Anthony)
wrote:

>When all is said and done, I was wondering whether anyone thinks there
>is any mileage in joining forces and taking a class action against the
>manufaturer who it seems is clearly not owning up to the fact that
>they are responsible by virtue of either bad design or quality control
>during manufacture. In our case the car was continuously loosing
>water so that the claim about the mileage being too high or having
>gone past the three year warantee is not just since the problem had
>never been eliminated.

You might get more support if you join one of the Freelander luvvy
clubs that you can find on the Internet. They are a popular vehicle
and I'm sure a goodly number of owners of these clubs have been
bitten.

PoP

---
http://www.ukdiy.org.uk

PoP <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> On 27 Apr 2004 04:01:31 -0700, [email protected] (Anthony)
> wrote:
>
> >Was wondering whether any one has had a similar let down with a
> >Freelander. I run a fleet of cars for the company and have never
> >encountered so many problems as I have with this one vehicle.
> >
> >First registered Jan 2001 - model GS 1.8 K series engine
>
> That tells us all we need to know.
>
> BBC Watchdog did a feature on this K series engine on 21st October
> 2003. You can review what they had to say here:
>
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/reports/transport8.shtml
>
> This is a motor that you will probably not want to keep on your fleet.
> Trouble is, the K series engine problems are so well known that you
> may have difficulty getting more than scrap value for the car.
>
> Fortunately I've got the diesel Freelander so don't have the issue to
> contend with.
>
> PoP
>
> ---
> http://www.ukdiy.org.uk

When all is said and done, I was wondering whether anyone thinks there
is any mileage in joining forces and taking a class action against the
manufaturer who it seems is clearly not owning up to the fact that
they are responsible by virtue of either bad design or quality control
during manufacture. In our case the car was continuously loosing
water so that the claim about the mileage being too high or having
gone past the three year warantee is not just since the problem had
never been eliminated.

On 29 Apr 2004 03:51:35 -0700, [email protected] (Anthony)
wrote:

>When all is said and done, I was wondering whether anyone thinks there
>is any mileage in joining forces and taking a class action against the
>manufaturer who it seems is clearly not owning up to the fact that
>they are responsible by virtue of either bad design or quality control
>during manufacture. In our case the car was continuously loosing
>water so that the claim about the mileage being too high or having
>gone past the three year warantee is not just since the problem had
>never been eliminated.

You might get more support if you join one of the Freelander luvvy
clubs that you can find on the Internet. They are a popular vehicle
and I'm sure a goodly number of owners of these clubs have been
bitten.

PoP

---
http://www.ukdiy.org.uk

"PoP" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On 27 Apr 2004 04:01:31 -0700, [email protected] (Anthony)
> wrote:
>
> >Was wondering whether any one has had a similar let down with a
> >Freelander. I run a fleet of cars for the company and have never
> >encountered so many problems as I have with this one vehicle.
> >
> >First registered Jan 2001 - model GS 1.8 K series engine
>
> That tells us all we need to know.
>
> BBC Watchdog did a feature on this K series engine on 21st October
> 2003. You can review what they had to say here:
>
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/reports/transport8.shtml
>
> This is a motor that you will probably not want to keep on your fleet.
> Trouble is, the K series engine problems are so well known that you
> may have difficulty getting more than scrap value for the car.
>
> Fortunately I've got the diesel Freelander so don't have the issue to
> contend with.

Just curious, who makes the diesel engine for Land Rover?

>
> PoP
>
> ---
> http://www.ukdiy.org.uk

In article <[email protected]>, Wiwat Chang wrote:
>
>
> Just curious, who makes the diesel engine for Land Rover?
>

The Freelander engine is a BMW one, as used in the 3 series. I think the
first Freelanders used a Rover diesel.

--
simon at sbarr dot demon dot co dot uk
Simon Barr.
'97 110 300Tdi.

"Graham Jones" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> In message <[email protected]>,
Anthony
> <[email protected]> writes
>
> >Was wondering whether any one has had a similar let down with a
> >Freelander. I run a fleet of cars for the company and have never
> >encountered so many problems as I have with this one vehicle.
>
> As a recovery operator I can assure you that you are not on your
own.
> The 'K' series engine is well know for cylinder head problems!!
>
> --
> Graham Jones

Maybe you can confirm that it is known within 'recovery' circles that
Land Rover form an unusually high proportion of their custom compared
to any other vehicle in proportion to the total vehicle park?

Huw


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
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In message <[email protected]>, Huw
<hedydd@[nospam].invalid> writes

>> As a recovery operator I can assure you that you are not on your
>own.
>> The 'K' series engine is well know for cylinder head problems!!

>Maybe you can confirm that it is known within 'recovery' circles that
>Land Rover form an unusually high proportion of their custom compared
>to any other vehicle in proportion to the total vehicle park?

Huw,

I don't know what your after here but ask any 'good' recovery driver or
mechanic and they will tell you the same as me (hopefully). If it has
starting problems then first thing is check oil and water (mix) and then
the immobiliser as it has a tendency to go faulty near two-way radios.
If it's not them, then go through the normal steps.

--
Regards.

VAT: GB 785 4491 84

Graham Jones
G and M Vehicle Distribution
Oakley Heights
63 Oakenbottom Rd
Bolton
Lancashire
BL2 6DQ
Tel/Fax:01204 393123
Mob:07866 255727

"PoP" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On 27 Apr 2004 04:01:31 -0700, [email protected] (Anthony)
> wrote:
>
> >Was wondering whether any one has had a similar let down with a
> >Freelander. I run a fleet of cars for the company and have never
> >encountered so many problems as I have with this one vehicle.
> >
> >First registered Jan 2001 - model GS 1.8 K series engine
>
> That tells us all we need to know.
>
> BBC Watchdog did a feature on this K series engine on 21st October
> 2003. You can review what they had to say here:
>
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/reports/transport8.shtml
>
> This is a motor that you will probably not want to keep on your fleet.
> Trouble is, the K series engine problems are so well known that you
> may have difficulty getting more than scrap value for the car.
>
> Fortunately I've got the diesel Freelander so don't have the issue to
> contend with.

Just curious, who makes the diesel engine for Land Rover?

>
> PoP
>
> ---
> http://www.ukdiy.org.uk

In article <[email protected]>, Wiwat Chang wrote:
>
>
> Just curious, who makes the diesel engine for Land Rover?
>

The Freelander engine is a BMW one, as used in the 3 series. I think the
first Freelanders used a Rover diesel.

--
simon at sbarr dot demon dot co dot uk
Simon Barr.
'97 110 300Tdi.

"Graham Jones" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> In message <[email protected]>,
Anthony
> <[email protected]> writes
>
> >Was wondering whether any one has had a similar let down with a
> >Freelander. I run a fleet of cars for the company and have never
> >encountered so many problems as I have with this one vehicle.
>
> As a recovery operator I can assure you that you are not on your
own.
> The 'K' series engine is well know for cylinder head problems!!
>
> --
> Graham Jones

Maybe you can confirm that it is known within 'recovery' circles that
Land Rover form an unusually high proportion of their custom compared
to any other vehicle in proportion to the total vehicle park?

Huw


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.572 / Virus Database: 362 - Release Date: 27/01/04

In message <[email protected]>, Huw
<hedydd@[nospam].invalid> writes

>> As a recovery operator I can assure you that you are not on your
>own.
>> The 'K' series engine is well know for cylinder head problems!!

>Maybe you can confirm that it is known within 'recovery' circles that
>Land Rover form an unusually high proportion of their custom compared
>to any other vehicle in proportion to the total vehicle park?

Huw,

I don't know what your after here but ask any 'good' recovery driver or
mechanic and they will tell you the same as me (hopefully). If it has
starting problems then first thing is check oil and water (mix) and then
the immobiliser as it has a tendency to go faulty near two-way radios.
If it's not them, then go through the normal steps.

--
Regards.

VAT: GB 785 4491 84

Graham Jones
G and M Vehicle Distribution
Oakley Heights
63 Oakenbottom Rd
Bolton
Lancashire
BL2 6DQ
Tel/Fax:01204 393123
Mob:07866 255727

> SNIP
> Trouble is, the K series engine problems are so well known that you
> may have difficulty getting more than scrap value for the car.
> SNIP

That's a bit OTT isn't it?