Long trip planned - other peoples experiences

we're driving to the south of France, Italy and Switzerland towing our caravan with our 1998 freelander L series in the summer I think as long as you've covered most of the common things to go wrong and keep it reasonably well maintained its just as capable as any car. I had an old rover 45 L series and I drove that to Benidorm loads of times with no problems. I love the L series its a seriously good engine

Funnily enough I've heard a few people say that the L series is preferred to the Td4, who would have thought that a Rover product may be better than BMW engineering lol

Thanks Kev 1nlm. Good to know others use their old freelanders as long trip workhorses without problems.

britishwardog - the L series was highly regarded - didnt it go in the Honda Accord in preference to Japanese lumps?

britishwardog said:

Funnily enough I've heard a few people say that the L series is preferred to the Td4, who would have thought that a Rover product may be better than BMW engineering lol

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It's better because it have simple construction and electronics.
L-series can be serviced/repaired with basic tools set. That engine don't have VVC Turbocharger, have simple fuel injection system, and less needful sensors than Td4. Also construction and access to many elements it's easier than BMW powertrain.

It's controlled by analogue electronics - so can be diagnosed/repaired on trip with simple multimeter and couple of wires. Td4 have CAN network, so could be more problematic sometimes.

britishwardog said:

Funnily enough I've heard a few people say that the L series is preferred to the Td4, who would have thought that a Rover product may be better than BMW engineering lol

Click to expand...

The L series was so good even Honda used it for a time!!
It started life as a Perkins Prima long before Rover/ Honda used it.

and went on to become the TD5.

Always dreamed about doing a long journey throughout Europe with my Freelander...another L series: great engine, slow and agricultural compared to modern common-rail direct injection diesel power plant, but it looks bomb proof -at least if u remember to change the timing belt and do the regular little maintainance.

OK all. Not quite the long haul planned from Beziers, S of France to Krakow Poland and we are doing a compromise - driving to Bergamo north of Milan and then getting a cheap flight on to Poland. More to do with pasengers getting bored and cost of overnight stays than my unwilingeness to do the distance. So it is a 1750 km round trip instead of 4500km round trip which makes a difference. I will check all my oils (trying to get the filler nut of the IRD first before draining!) and have a look at my amigo issue (though MOT is not till November I may just have a curious browse). Where do I start? I have no amigos at present on start up - only the green hill descent light.

Should I take out the instrment cluster first to chack what has been destroyed/disconnected? Then get a diagnostic test (or buy a Hawkeye myself - are the output readings easy to understand?) .... i suspect fi I take it to a Land Rover dealer here I will be clobbered ... If anyone can advise on a step by step to home diagnosis that would be a great start!

Thanks

Gareth