New expansion tank nightmare. (Land Rover parts quality)

So guys, if somebody remember- i bought very interesting Freelander '2006 first registered pre- facelift from Germany for my wife. Low mileage but with broken cambelt. All fixed, car working. But... Together with most of needed parts i ordered from Rimmer Bros one thing- new expansion tank. Old was good but with small cracks on the top, it's very popular thing, i found some pictures on the net as well:

But tank was good, i ordered new for better looking. Installed new tank after main repairs. After couple days of driving i opened bonnet to make checks. I found low coolant level, broken expansion tank. Not opened cap valve, but broken tank, where two parts- upper and lower are welded. OK, installed another tank (from old 1.8 freelander, with old design cap, just for interesting). This old tank worked as should be.


I wrote to Rimmer Bros, that i have broken tank. They said if i want make it all faster- i should buy next one, send broken tank back, then they will return money to my card. OK, bought one more, sent bad back. Installed new. Same situation! Broken tank in SAME PLACE! Installed old tank again (but not from 1.8 but original, my old, from my 2.5)...

Send same day back, but next day i got replacement- third expansion tank. Installed. As expected, broken after 50km in same place. Seems they have defective batch. Installed original again, drove 250km without any problem.

What i found:
All expansion tanks from Rimmer Bros have one welding line at the middle. All original tanks have two!
Defective, one line welding- left, original- right.

I checked internet pictures, all tanks have two!


Please, guys, who have freelanders, check please how much welding lines at the middle have expansion tank. Because seems seller want to say that it is my problem now.

a very public-spirited member - thank you Sir

You say 'Land Rover parts quality' - did Rimmers sell this to you as a LR genuine or as after market? Be interesting to see if there is a difference.....? (And hope you get sorted) A

Yes, i bought exactly genuine, Land rover part.

First photo looks very familiar even though it as been cropped, I have a feeling you may have had an after market coolant tank from Rimmer, I purchased mine from here below, and have or did not have any trouble with it, as for now I can not say as I sold the FL1 & have an FL2

Tank with cap
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PCF000012...224986?hash=item5674783f1a:g:KzIAAOSw-jhUKmUW

Photo's below with the above tank fitted Arctic

I bought this:
https://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-PCF000012
...And yes, probably OEM or after market would be better solution...

Arctic2 said:

First photo looks very familiar even though it as been cropped, I have a feeling you may have had an after market coolant tank from Rimmer, I purchased mine from here below, and have or did not have any trouble with it, as for now I can not say as I sold the FL1 & have an FL2

Tank with cap
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PCF000012...224986?hash=item5674783f1a:g:KzIAAOSw-jhUKmUW

Photo's below with the above tank fitted Arctic

Click to expand...

I also have the same tank from Arctic2's Ebay link. Mine has been fitted for over 12 months now, without an issue. However mine is a TD4, so coolant never gets to 100°C.

My wife had one from rimmers and it leaks through the screw on the cap .

My situation is ridiculous. I cannot finish my project without normal tank. Now i should wait again for replacement one. And it will be great success if i will get really good, not defective.

oxygen said:

My situation is ridiculous. I cannot finish my project without normal tank. Now i should wait again for replacement one. And it will be great success if i will get really good, not defective.

Click to expand...

Have you tried a coolant pressure test, to be sure where the problem lies ?

As the tank is a Expansion tank or overspill. Do you have or are you able to obtain an alternative such as a metal type. To have these burst being new, there has to be either serious defects in the products or you have a lot pressure.

I have standart 110kpa caps, tried two, one brand new. So, my pressure is normal.

what I do not like about the new style caps is that you can never be sure it is fully tight as it clicks away when you try to tighten it I wish I could get the old style back for my wife's car a 1998 1800 hse

I've said it before & I'll say it again, when the original stock is used up where exactly do LR source their 'genuine parts' ?
Not as serious as your problem of course but I bought a screen-wash pump from a LR main stealer & once installed it was as dead as the proverbial Do-Do.

Hello, i created thread in Freelander forum:
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/new-expansion-tank-nightmare-land-rover-parts-quality.316344/
There is some additional photos...