New Owner seeks advice

Greetings,

I have just bought myself a 2002 TD4. It has a full service history and has done 86000 miles with its last service at 80000.

It drives well, however, after an hours motoring the VCU is fairly hot to the touch. Not so hot that I can't hold it, but more than just warm. Also it feels a little 'tight' on full lock either way. Is this normal? I am aware that hot VCUs are not good.

I am mindful to get my local garage to give it an oil and filter change, is there anything else anyone would recommend, bearing in mind the note above?

Also I am aware that tyres are important. It has three Good Year tyres the same and one Bridgestone. They are all fairly old so I am not averse to replacing. Any advice on reasonable tyres that suit the Freelander?

I have heard that remapping the electronics can help get better diesel economy. Does anyone have any advice on this?

Finally any other advice in general on what to check etc.. Would be most welcome. I live near Andover so any good Landrover garage recommendations would be appreciated too!

I learnt to drive in an old series 2 back in the late eighties. Glad to finally have a LR again.

Thanks

The Surgeon

welcome to the forum,

1) don't worry about it being warm or feeling tight, this is normal. Unduly tight on full lock in reverse is a worry, but they are all a bit tight to some degree
2) oil and filter change - get them to do the crankcase breather filter too, even better, fit the bmw cyclone upgrade part, there's loads on here about it, including part numbers etc
3) 4 tyres that match are favourite, two different types on an axle is a no no, and would be better to have four the same. if not, 2 new to back ALWAYS to avoid VCU potential damage. I run micheln lattitudes on mine. Believe this or believe it not, I had Michelin Synchrones on it when I bought it, which had been on from new, and got well up to 60k before needing changing. I am just beginning to think about changing the lattitudes in about 6 months time, and I now have 112k on the clock. Depends on what you do, but the lattitudes have never let me down with a bit of laning, and worked a treat in the snow.
4) remapping the td4 can be rewarding, the highly regarded synergy2 from roverron has been around for ages, simple to fit and remove, can be fitted with on/off and power level switch in the dash too. Go to Tuning-diesels - low cost diesel tuning for more info.

good luck and welcome again