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northernjeep

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Hi, I have just bought a 2001 Freelander Hardback and I think it is a good one, having spent quite a while searching. It is the TD4 ES auto model which I have heard is a solid bet, but I wondered if anyone has any special tips or key things that I should watch out for?


I only pick it up tomorrow and its my first ever Land Rover so I really am green to all this, all input welcome.
 
Welcome to the Land of the Freelander....

You picked a good site for advice and help on any problems you might have...
I have my Freelander only 4-5 months and have had to do a lot of work on it to bring it up to scratch..All help i got on this site..
I'm sure you will read a lot of scary stories,.But if you get past that you will have loads of fun in your freelander...:welcome2:
 
Most important bit of advice:

Ignore Beast o Bodmin

He is jealous of all Freelander owners, so knocks them at every opportunity. He has no idea what he is talking about.
 
Ive a 2004 td4 Freelander @ the Moment and it has its faults Just like most Ive also got 2 Defenders And in my opion its a Insult to put a Landrover Badge on a Freelander as its good for Nothing Well Breaking down Would be its best thing its good at Sorry Enjoy
 
:welcome2:

Hope you enjoy your new Freelander. Expect some stick in this parish, but just ignore it.

All the usual advice - check the transmission and especially the VCU (search hereabouts for tippex test etc). Cambelts are expensive to do, so hopefully you've checked if your new purchase needed one and had it done before you bought it.

Freelanders don't have the clearance underneath of other landys, so be sensible about terrain and don't expect all the electrics to enjoy getting wet if you decide to go wading too deep.

It's a capable off roader, and a pleasure to drive on road. You can hear the radio at 70mph and the heater works :D

Most of all enjoy it. I have found my 1999 FL a real pleasure to drive, and off road it's fine as long as you understand its limitations.

:)
 
Hi and:welcome2: im on my second Hippo,the first one i had could of put me off for life 1.8 petrol :mad: but ive just got my second a 2002 TD4 and apart from a few niggling teething problems which have been sorted out now,i love mine ive had disco's in the past and loved them and still do,but i have to say a good Hippo is a great car,and yes the ground clearance isnt as good and not quite as much space but i agree with the above,i can hear the radio at 70mph ,my back floor isnt rotting out and its really comfortable drive.
Welcome again and welcome to the hippo club.You will find a weath of knowledge here,its been a godsend for me.
Donna
 
Snifflebag said:
:welcome2:

Hope you enjoy your new Freelander. Expect some stick in this parish, but just ignore it.

All the usual advice - check the transmission and especially the VCU (search hereabouts for tippex test etc). Cambelts are expensive to do, so hopefully you've checked if your new purchase needed one and had it done before you bought it.

Freelanders don't have the clearance underneath of other landys, so be sensible about terrain and don't expect all the electrics to enjoy getting wet if you decide to go wading too deep.

It's a capable off roader, and a pleasure to drive on road. You can hear the radio at 70mph and the heater works :D

Most of all enjoy it. I have found my 1999 FL a real pleasure to drive, and off road it's fine as long as you understand its limitations.

:)
Click to expand...
do td4s have a cam belt?
 
Freelander td4, one of the better landrovers; fast, economical, good looks, reliable if well maintained (like any landy except P38's) and they don't rust alot.
 
Welcome. You've been lucky enough to buy a superb vehicle which did indeed become the best selling Landrover of its time. The Td4 with auto box is superb & the advice given is good. One or two jobs to do are change the auto box oil as they don't like being stretched to their 60,000 mile service interval. Likewise the fuel filter, & change the crankcase breather filter/valve assy asap. Start adding Millers powersport 4 diesel additive into your fuel at double the recommended dose. Later on you can think of an egr bypass & possibly a Roverron Tuning box. Check your MAF sensor - do a search on here. Failing cam sensor causes hot starting problems. Turbo/intercooler hoses can split - easy & cheap to replace.
 
You've been lucky enough to buy a superb vehicle which did indeed become the best selling Landrover of its time

But it was riddled with Faults b4 it left the Factory :D

My Misses has a Td4 I dont drive it due to all the faults it has its even got Full Landrover History
 
muply said:
My Misses has a Td4 I dont drive it due to all the faults it has its even got Full Landrover History
Click to expand...

Yawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwn And if your precious Defender had all these problems you would be happily playing under the bonnet LOL

I have driven most Landie types, Lightweights, 90, 110's, V8's, Disco's and Hippo's on different ground be it tarmac, grass, greenlanes, mud, heavy ruts. Each has their own qualities and limitations, but apart from ground clearance of maybe 4 inches less than its big brothers, the Hippo is a comfortable and capable off roader. No its not a heavy duty off roader, but I dont need it for that cos I'm not a) a farmer b) owner of 8 berth caravan [towing] c) forestry worker d)resident of Brecon beacons / Scottish Highlands or e) recovery operative!

I was happy with my V8 110, I was happy with my 300Tdi Disco and I'm very happy with my Hippo!
 
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Skynet said:
Yawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwn And if your precious Defender had all these problems you would be happily playing under the bonnet LOL

I have driven most Landie types, Lightweights, 90, 110's, V8's, Disco's and Hippo's on different ground be it tarmac, grass, greenlanes, mud, heavy ruts. Each has their own qualities and limitations, but apart from ground clearance of maybe 4 inches less than its big brothers, the Hippo is a comfortable and capable off roader. No its not a heavy duty off roader, but I dont need it for that cos I'm not a) a farmer b) owner of 8 berth caravan [towing] c) forestry worker d)resident of Brecon beacons / Scottish Highlands or e) recovery operative!

I was happy with my V8 110, I was happy with my 300Tdi Disco and I'm very happy with my Hippo!
Click to expand...

According to the book, ground clearance on a Discovery 2 is about 7 3/4" and on a Freelander 1 about 7 1/4"

Admittedly on a Discovery if you can avoid a rock with the diff, you have a lot more whereas on the Feelander it's virtually the whole width of the vehicle, but its not as bad as some people make out, The aproach & departure angles are actually better. If you plot your route carefully it's surprising where they will go. I've certainly surprised a few Defender drivers in my time, mainly as thay have got complacent and haven't thought about where they are going.
 
muply said:
You've been lucky enough to buy a superb vehicle which did indeed become the best selling Landrover of its time

But it was riddled with Faults b4 it left the Factory :D
Click to expand...

Any faults would have been sorted by the time the TD4 was released.
Noteably Diff ratios.
 
I must agree with the guys on here the Freelander TD4 is a good car (same engine as the BMW 3 series and Rover 75 diesels) but does have its niggling issues like other cars. Not the roomiest or tallest Land Rover but was never really designed to compete with the other Land Rovers, more competition for the RAV 4, Suzuki etc. I must say it is a lot better car than any of its rivals and not far behind the other LRs. It is as Howardo says fast, economical, good looking, reliable, joy on the motorway or light off-roading and practical for everyday use.

Follow what chromiumuk says as he gave me the same advice when I joined this forum. Followed most of the advice and all I can say is that I am happier now with the Freelander than I have ever been. I have done the MAF, Millers power sport, Synergy 2 tuning module, Air Filter, Fuel Filter, EGR bypass and manifold clean and all I can say is the car is like a new beast. I am really happy with it at the moment.

Watch out for all the accessories though you may get addicted like I have, roof bars, side steps, cup holders, leather armrest, dog guard, boot liner, face lift bumpers/ lights etc. :doh:

I keep looking at what I can get for it next. lift kit mmmm :D Oh dear!!!

ps Get a haynes manual and download the RAVE CD from the GreenOval website if you plan to do any DIY on the car.
 
MickO'CTD4 said:
I have done the MAF, Millers power sport, Synergy 2 tuning module, Air Filter, Fuel Filter, EGR bypass and manifold clean and all I can say is the car is like a new beast. I am really happy with it at the moment.

Watch out for all the accessories though you may get addicted like I have, roof bars, side steps, cup holders, leather armrest, dog guard, boot liner, face lift bumpers/ lights etc. :doh:

I keep looking at what I can get for it next. lift kit mmmm :D Oh dear!!!

ps Get a haynes manual and download the RAVE CD from the GreenOval website if you plan to do any DIY on the car.
Click to expand...
Sounds a classic case of throwing good money after bad :D:D
 
You are not wrong really. First time I have had the opportunity and confidence to mess with a car so I am taking advantage and also I just think that the Freelander could be improved. Plus my wife doesn't mind too much, well when I say too much, I really mean she is bored to death of me meddling with the car. Things come in the post and she just stops asking what they are now. What she hears is "blah blah"

I nearly bought a Series 3 (which I loved and really wanted!!!!!) after driving one before buying the Freelander but decided against it for ease of everyday use. I will get one hopefully one day. My wife wanted a Range Rover (well I did too) and we contemplated it but decided against it for cost of everything associated with it. Defenders are too expensive for my pocket and not a big fan of the disco really.

I bet you other Land Rover owners spend a lot more than us Freelander owners on your cars. The BMW engine is a pretty good one when it works properly.
 
Davec said:
According to the book, ground clearance on a Discovery 2 is about 7 3/4" and on a Freelander 1 about 7 1/4"

Admittedly on a Discovery if you can avoid a rock with the diff, you have a lot more whereas on the Feelander it's virtually the whole width of the vehicle, but its not as bad as some people make out, The aproach & departure angles are actually better. If you plot your route carefully it's surprising where they will go. I've certainly surprised a few Defender drivers in my time, mainly as thay have got complacent and haven't thought about where they are going.
Click to expand...


I stand happily corrected, maybe they had bigger tyres when I was out with the SLUTS.... though I was able to follow the tratters through most places too! :D

Hmmm if I removed the rear box and put some protection underneath for the VCU, I might just get a bit bolder ;)

ps bought some Miller sport 4 too :D
 
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