hi..my first post on here si i hope this helps...
I have an 02 1.8 petrol 3 dr done 78k miles..bought it six months ago toi replace an unreliable td5 disco..no real problems and actually quite like it when I wasnt expecting to..
on taking it to a mate who works for landrover (he does jobs on an evening..) for service and general look over he reported rear diff mount worn and one of the vcu bearings on the way out.nothing major then!
a couple of months later I took it back for the work doing and all the drivetrain oils changing as a precaution.
on getting it back its making the same noise you reported..like a wha wha noise at low speed under light load. I did notice it was more noticable when clap cold and not really there as much when warm.
took it back and he was baffled..checked everything..all ok. removed rear prop..noise gone. put it back together..noise returns. oh goody.
he couldnt explain it..everyone in the trade I know just shrugged and said the usual its a freelander thing..
he then swapped the vcu and the bearings with a known good one..the noise gone! eh? he had no idea why or what caused it.
I have done around 1500 miles on holiday and running about and its still ok apart from a rattling noise on light load low speed that sounds like its coming from the gearbox in 4th and 5th gear. im not even going there!
so..was it mis-aligned vcu bearings? the diff being disturbed?? not a clue but thats my story and I hope it helps!