Potential Freelander purchase - couple of questions

jgreenwell · May 12, 2014

Hi all

Not been on the site for a while, Landy owner for a long time (Series 2's, V8 Defender, P38 and currently Disco 300tdi)

The wifes frency pug is knackered so we need a new motor. She likes the Freelanders, budget £4000ish.

Main question is manual or auto? Not fussed either way, but do the auto boxes have any issues I should look out for?
Mileage, varies quite a lot on the vehicles ive briefly looked at, from 80ish-130ish k miles. How do they cope with higher mileages?

I am aware of the VCU unit issues etc so will look at each potential vehicle with this in mind.

Hopefully would like a HSE version, but again what are the real "must check's" to have a look at?

Kind regards
Jonathan

Skinny Mike · May 12, 2014

Main issue with the auto's is the solenoids. Can give out around 80000 ish miles. It will slam into gear if its broke. Other than that I love the auto, so easy to drive.
Mike

jgreenwell · May 12, 2014

Cheers Mike. Just to clarify, when you say it will slam into gear, is that when you move the lever from P-R-N into D?

Are the soleniods a DIY friendly replacement or is it new box time?

Cheers

SES88 · May 12, 2014

Shameless plug, but I may be selling my '05 TD4 SE 3DR (it would be an HSE if it were a 5dr, but its not (has full heated leather, heated screen and so on)) Could maybe bring price down to 4k if I took some bits off it

VCU, IRD, rear subframe mounts etc...manual's are a pain in the arse to change a clutch, auto's now and again have torque converter issues, but find me a car that doesn't here and there! Auto are more relaxed to drive, but depends what she prefers?

TD4 unit is perfectly fine with higher miles, chain driven etc, but a good service history is a must, any car is only as good as how its been maintained!

jgreenwell · May 12, 2014

SES88 said:
Shameless plug, but I may be selling my '05 TD4 SE 3DR (it would be an HSE if it were a 5dr, but its not (has full heated leather, heated screen and so on)) Could maybe bring price down to 4k if I took some bits off it

VCU, IRD, rear subframe mounts etc...manual's are a pain in the arse to change a clutch, auto's now and again have torque converter issues, but find me a car that doesn't here and there! Auto are more relaxed to drive, but depends what she prefers?

TD4 unit is perfectly fine with higher miles, chain driven etc, but a good service history is a must, any car is only as good as how its been maintained!

Ha no worries on the shameless plug, shy bairns get nowt. Really after a 5 dr as we have 3 kids.

Thanks for the info though. She borrowed her friends car when the French pile packed in again. (307 HDI thats had new clutch since the DMF packed in, new gearbox, DPF has packed in etc, the dashboard is like a Christmas tree!).
That was an auto Audi, and she liked the ease of driving.

Epicuser · May 12, 2014

I'd recommend the TD4 auto. Mine only has 125,000 on it. Going really well.

Injectors tend to go around 100,000 like any diesel. Fuel pump can also pack up around 100,000.

Thermostats tend to go and many have had heater matrix leaks.

They are great cars and brilliant off-road, specially with a lift & bigger tyres

A remap or a Ronbox (or both

) helps as they only have 110bhp as standard when new.

Skinny Mike · May 12, 2014

jgreenwell said:
Cheers Mike. Just to clarify, when you say it will slam into gear, is that when you move the lever from P-R-N into D?

Are the soleniods a DIY friendly replacement or is it new box time?

Cheers

Put it in D and drive it. You'll tell straight away. No solenoids are not a diy job. Just a replacement job at a good garage.
Mike

Ian jones · May 12, 2014

Make sure you find one thats been running with 4 tyres the same size/ make/model , this is very important on the freelander

ianda12 · May 13, 2014

jgreenwell said:
Cheers Mike. Just to clarify, when you say it will slam into gear, is that when you move the lever from P-R-N into D?

Are the soleniods a DIY friendly replacement or is it new box time?

Cheers

Yes quite easy to do, without removing the box.
Check this thread ( post 30 ish) www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/auto-box-two-gears-same-time-252310.html

Potential Freelander purchase - couple of questions

jgreenwell

Member

Skinny Mike

Well-Known Member

jgreenwell

Member

SES88

Well-Known Member

jgreenwell

Member

Epicuser

Ex Freelander Owner

Skinny Mike

Well-Known Member

Ian jones

Well-Known Member

ianda12

Active Member

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