Paulindre

Paulindre

Active Member
Greetings from France. I am now th proud owner of a 2003 TD4 gifted to me by a friend who found the cost of the minor repairs required to pass the MOT here was not worth it, plus it was loosing power and black smoking when going up hills. He had taken it to 3 garages who could not find the problem but charged him 70 euro a go to plug it into the diagnostic box with no solution, also the tailgate window was not functioning so he gave up and bought a RAV. He had been quoted 250 euro to fix the tailgate. To cut a long story short he gave me the car which is cosmetically in great condition (black leather interior etc). Grace of your forum and its knowledgeable members I was able to correct all of the faults for about £50 and a lot of sweat, but we got there. So perhaps I can return the favour but pitching in with the bits I have learned on my DIY TD4 adventure.
 
Welcome. One word of wisdom after twenty odd years of living in France - don't let a French mechanic anywhere near a Landy. They're puzzled by them, in fact they're puzzled by anything that isn't home made. There are quite a few good ex-pats which you'll probably find on here or on the net. Well done and good wishes.
PS: Indriens should beware of cowboys haha
 
Welcome to Landyzone.

Great that LZ was able to help you sort the motor out. Why don't you put a thread up in the Freelander section about what problems you had and how you overcame them, or maybe add a post to this....

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/what-have-you-done-to-your-freelander-today.199594/page-422

Peeps are always interested to hear what problems people have faced and what fixed them. Even if its been said of the forum before, it doesn't harm to be reminded of solutions!
 
Welcome Paul. Freelanders are much maligned on here but the truth is they are the best value for money vehicles that Landrover made and they are a lot more capable than many think. Even the owner of my local 4x4 specialist garage looks down his nose at it. Good luck with your future ownership and well done for saving it from the breakers yard.

Col
 
Not all Land Rover outfits look down their noses at Freelander. This pic is from a club day of a group I'm a member of here in NZ. It was up north, so I wasn't on it, but the guy who owns this works for one of the indie Land Rover garages in Auckland. Its a 2002 TD4 with lift, 31" muddies, front & rear upgraded recovery points, obviously had a facelift front end added and running older 15s and other bits and pieces. He loves it and raves over it.

MGRoverFreelander.jpg


You're right though, most who don't know the vehicle, have little time for them. The garage he works for are also into Rover & MGs, which may explain why they take the time to get to know Freelander. The belts and tensioners on my L Series were supplied by them :)
 
Welcome to the forum!
In the past I've owned a series, Freelander and a Defender and the Freelander was probably the most versatile in a way- and everything's easily fixable (and mine did need fixing quite a bit o_O)
They get an unfair rep in my opinion
 
GrumpyGel said:
Not all Land Rover outfits look down their noses at Freelander. This pic is from a club day of a group I'm a member of here in NZ. It was up north, so I wasn't on it, but the guy who owns this works for one of the indie Land Rover garages in Auckland. Its a 2002 TD4 with lift, 31" muddies, front & rear upgraded recovery points, obviously had a facelift front end added and running older 15s and other bits and pieces. He loves it and raves over it.

View attachment 151037

You're right though, most who don't know the vehicle, have little time for them. The garage he works for are also into Rover & MGs, which may explain why they take the time to get to know Freelander. The belts and tensioners on my L Series were supplied by them :)
Click to expand...
I think it maybe just my freelander he has a problem with cos it's got the k series petrol engine which he thinks is on the brink of self destruction. I asked him his advice on a a new water pump and he said I'd be better off changing the engine!!

Col
 
Frenchdame said:
Welcome. One word of wisdom after twenty odd years of living in France - don't let a French mechanic anywhere near a Landy. They're puzzled by them, in fact they're puzzled by anything that isn't home made. There are quite a few good ex-pats which you'll probably find on here or on the net. Well done and good wishes.
PS: Indriens should beware of cowboys haha
Click to expand...
Hi Frenchdame, I have been here since 1989 so I know where you are coming from, I have only once taken a car into a French Garage and was returned to me in a worse state than when it went in with a bill that would have paid off the French national debt. As with many "mechanics" today they have become part changers but I have been fortunate enough to find a gem of an older French gentleman who held the local Volvo dealership for many years. He started repairing cars when he was 15 and is now 83 and still doing it. Most of the local classic car owners go to him as, if the part needed is impossible to find, he makes it. They are a fast disappearing asset, he fixes anything from a classic car (he hates the new ones) to a combine harvester, I kid you not. He does not need a computer and would not know how to use it if you gave him one, he will start the engine, lift the bonnet and after a couple of minutes tell you exactly what is wrong, I have actually seen him do it with an older Ferrari that had just come out of a garage following a service but was running a bit lumpy. He dived under the bonnet with a few little tools, listened to the carburators, twiddled around and within minutes she was running like a racing machine. The owner was gob smacked and now will not let anyone else touch his pride and joy (the car). As you so rightly say " Indriens should beware of cowboys"
Warm regards
Paul
 
Paulindre said:
Hi Frenchdame, I have been here since 1989 so I know where you are coming from, I have only once taken a car into a French Garage and was returned to me in a worse state than when it went in with a bill that would have paid off the French national debt. As with many "mechanics" today they have become part changers but I have been fortunate enough to find a gem of an older French gentleman who held the local Volvo dealership for many years. He started repairing cars when he was 15 and is now 83 and still doing it. Most of the local classic car owners go to him as, if the part needed is impossible to find, he makes it. They are a fast disappearing asset, he fixes anything from a classic car (he hates the new ones) to a combine harvester, I kid you not. He does not need a computer and would not know how to use it if you gave him one, he will start the engine, lift the bonnet and after a couple of minutes tell you exactly what is wrong, I have actually seen him do it with an older Ferrari that had just come out of a garage following a service but was running a bit lumpy. He dived under the bonnet with a few little tools, listened to the carburators, twiddled around and within minutes she was running like a racing machine. The owner was gob smacked and now will not let anyone else touch his pride and joy (the car). As you so rightly say " Indriens should beware of cowboys"
Warm regards
Paul
Click to expand...
Hi Paul, sounds as though you have a star there. I have a friend quite a few miles from you north of Pontivy in 56 and he will diagnose over the phone and always will help and advise. His name is James Barrington, he used to fix Landies in South Africa (he's a Brit) and what he doesn't know will fit in the back of a French postage stamp. (33) 0296 26 60 49. He's normally exceptionally busy on the floor so you can always drop him an email - james.barrington@orange.fr
J'espere vous allez bien - bonne dimanche!
 
Merci and thank you for the contact, it is always usefull to have an extra arrow in your quiver. I have just emerged from under the Freebee following the final stage of oil changes which I shall recount on the Members Vehicles/Projects.
Warm regards from Indre,
Paul
 
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Frenchdame said:
I know a lot of mechanics look up to them - from underneath mostly! :D:po_O
Click to expand...
There in lies the problem - don't let mechanics anywhere near them - because they have a propensity to leave the car in a condition requiring them to get back under it - or another mechanic once you've finally had enough of that one.

If you want a job doing well....

There are notable exceptions of course, but they just prove the rule!
 
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