Long story short, I bought my Freelander with the Head Gasket Blown from a friend cheap. I then sold my other Freelander 1 to pay for the repair where the gasket blew once after being replaced before I even got it back, Then 550 miles after I got it back the top radiator hose popped off as the garage hadn't put the clip on it to secure it on.
The temp gauge showed the car not over heating but who knows. I limped it to my destinations where I bought pliers and coolant, bled the system as best I could and drove the car home. Next day I took it to the garage, who acknowledged they had forgotten to put the clip on, and then the water level started going down everytime the car was driven. (A whole expansion tanks worth), finally after several days of the garage and myself not finding the fault, discovered that the bottom heater matrix pipe had split at the join by the temp sensor. As soon as the mechanic touched the pipe the water started gushing out. So they dropped me home and for a small fee made a temporary pipe to stop the coolant leaking, However after I got it back I noticed it was getting through water again but not very fast, so opened the oil cap, and low and behold, gunk! So pulled the dipstick out and more gunk. So topped the water up and went back to the garage. And now have been left in the lurch after spending a grand total of £1300 in repair bills most of that was the Head Gasket, and now have a car with a blown head gasket and naff all of a budget to fix it.
So I posted an ad in several places, where a kind stranger replied and said they had a skimmed head with new valve seals already in it for £85. This is being collected by my Mum on Sunday, but I was told by the garage the engine block had a slightly uneven surface in one corner where it failed when they fitted the first replacement gasket. So now I want to get the block skimmed which will cost £55.
But now I am rather confused by the many different brands of MLS gaskets out there.
Which MLS gasket brand is the better one to go for and which ones are to avoid please?
I know most people would cut your losses, but I genuinely don't want to and can't afford to lol. I love my Freelander.
The temp gauge showed the car not over heating but who knows. I limped it to my destinations where I bought pliers and coolant, bled the system as best I could and drove the car home. Next day I took it to the garage, who acknowledged they had forgotten to put the clip on, and then the water level started going down everytime the car was driven. (A whole expansion tanks worth), finally after several days of the garage and myself not finding the fault, discovered that the bottom heater matrix pipe had split at the join by the temp sensor. As soon as the mechanic touched the pipe the water started gushing out. So they dropped me home and for a small fee made a temporary pipe to stop the coolant leaking, However after I got it back I noticed it was getting through water again but not very fast, so opened the oil cap, and low and behold, gunk! So pulled the dipstick out and more gunk. So topped the water up and went back to the garage. And now have been left in the lurch after spending a grand total of £1300 in repair bills most of that was the Head Gasket, and now have a car with a blown head gasket and naff all of a budget to fix it.
So I posted an ad in several places, where a kind stranger replied and said they had a skimmed head with new valve seals already in it for £85. This is being collected by my Mum on Sunday, but I was told by the garage the engine block had a slightly uneven surface in one corner where it failed when they fitted the first replacement gasket. So now I want to get the block skimmed which will cost £55.
But now I am rather confused by the many different brands of MLS gaskets out there.
Which MLS gasket brand is the better one to go for and which ones are to avoid please?
I know most people would cut your losses, but I genuinely don't want to and can't afford to lol. I love my Freelander.
