David Stafford

New Member
When I was ready to buy a 4x4, I looked at all sorts of options, but eventually for price, performance and looks, I settled on a Freelander. I started my search on Ebay and while looking for a suitable example, read a few scare stories on other LR forums along with comments from friends and acquaintances. I wanted a vehicle that could serve as a daily drive and would perform adequately in off-road situations. I have a couple of farms on which I shoot and access is only viable with a decent 4x4. Question is, is the Freelander a solution?

Thanks to my research, I was armed with some questions to ask that I would NEVER have thought of, like "Is it still a 4x4?" "Does the sunroof work?"

A perfect example appeared on Ebay that was close to me and ticked all the boxes - Under £1000; Auto; Generally good condition. I called the seller and found it had no service history and had been a recent purchase but quickly replaced by a Range Rover. The seller had no idea if critical parts had been replaced or not.

I went to see it and after an uneventful test drive negotiated the price to £700 as seen and drove off wondering if I'd made the right decision or not. The 1 hour drive home showed the vehicle to be running well, no smoke, smooth acceleration, properly functioning gearbox and a surprisingly comfortable ride.... apart from an annoying knock when I went over bumps.

I went back to the Freelander forums and made a check-list of things to replace or at least confirm that they were OK. First of all - The VCU. That was fun! Fortunately, I have a scissor lift at my business, so I was able (despite bruised knuckles and extremely gymnastic positions) to replace it with a reconditioned unit from a recommended supplier. I also changed all the bushes I could get access to and discovered the source of the knock - a drop link. I changed both and made my first mistake. We'll come to that later.

While scanning the Freelander parts for sale, I spotted a complete leather interior at a bargain price. Also, an electric rear window upgrade was needed as the new door cards were fitted with electric switches. All very easy to install.

Naturally, the sunroof didn't work and despite the exhortations from LR sites to the effect that if it doesn't work but doesn't leak, leave it alone, I decided I knew best and went ahead and ordered a new frame as the old one was rotten. I am now a Freelander sunroof expert. Everything that could, in your wildest nightmares, have gone wrong, did so. I can now strip, re-assemble and synchronise the sodding Freelander sunroof in my sleep!

The engine got a full service including the breather upgrade, new filters throughout and some badly needed fresh oil. All was running beautifully. Comfy seats, but no air-con. What to do?

I am now a Freelander air-con expert...... Why hide the fixings for the condenser and then make them so they seize???? That process was fun too. In the end, the air-con was working.

I also got the folding wing mirrors to fold - most of the time. If they don't fold, I switch them to the passenger side and operate the up/down switch, then back to fold and they work - go figure?

I swapped the wheels for a set with dual off-road/normal tyres and sold the old ones. I got stuck very easily with the old ones and have never had a problem with the Turbo Ranger tyres installed.

So far so good, but the knocking was back. When I took it to my friendly mechanic for an opinion, he said, "Never mind the knocking, what about that whine?" The noise I put down to tyre noise turned out to be the bearings either side of the VCU deciding to fall part. So, back to bruised knuckles and a revisit to the VCU. While I was there, I thought it might be a coincidence, but maybe the knock was a dodgy drop link? Sure enough, one of them had gone again. The earlier replacements had been bought as they were cheap on Ebay - now I know why. Similarly, the VCU bearings were cheap, so everything has been replaced with LR parts from my friendly local supplier Steve Toyer - who has been very helpful despite my newbie questions.

I also decided to change the brakes..... I am now a Freelander brake expert - especially the rear drums. I expect to become a handbrake expert in the not too distant future as well.

Sorry for the lengthy story. If you're still with me, my overall impression is that despite the negativity surrounding the Freelander MK1, my experience has been well beyond my expectations. The old girl (160K) is running well, does the job I want it to and looks good too. The upgrades have made driving more pleasurable and now I know that cheap parts are cheap for a reason, I'll only buy LR parts in future.

Would I recommend buying one? Yes.

Cheers
David
IMG_5975.JPG
 
You learned the hard way, using cheap replacement parts. Often the saying "buy cheap, buy twice" is true.

I'm currently "trying out" some cheap ebay front lower arms. Just to see if cheap is always bad. So far the quality looks good.

Glad your FL is doing you proud.
 
Nice to see I am not the only one with if it can go wrong it will go wrong syndrome :D nice looking car there, I have to admit mine is growing on me I have had mine for about two months now at least I know were to go when I sort out my ac next year they are nice looking motors
 
Interesting read, and glad you got things sorted in the end. I think most of us would have had some frustrating experience of the 'buy cheap, buy twice' phrase.

Great looking vehicle, (I'm a fan of the older pre-facelift models, even if it means sacrificing the better headlamps on the newer versions). And good luck keeping the 'to-do' lists under control.

Jim
 
100%with you David. I got my 2001 1.8 3-door a little over 12 months ago and have been through it replacing and repairing what has needed to be done. Apart from noisy VCU bearings and the obligatory rot hole behind the rear number plate, I think it's practically there. It's a fun, good looking, surprisingly capable all-wheel drive that is also pretty cheap to own and run and fix.

I'd definitely recommend one to friends - but it certainly helps to keep the costs under control if you're prepared to do the work yourself. On a positive note, most of the jobs on a Freelander aren't too challenging and it's an easy car to work on.

What is not to love about it? :)
 
You learned the hard way, using cheap replacement parts. Often the saying "buy cheap, buy twice" is true.

I'm currently "trying out" some cheap ebay front lower arms. Just to see if cheap is always bad. So far the quality looks good.

Glad your FL is doing you proud.
I put a set of fleebay ones on late august and on one side the rubber has complete perished and there is a big knocking sound now. I am going to attempt to replace both this weekend if I can. So buy cheap by twice is true for me :oops:
 
I put a set of fleebay ones on late august and on one side the rubber has complete perished and there is a big knocking sound now. I am going to attempt to replace both this weekend if I can. So buy cheap by twice is true for me :oops:

I've found a lot of cheap drop links are suffering from boot perishing. The rubber seems to not be UV stabilised or something. I had some Bearmach drop link boots do the same. So looks like the problem isn't confined to cheap EBay stuff.
 
My Bearmach ones seem to be holding up for now (a knock that I'd heard was erroneously attributed to them, but was actually a lower ball joint that chose precisely that moment after I'd fitted the drop links to start making a noise).

Only done a few thousand miles with them so far, so probably too early to say.
 
I'm one of only a lucky few, had mine since it was nearly new and been on here years. So all preventative measures have been taken. It's only broken down once in 15 years and apart from a very confusing electrical gremlin (now sorted) it's been completely reliable. So I know amazing amounts on how to fix them, my problem is putting it into words without confusing everyone.
But well done, they are fantastic vehicles and a very unique drive. Well worth the effort.
Mike
 
I'm one of only a lucky few, had mine since it was nearly new and been on here years. So all preventative measures have been taken. It's only broken down once in 15 years and apart from a very confusing electrical gremlin (now sorted) it's been completely reliable. So I know amazing amounts on how to fix them, my problem is putting it into words without confusing everyone.
But well done, they are fantastic vehicles and a very unique drive. Well worth the effort.
Mike
What are you trying to say SM?
 
My old girl, she's 18 years old now, has been superbly reliable. I did bust the IRD 4 years ago and rebuilt that with a bearing kit I found on eBay from a company specialising in car gearbox rebuilds. That's been fine and not given any problems. Other than that its just needed service items mainly. Most 'bits' I've put on the car, have come off other Freelanders either because they were broke (eg ABS unit x2, wing mirrors, lights, seat) or through choice (eg center console, roof rails). The only 'bits' I've needed to replace that I've gone out and bought 'aftermarket' have been the engine mount and lower tie bar that I bought a few months ago from Bearmach - and they've ruined the car! It now vibrates like crazy when cold. It failed its WOF (MOT) on the old mount, but when I took it off it looked fine so I think I'm going to have to put it back on or else eventually I'm sure the car's going to "break".
 
I've had my Freelander 1.8 k series for about a month, the vcu was ok but it had been repaired/sealed with a white sealant so I had Bell Engineering fit a recon unit with bearings. She has had four new tyres even though the old ones had plenty of tread, they were mismatched. I took her into my local Indy for a look underneath and to diagnose a knocking noise. They said drop link was the cause of the knocking but I think it's coming from drivers side rear. Also fuel tank cradle and brake pipes are corroded and exhaust hanging brackets have rotted away. She drives really well but the manual gearbox could be better. I don't think landrover have ever made a really good manual gearbox. So far, I'm really happy with her and I'm using it to teach my daughter to drive.

Col
 
I've had my Freelander 1.8 k series for about a month, the vcu was ok but it had been repaired/sealed with a white sealant so I had Bell Engineering fit a recon unit with bearings. She has had four new tyres even though the old ones had plenty of tread, they were mismatched. I took her into my local Indy for a look underneath and to diagnose a knocking noise. They said drop link was the cause of the knocking but I think it's coming from drivers side rear. Also fuel tank cradle and brake pipes are corroded and exhaust hanging brackets have rotted away. She drives really well but the manual gearbox could be better. I don't think landrover have ever made a really good manual gearbox. So far, I'm really happy with her and I'm using it to teach my daughter to drive.

Col

LR technically didn't make the gearbox. It's a modified Rover PG1 box, which is actually pretty good. The PG1 itself was a modified Honda gearbox, that Rover used as part of a parts sharing scheme between the two companies.

Gearbox problems are normally tired old oil and worn linkages. So those are the things to investigate. ;)
 
LR technically didn't make the gearbox. It's a modified Rover PG1 box, which is actually pretty good. The PG1 itself was a modified Honda gearbox, that Rover used as part of a parts sharing scheme between the two companies.

Gearbox problems are normally tired old oil and worn linkages. So those are the things to investigate. ;)
Yes, maybe mine needs an oil change. It doesn't feel worn just difficult to engage unless the clutch is operated in a precise manner. The difference between mine and say a nice ford box is the difference between stirring a big box of rocks compared to stirring a bowl of custard.

Col
 

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