Hi,
First time posting but I have been a lurker on here for a few months now and I am considering an FL2 as a replacement for my ageing MGZT, still running great at 158k.

I'm looking at 2013/2014 models and trying to discover the weaknesses and problems plus whether it would be a wise purchase compared to an X3 (again) or even a Kia Sportage, I need something with easier access for Mrs Vossy than the ZT, she has tried an FL2 with side steps for access and she was okay with that.

I have read so many conflicting stories of all sorts of things going wrong but on the other hand about them being bulletproof if looked after, like any car I guess.

The running gear is or should be okay if serviced properly and on time, as I read it anyway.

We are a LR family, my sons both have RR's, one has a newish Sport and the other a Velar, seems only fair that daddy should also join the club.

I am looking for genuine opinions from owners of these cars, good or bad, let me have it.

My X3 was utterly brilliant with the 3 litre engine but needed work on the 4 wheel drive system so that had to go, unfortunately.

I have seen quite a few FL2's across the country but have yet to see one that pings my bells completely, and Mrs Vossy must like it too, she is picky.

Mileage wise I have seen ones from 60k to 160k, looked after models seem a bargain with high mileage and full service history.

Any and all opinions welcomed.


Steve

If you're after an FL2 that looks good, I'd recommend something like this:

If you are buying one with side steps get a good look at the mounting points as they can be fragile. I took mine off as soon as I bought mine and my crippled nana is 5'2 can get in and out of mine ok. Although I hate when she lets her walking stick smack the paintwork.

Thank you, she did find the steps helpful, she managed the X3 okay too, so it’s not an essential but she’s did say it was easier.

Vossy said:

Thank you, she did find the steps helpful, she managed the X3 okay too, so it’s not an essential but she’s did say it was easier.

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Also random facts the rear seat is 2ins higher than front seats.

WhiskyLassie said:

Also random facts the rear seat is 2ins higher than front seats.

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Thank you, I didn't know that .

What about those SD4 engines in the 2013/14 years, I have read so many conflicting stories about failures, EGR cooler failure has also come up regularly in my reading, steering rack/reservoir and pump are also a weak point I see regularly.

Just looking for owner's experience, please.

Vossy said:

Thank you, I didn't know that .

What about those SD4 engines in the 2013/14 years, I have read so many conflicting stories about failures, EGR cooler failure has also come up regularly in my reading, steering rack/reservoir and pump are also a weak point I see regularly.

Just looking for owner's experience, please.

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I have an 07 so I'm not sure.

WhiskyLassie said:

I have an 07 so I'm not sure.

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Much obliged, I'm not having much luck it seems. Probably back to the drawing board.
Thank you for the replies.

Vossy said:

Much obliged, I'm not having much luck it seems. Probably back to the drawing board.
Thank you for the replies.

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Give it time

Mine is 2007 vintage with 230+k miles on the clock. As bits wear out or break I replace them. Saying that, engine, gearbox, haldex, diff, are all original and have had sod all done except fluid changes.
Forums can scare people off as all you will read about are the problems people are having. If you can find a clean 2014 FL2 with a good service history snap it up.

My mum had one when she had to get in and out of my sons Defender ............... got left in Tesco carpark

Rank Amatuer said:

Mine is 2007 vintage with 230+k miles on the clock. As bits wear out or break I replace them. Saying that, engine, gearbox, haldex, diff, are all original and have had sod all done except fluid changes.
Forums can scare people off as all you will read about are the problems people are having. If you can find a clean 2014 FL2 with a good service history snap it up.

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Thank you for taking the time to reply, it’s appreciated.
I am still looking, I haven’t taken it off my list as yet but it will have to be a good one.

Anaconda said:

Pardon our interruption...

My mum had one when she had to get in and out of my sons Defender ............... got left in Tesco carpark

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Thanks.
There are also air filled ones that collapse flat, there is a cord to pull it up into the car once you are in.

Had mine for 6 years . Now done 120,000 miles and it has never let me down. When I first bought I got it serviced straight away and changed all the oils including the Hadex. Also as the car is getting on for 12 years, as soon as something needs doing it gets done straight away in case it has a knock on effect. But hand on heart it is the best car I have ever owned.

Thank you, your reply is appreciated. As with my ZT, keep it serviced and all is good, 21 years old now with the BMW diesel engine.

I have seen a few FL2's but not that many with properly documented history, I don't care if it's JLR or not as long as the invoices for the work and parts list are there, even parts list if it's been a private owner and completed the work themselves.

One will turn up I'm sure, I am also looking at another X3 though, we will see what presents itself first, if the straight six diesel and the 8 speed box from the X3 was in a FL2 that would be a hell of a car.

Thank you for all the replies so far, I have no qualms about buying an FL2 with all the information on buying I have read here and online now.

Anaconda said:

Pardon our interruption...

My mum had one when she had to get in and out of my sons Defender ............... got left in Tesco carpark

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You left your mom in tescos car park, that's you off the Christmas list.

I would be avoiding ones that are 'dynamic' and I believe there will be ones based on the model years u mentioned. These will have adaptive suspension and therefore would involve much more expensive dampers if they were to go wrong.

I've only had my 2010 F2 for a few months. Its joined a '99 F1 that I've had for 13 or so years.

I'm more than happy with it. Its a great car. Performance and refinement wise, its in a different league to the F1 - however, I do also very much enjoy the F1.

I do find the vision a bit restricted, its not great maneuvering in reverse and I really don't like the view in the wing mirrors.

The floor in the boot/estate bit is quite high. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing, you have to lift things higher top put them in, but they are at a good height to get them out. Its high because the spare wheel is under it, which is great as lots of cars don't have them these days.

1 thing that really annoys me is that the 'automatic' wipers do not work. It has off, 2 speeds and 'automatic' - there is no intermittent. With the auto setting not working and no intermittent, it is a real PITA. Unless you're lucky with the weather on a test drive, you won't find that out till you own it! There's a sensor up behind the reversing mirror that is obviously knackered. Its had a replacement screen, so probably hasn't worked since that went in. I'm hoping I can reprogram the auto setting to be intermittent - I'd rather that anyway.

As I say though, driving it is brilliant. Steering, response, poke, its very good. And comfortable. Economy wise, its nothing to write home about, but I am coming from a manual to auto.

My biggest fear is electrical gremlins. There have been some nightmare stories and some that have been very expensive to fix. However, we haven't seen one of those in ages on the forum and the same can probably be said for any modern vehicle. If you have problems and take it to a LR dealership and they say they need to replace the BCM - then walk away and get a 2nd or 3rd opinion as the BCM is very expensive and if often replaced when it is something much simpler.

Good luck which ever way you go. Hope its the F2 way though

GrumpyGel said:

I've only had my 2010 F2 for a few months. Its joined a '99 F1 that I've had for 13 or so years.

I'm more than happy with it. Its a great car. Performance and refinement wise, its in a different league to the F1 - however, I do also very much enjoy the F1.

I do find the vision a bit restricted, its not great maneuvering in reverse and I really don't like the view in the wing mirrors.

The floor in the boot/estate bit is quite high. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing, you have to lift things higher top put them in, but they are at a good height to get them out. Its high because the spare wheel is under it, which is great as lots of cars don't have them these days.

1 thing that really annoys me is that the 'automatic' wipers do not work. It has off, 2 speeds and 'automatic' - there is no intermittent. With the auto setting not working and no intermittent, it is a real PITA. Unless you're lucky with the weather on a test drive, you won't find that out till you own it! There's a sensor up behind the reversing mirror that is obviously knackered. Its had a replacement screen, so probably hasn't worked since that went in. I'm hoping I can reprogram the auto setting to be intermittent - I'd rather that anyway.

As I say though, driving it is brilliant. Steering, response, poke, its very good. And comfortable. Economy wise, its nothing to write home about, but I am coming from a manual to auto.

My biggest fear is electrical gremlins. There have been some nightmare stories and some that have been very expensive to fix. However, we haven't seen one of those in ages on the forum and the same can probably be said for any modern vehicle. If you have problems and take it to a LR dealership and they say they need to replace the BCM - then walk away and get a 2nd or 3rd opinion as the BCM is very expensive and if often replaced when it is something much simpler.

Good luck which ever way you go. Hope its the F2 way though

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Hi, thank you so much for the feedback on your car. The electrical gremlins are as you say a nightmare on modern cars. My X3 had a similar thing with the lights not working on auto, a quick trip to BMW to check the fault and a quicker trip home after a diagnostic check, they said all kinds of things were wrong with it, a guy on the BMW forum happily sent me a light switch for the cost of postage and, hey presto it was all good again.
The boot height is okay for me, it is Mrs Vossy that needs an easier to the seats, I can't see me putting her in the boot ... well not too often
The economy is okay for me, I am used to a car using more fuel than a Nissan Micra, I like comfort and a better driving position.
I have now looked at:

VW Tiguans, people who spec these cars from new are nuts, they specify everything but leave leather seats out and sat nav (not that sat is much good compared to Waze) or folding mirrors, Nice to drive if you have the TDi 170 but they suffer a fair share of their problems, EGR cooler is common and is almost £600 for the part alone, not the VW quality of old.

Audi Q3 and Q5, oh my god, boring as hell. Q3 no room in the back and weird styling at the rear, nice drive but again, customers don't specify nice options it seems, they miss loads off, same with the Q5, much better styled and more room, difficult to find one with all the options ticked, I saw one that needed a gearbox repair which was not pointed out to me until on a test drive when it clonked into 1st and stalled (auto, 7 speed), after investigation the repair cost was almost two and a half grand, they need servicing at 40-50k which people ignore, walked away.

BMW X3, 3.0d X drive SE, beautiful to drive, and with all the options, xenons, leather the lot. I looked at the SE because they are not so harsh a ride as an M Sport model and the only difference is the wheels being an inch smaller with better tyres and the M Sport badge, this one drove divine and even had all the optional suspension settings of the M Sport, with full history including driveline services by an independent BMW specialist, the problem was the colour, it was like a pale gold-ish colour that the original owner asked for, an acquired taste, but I couldn't live with it, a quality wrap would have cost me £1,600. Keep looking.

Freelander 2, I have seen a few and driven a few now, not as refined as the BMW or as powerful (but it wouldn't be) but that is by the by. I have tried the SD4 HSE Lux and the SD4 Metropolis, I'm struggling to find any real difference between them. Clattery from cold start but soon calm down, I tried one with 150k and full history again including all the driveline, it drove very nice and without the clock telling me the mileage I wouldn't have known, The best one I tried had 54k and full LR history but had never had driveline touched or the cambelt/water pump, although it would all be due soon, the company selling it wouldn't arrange the service or pay half towards it if I got someone to do it, it was a premium price car too, the driveline servicing complete would have been around £500, also the car was white, not my favourite either so once more I walked away.

There is always another car, no matter how nice the one you view, there is always another. FL2 or X3 it is, I don't go offloading which the FL2 would excel at over the BMW, so I can't really count that otherwise it would be no contest.

Again, I appreciate all the feedback so far, it has been really helpful.

Vossy said:

Hi, thank you so much for the feedback on your car. The electrical gremlins are as you say a nightmare on modern cars. My X3 had a similar thing with the lights not working on auto, a quick trip to BMW to check the fault and a quicker trip home after a diagnostic check, they said all kinds of things were wrong with it, a guy on the BMW forum happily sent me a light switch for the cost of postage and, hey presto it was all good again.
The boot height is okay for me, it is Mrs Vossy that needs an easier to the seats, I can't see me putting her in the boot ... well not too often
The economy is okay for me, I am used to a car using more fuel than a Nissan Micra, I like comfort and a better driving position.
I have now looked at:

VW Tiguans, people who spec these cars from new are nuts, they specify everything but leave leather seats out and sat nav (not that sat is much good compared to Waze) or folding mirrors, Nice to drive if you have the TDi 170 but they suffer a fair share of their problems, EGR cooler is common and is almost £600 for the part alone, not the VW quality of old.

Audi Q3 and Q5, oh my god, boring as hell. Q3 no room in the back and weird styling at the rear, nice drive but again, customers don't specify nice options it seems, they miss loads off, same with the Q5, much better styled and more room, difficult to find one with all the options ticked, I saw one that needed a gearbox repair which was not pointed out to me until on a test drive when it clonked into 1st and stalled (auto, 7 speed), after investigation the repair cost was almost two and a half grand, they need servicing at 40-50k which people ignore, walked away.

BMW X3, 3.0d X drive SE, beautiful to drive, and with all the options, xenons, leather the lot. I looked at the SE because they are not so harsh a ride as an M Sport model and the only difference is the wheels being an inch smaller with better tyres and the M Sport badge, this one drove divine and even had all the optional suspension settings of the M Sport, with full history including driveline services by an independent BMW specialist, the problem was the colour, it was like a pale gold-ish colour that the original owner asked for, an acquired taste, but I couldn't live with it, a quality wrap would have cost me £1,600. Keep looking.

Freelander 2, I have seen a few and driven a few now, not as refined as the BMW or as powerful (but it wouldn't be) but that is by the by. I have tried the SD4 HSE Lux and the SD4 Metropolis, I'm struggling to find any real difference between them. Clattery from cold start but soon calm down, I tried one with 150k and full history again including all the driveline, it drove very nice and without the clock telling me the mileage I wouldn't have known, The best one I tried had 54k and full LR history but had never had driveline touched or the cambelt/water pump, although it would all be due soon, the company selling it wouldn't arrange the service or pay half towards it if I got someone to do it, it was a premium price car too, the driveline servicing complete would have been around £500, also the car was white, not my favourite either so once more I walked away.

There is always another car, no matter how nice the one you view, there is always another. FL2 or X3 it is, I don't go offloading which the FL2 would excel at over the BMW, so I can't really count that otherwise it would be no contest.

Again, I appreciate all the feedback so far, it has been really helpful.

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Nice write up

You obviously know what you are looking for in your car.

I also noticed how noisy they are on startup. When we went for the first test drive, as soon as it started up, it was my first impression. I was lucky with the one I got that everything had just been serviced, and cambelts replaced. In fact, I was quite wary because of it - why would anyone spend that sort of money, with high end workshops, when nek minit they are selling it?
Did someone find a problem with the car? It doesn't appear so though as I've been driving it for a few months and it appears fine. He told me they were selling it now because they are to old to use their mountain bikes - and the F2 was to be their bike transport. The his and hers cars left in the garage were both Porsches, hers immaculate and his a very high value older one that was also immaculate.

Anyway, after having said how much I like my F2, I hope it starts this morning when I go to work! I've spent my weekend driving the F1, and enjoying it, as the dog has come around with me/us - I love the dog, but she's not destroying those lovely leather seats! The F2 is more my weekday car.