Haystacks

Haystacks

Active Member
Hello all,

I'm brand new to the forum, and I have recently bought a 2003 Freelander Kalahari TD4, with 97K on the clock, after owning an MG ZT for the past 2.5 years.

Now, I've never owned a Diesel before and I'm not that clued up on them, but I keep reading things about EGR bypass, and air intake mods, and Synergy 1 or 2 etc, and I'm just after a bit of advice on weather it's worth doing these mods, what they are exactly, and how to go about it?

I'm very impressed with the Freelander, but it's a bit different from the Sports cars I've owned in the past, so I just wanted to say Hi, and hope to get a little advice from more experienced members on this forum on things I should/shouldn't do.

Thanks in advance! :confused:
 
Welcome to the Forum.
Since buying my Freelander I've fitted the EGR bypass and the BMW breather mod, the bypass is considered desirable and the crankcase breather is essential. I have just bought the Synergy 2A, with the three position in cab switch, which is also strongly recommended for increased performance and a decrease in fuel consumption. There are many threads/posts on this subject so I would suggest that a search will provide you with more than enough information to be going on with.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum.
You have certainly come to the right place for advice about your Landy but be prepared also for some abuse. It will help if you have a thick skin!
It really depends on how deep you want to go with modifications and how much you are prepared to spend. Before you start laying out wads of your hard earned I would suggest you concentrate on the easier less expensive alterations first. Ideally a good thorough service would be your place to start and some time spent reading up on this forum about IRD, VCU and other drivetrain parts. A bit of preventative maintenance now could well save you a fortune later on. There is a wealth of knowledge on here so spend some time reading up. Just one point I would add at this point is do not scare yourself senseless by assuming that the woes some have unhappily suffered automatically mean you will suffer similarly. These vehicle do have their problems but not all and not necessarily a foregone conclusion.
I personally have ensured my servicing is up to date, I have fitted an EGR bypass and changed the crankcase breather. I also run on a mix of 2 stroke which all gives me good performance, a responsive engine and reasonable MPG.
Yes I could fit a Synergy but the insurance implications are, frankly, not worth the hassle. There are a few of us that want Formula 1 performance and I can understand why but at the end of the day you cannot get away from the fact that you have 2 ton of metal that will never win any aerodynamic awards.
Look after the vehicle, treat it with a modicum of respect and just enjoy! I have had great fun this winter and can not see me changing mine any time soon.
Good luck - Santefe999
2005 TD4 SE Freestyle. Auto (It does exactly what it says on the tin)
 
Hi i am also new to the forum also have a td4 i had an older one with the rover engine what a difference the td4 engine is i have done the crankcase breather also cleaned out the manifold and fitted a egr unit stainless of flee bay £40 I'm not a mechanic just an all rounder try anything once as long as you take your time and read the threads on here you will not go far wrong some good guys here who now there stuff I my self would say the crankcase breather is a must you can buy the new type bmw separator you don't need to buy the housing just the insert for £22 from a bmw dealer I have also started with the 2 stroke oil will let every one know how that goes Hope you enjoy it I would have not changed mine but had it wrote of for me would not of believed the difference in engine and performance from my old one hope you get to love it
 
Thanks for the welcome, and advice. I'm aware of the abuse the Freelander gets from the Defender and Disco crew, and it doesn't bother me at all.

I have been on a Land Rover Experience day today, in a Defender, and I was amazed at it's capability off road, it really is an amazing vehicle with jaw dropping performance on the rough stuff. I was also amazed that our instructor said there was only 3 tracks we did that the Freelander couldn't, which also makes it very capable off road.

However, I'm 6ft 4' and the Defender was to cramped for me and a lot less refined for everyday use. I have a small family, and a caravan, so my Freelander is just perfect for what I need and want. I will be doing a bit of green laning, when we can find places to go, and some treck days as well. In my opinion the Freelander is the best of both worlds, and will do just what I need.

I will read up on the mods, and I also have a brother in law who has 2 Freelander 1s' so I'm fairly up to speed on the things that do go wrong with these SUVs'.

Thanks again! :)
 
Whilst fitting the Synergy will improve performance it will also improve MPG especially when used with the eco 3 position in cab switch. Many forum members who have fitted the Synergy are more than pleased with the improved pulling power (especially when towing) and decrease in fuel consumption and not just the faster acceleration. At 6ft 4" do you find yourself hitting your head each time you get in, I do and I'm only 6ft 2".
 
santefe999 said:
Hi and welcome to the forum.
You have certainly come to the right place for advice about your Landy but be prepared also for some abuse. It will help if you have a thick skin!
It really depends on how deep you want to go with modifications and how much you are prepared to spend. Before you start laying out wads of your hard earned I would suggest you concentrate on the easier less expensive alterations first. Ideally a good thorough service would be your place to start and some time spent reading up on this forum about IRD, VCU and other drivetrain parts. A bit of preventative maintenance now could well save you a fortune later on. There is a wealth of knowledge on here so spend some time reading up. Just one point I would add at this point is do not scare yourself senseless by assuming that the woes some have unhappily suffered automatically mean you will suffer similarly. These vehicle do have their problems but not all and not necessarily a foregone conclusion.
I personally have ensured my servicing is up to date, I have fitted an EGR bypass and changed the crankcase breather. I also run on a mix of 2 stroke which all gives me good performance, a responsive engine and reasonable MPG.
Yes I could fit a Synergy but the insurance implications are, frankly, not worth the hassle. There are a few of us that want Formula 1 performance and I can understand why but at the end of the day you cannot get away from the fact that you have 2 ton of metal that will never win any aerodynamic awards.
Look after the vehicle, treat it with a modicum of respect and just enjoy! I have had great fun this winter and can not see me changing mine any time soon.
Good luck - Santefe999
2005 TD4 SE Freestyle. Auto (It does exactly what it says on the tin)
Click to expand...
Hi , :welcome2: fully agree with above , also tyre choice on the freelander 1 is very important 4 the same make/model/size :)
 
Before you rip the EGR out and replace it, take out, clean it and try the car with then. I clean the EGRs out on my car and wife's Freelander once a year.

The PCV is important, I've heard of folk thinking they'd blown the engine due to it becoming blocked!!!
 
nickcc said:
Whilst fitting the Synergy will improve performance it will also improve MPG especially when used with the eco 3 position in cab switch. Many forum members who have fitted the Synergy are more than pleased with the improved pulling power (especially when towing) and decrease in fuel consumption and not just the faster acceleration. At 6ft 4" do you find yourself hitting your head each time you get in, I do and I'm only 6ft 2".
Click to expand...

I'm thinking of getting the Synergy, currently watching one on ebay! I find my head is close to the roof, yes, but not to bad. Thanks!
 
Haystacks said:
I'm thinking of getting the Synergy, currently watching one on ebay! I find my head is close to the roof, yes, but not to bad. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Don't have a problem once I'm in it's just hitting my head as I get in. Fitted the Synergy 2A+ with 3 position in cab switch and new MAF yesterday and I can confirm that both acceleration and pulling power have certainly increased, I think perhaps I should select a lower setting (8 at the moment) but there again it certainly takes the wrinkles off your face:) The cost from Rover Ron was £275 for the new Synergy and MAF, with the cost of Diesel rising almost daily it should pay for itself over the next few months (as long as I change the power setting)
 
rhodie said:
got mine on 5 and its staying there love the extra power :D:D:D
Click to expand...

Bet it goes like whatsit off a shovel I know mine does on 8 (pierburgh MAF) I will be turning it down to 7 (maf boost med, torque med and power med) as I need to convince myself (and my Wife) that it will eventually save on fuel;)
 
nickcc said:
Bet it goes like whatsit off a shovel I know mine does on 8 (pierburgh MAF) I will be turning it down to 7 (maf boost med, torque med and power med) as I need to convince myself (and my Wife) that it will eventually save on fuel;)
Click to expand...

Hi nick,

Well I'm trying to convince my wife that using it as often as is practical on the 'eco' switch setting is the thing to do.

I have tried setting 7 (I also have the Pb MAF) and its not got the push I like for overtaking - so it's staying at number 8 for now anyway.

See if you can detect a difference between 7 & 8 - I think you will.

Cheers,

Singvogel. :cool:
 
nickcc said:
Hello Singvogel

Will give it a try Tuesday (tiling tomorrow) but 8 seems too fast:D
Click to expand...

Nick,

I keep on coming up behind slow tractors and such on rural roads, and like the low down extra power for overtaking them - not necessarily high speed stuff. It just seems safer to have that burst of power when you need it.

Even the 'eco' setting gives better performance than I had before fitting the Synergy and the MAF.

Good luck with the tiling.

Singvogel. :cool:
 
mjrimmer said:
Setting 8.......that'll be a new injector or 2 in the near future then:D
Click to expand...

It's been on setting 8 for 10K miles so far - and I've got 6k miles scheduled for April/May's next European trip so we shall see.

I've got every confidence in the TD4 - and the Synergy.

Singvogel. :cool:
 
mjrimmer said:
Setting 8.......that'll be a new injector or 2 in the near future then:D
Click to expand...

My Rover 75 has been on the high power setting on the Synergy since I got it, I've done 25,000 miles since then and (touch wood) the injectors are still fine :)

It's only been moved back to medium since diesel went over £1.40 a litre :(
 
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