To buy a TD4 or Not? advice please.

[Pokiou]

Hi Guys,

My name is Denis, i live in Melbourne and i'm a I.T. Field Technician and have been looking @ 4x4's for a few months now and hope to have one for some camping trips and road trips with the wife and dog (no kids)

I hope i don't get flamed for this. But I've been shopping around for a 4x4 and i have fallen in love with two: Land Rover Freelander 1 Td4 2.0 and the Mazda Tribute.

My post is in regards to the reliability and efficiency of them being an offroad vehicle and the capabilities of the TD4, I know the petrol ones are plagued by issues of some sort or another. How ever i have heard that the TD4's are amazingly reliable if you maintain them. I have never owned a 4x4 before so i'm not familiar with what is considered as maintenance. Can someone please explain what is in the general maintenance of Freelander TD4?

What advice can you give me to help me make decision.

Thank you in advance.
D.

[101RRS]

Between those two vehicles - definitely the TD4. They go Ok offroad (the best softroader offroad) but do not have low range however all later TD4s are auto which tends to mask the lack of low range.

Most of the early issues have been fixed and there are no abnormal failure items. Just check the viscous coupling unit but these are becoming cheaper to replace if needed.

They are a very reliable and capable vehicle as long as you know their limitations.

Garry

[Pokiou]

So what year after should i be looking at?

[101RRS]

So what year after should i be looking at?

You did say TD4 - so these are 2001-2005. Obviously the later the better dependent on your budget.

[MR LR]

So what year after should i be looking at?
The BMW update diesels (2.0 TD4), they're all pretty much the same, facelift versions are the best IMO

[Pokiou]

I feel alot better about getting one. What are the most common issues with electrics and drivetrain and so forth?

[MR LR]

I feel alot better about getting one. What are the most common issues with electrics and drivetrain and so forth?
Just read the FL1 section

[woko]

I feel alot better about getting one. What are the most common issues with electrics and drivetrain and so forth?

As Gary has said the most common issue is the viscous coupling.
Auto's had issues in the early days, but were more common in the V6. Mainly due to wiring inside the auto.
common issues with TD4's are turbo failure due to blocked crankcase breather (these get forgotten about in service) water pumps leaking, injectors seizing in the head, inter-cooler hoses when the get a bit of age on them. Cam, Crank and airflow sensors fail but nothing to excessive.
Having worked for a Dealer that sold Land Rover and Mazda, the Freelander is a far superior vehicle to the Tribute. If you want a Tribute only buy a 2.3litre 4 cylinder. The V6 and early 2.0litre 4 cylinders are rubbish.

[ghostpsalm]

I bought a TD4 for exactly the same reason early this year. I am a Telcom. tech in Melbourne. It is the perfect car for it, it is acceptable off-road (no rock-climbing!) and very good on road. I have been particularly impressed with its handling on-road.

Though you may notice I am having clutch issues at the moment, I would totally agree that the TD4 ought not carry the "unreliable" badge of some of its predecessors, even Fifth Gear agree (~2001). Though I might add that Land Rover seem to have "odd" problems, but not necessarily more than other car manufacturers.

As mentioned I think the VC is the most problematic issue, so definitely check that out. Also, the read diff mounts tend to give and make a noise, but that is hardly worth worrying about. Other than that, I think if you use normal car-purchasing prudence you will have a great car. And the prospect of getting a similar era Mazda Tribute makes me feel ill--mechanically similar perhaps, but no style--the good thing about the bad rep. on Freelanders is you look like a boss when you have one, and it works!

[koalakruiser]

I have a 2007 Freelander 2 TD4 and from the start problems with water and scrap metal in the EGR which required a total replacement under warranty at 3,000Km. At 65,000 km a total engine replacement for nearly $20,000 due supposedly to water getting into the engine causing a catastrophic failure. I have never had the car out of the city and it had not rained for 10 days so why the failure? Land Rover said not their problem as it is a technical issue and no warranty coverage as it is now 4.5 years old. The low Km means nothing to LR Australia and basically they said "If you expect anything from LR, you will get nothing" so no thought of goodwill. The dealer service said nothing they can do for me. Be very careful with your decision. The more I research this car, the more I hear about engine problems with fuel injectors plus the aluminium, steel and other alloys are not meshing and therefore the engine is having huge problems with tolerance issues in the pistons, cylinder heads etc. LR will not admit this but go to any LR Forum and the problem is there. I have learned the hard way :mad:

[woko]

I have a 2007 Freelander 2 TD4 and from the start problems with water and scrap metal in the EGR which required a total replacement under warranty at 3,000Km. At 65,000 km a total engine replacement for nearly $20,000 due supposedly to water getting into the engine causing a catastrophic failure. I have never had the car out of the city and it had not rained for 10 days so why the failure? Land Rover said not their problem as it is a technical issue and no warranty coverage as it is now 4.5 years old. The low Km means nothing to LR Australia and basically they said "If you expect anything from LR, you will get nothing" so no thought of goodwill. The dealer service said nothing they can do for me. Be very careful with your decision. The more I research this car, the more I hear about engine problems with fuel injectors plus the aluminium, steel and other alloys are not meshing and therefore the engine is having huge problems with tolerance issues in the pistons, cylinder heads etc. LR will not admit this but go to any LR Forum and the problem is there. I have learned the hard way :mad:

Freelander 1 and 2 have completely different engines. The TD4 in a Freelander 1 is a BMW engine and the Freelander 2 is a PSA (Peugeot/Citroen) engine. They shouldnt be compared.

[fonfe]

Freelander 1 and 2 have completely different engines. The TD4 in a Freelander 1 is a BMW engine and the Freelander 2 is a PSA (Peugeot/Citroen) engine. They shouldnt be compared.

I've worked for LR dealers for the past 8 years both in the uk and here in oz and never heard of any metal issues like you describe.
I'd buy a fl1 or 2 td4 any day if I was after a small 4x4 and other than for servicing I only ever see em when they are broke!

[woko]

I've worked for LR dealers for the past 8 years both in the uk and here in oz and never heard of any metal issues like you describe.
I'd buy a fl1 or 2 td4 any day if I was after a small 4x4 and other than for servicing I only ever see em when they are broke!

I think you quoted the wrong reply. I have 2 Freelanders. A L series diesel FL1 and a TD4 FL2. My parents have a TD4 FL1, 1 Of my brothers have another L series and another of my brothers just sold his TD4 FL1 with 300000km on it. I highly recommend Diesel Freelanders.

If had a few issues with my L series recently but I it was due to poor quality replacement parts. Other than that its been a great car. Only just got my FL2 time will tell if its going to be as good, But I love driving it.

[mikehzz]

Koalakruiser's issues with the diesel engine are the first I have heard of in an FL2. I have frequented the FL2 forums since 2008 so 5 years.

[entilzh]

hi I bought an 01 td4 about 7 months ago first landie to had the egr and sensors replaced due to warm engine not starting problem have put over 10000 on it since then absoutly love it been reliable since I had it fixed good set of tyres on it (do all 4 at once ) have been places I wouldn't even think to take a 2wd