Freelander 1 advice

[haricane91]

Hi everyone,

New user here! I think this forum is pretty great, there's a lot of advice that's been interesting to read and helpful.

I've got an opportunity to buy a Freelander from my friend's sister, so I was hoping for a bit of advice. It's a 2000-2001 Freelander ES V6, with about 84000kms on the clock. They're selling it because they bought a replacement car. Their driving has been pretty tame (city driving), it was bought new and for the family space.

Most features are intact and working, I believe. I'm not sure how often it's been serviced, that's a conversation I need to have over the weekend. The last issue is the only thing concerning. The issue was that the car wouldn't start, when taken to the mechanic the reason was a lack of coolant. Are these cars even able to do this? After putting coolant in, it's running again. I'm thinking it might be a leak near the thermostat area, as this sort of thing is common for KV6s. If they've been stressing the engine, with the lack of coolant, this could mess up the engine and give me big headaches.

Considering all this, the best case scenario is I've got a car which could probably need a new thermostat + possibly timing belt, replacement viscous fluid for the VCU, etc. The worst case is the previous + a new cylinder head... What they're selling it for is well below the valued price for a Freelander with similar specs, do you guys think it'd be worthwhile? Is there anything you'd recommend looking out for when I inspect the car?

Thank you!

[Scouse]

Any cooling system issues on a petrol Freelander 1 is going to open up a world of hurt.


Sorry, but my advice is to walk away.






They're a nice car when it's all going well but when the engine overheats and/or the auto dies, you're left with a car that you will never trust again.

[Ausfree]

The KV6 engine is a great engine..............when it is going. I would be VERY wary as all petrol FL1 engines can cause financial grief if there are problems.

The thermostat is plastic and they are known for leaking, a replacement MAY sort the problem but again, I would be wary.

Second thoughts, I agree with Scouse.

[DeanoH]

.............................................Sorry , but my advice is to walk away.



Don't walk..................RUN !!

Deano :)

[Lightwater]

I had a car 2 decades ago, a family car as a matter of fact. It had been serviced properly, so it would seem. But it had not. The dealer had probably never changed the coolant.

It cost me a fortune in repairs, 2 complex metal cooling pipes, water pump & most likely the head gasket as water leaked into one of the cylinders. (you get a nice clean cylinder!)

Looking after the cooling system and regularly replacing the coolant has been a must on cars for decades. I'm actually more fanatical with the cooling system than just about anything else with a car after my experience.

Agree with others, walk away (run), not worth the risk no matter how well you know the car.

The slightest & slimmest hint of poor cooling maintenance is a sign of huge expenses to look forward to.

[Lightwater]

You will also most likely want to stay friends with your sister....... long term!

[Scouse]

You will also most likely want to stay friends with your sister....... long term!It's OK, it's his friend's sister :).

[haricane91]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I'm mostly drawn to the car because of the price and low kms. Though, I have heard too many stories about water leaking and engines needing to be rebuilt.

I'll get a better idea when I interrogate the owner about its history, and take a look at the car in a couple of days. I'm yet to hear the full details about the coolant issue. Best case scenario, it was just evaporation? Is there anything which is a dead giveaway of the slightest hint of poor cooling maintenance?

I hope I've done enough research to accept that it'll be my own mistake :P Bridges won't have to be burnt...

[DeanoH]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I'm mostly drawn to the car because of the price and low kms. Though, I have heard too many stories about water leaking and engines needing to be rebuilt.....................


Perhaps the respondents haven't been plain enough ;), the petrol Freelander 1's are a complete and unmitigated disaster, mainly because of their overly complicated, impossible to work on (or understand) engines. Most engine reconditioners won't touch them and if they do certainly no warranty, they are a complete POS. A previous poster Ausfree had one for some time and it was his 'pride and joy' and no one knows better than he about FL1's and his recommendation is to walk away, you would be wise to take note.

Seriously, don't touch it with a forty foot pole. If they give it to you for free it is still too expensive and is definitely not worth spending money on to fix. :(

Clear enough ?

Deano :)

PS. Unless of course the real aim is to get closer to your mates sister :), then one, two, three or more inspections may be appropriate. :):):)

[loanrangie]

No FL1 is worth a root :p.

[Ausfree]

Perhaps the respondents haven't been plain enough ;), the petrol Freelander 1's are a complete and unmitigated disaster, mainly because of their overly complicated, impossible to work on (or understand) engines. Most engine reconditioners won't touch them and if they do certainly no warranty, they are a complete POS. A previous poster Ausfree had one for some time and it was his 'pride and joy' and no one knows better than he about FL1's and his recommendation is to walk away, you would be wise to take note.

Seriously, don't touch it with a forty foot pole. If they give it to you for free it is still too expensive and is definitely not worth spending money on to fix. :(

Clear enough ?

Deano :)

PS. Unless of course the real aim is to get closer to your mates sister :), then one, two, three or more inspections may be appropriate. :):):)

It was may "pride and joy" too. Mrs Aus was saying the other day how she misses that car. It was a great car to drive and it was a good looking vehicle, winning two trophies (2010 and 2011) for "Best Presented Freelander 1" at the CastleHill LandRover Expo.

In our case, we had no trouble with the motor (a KV6), it ran extra well, was a gas guzzler though. The auto tranny is what gave us grief, after a $4,800 rebuild it let us down again a year later and was quoted approx another $1200 for repairs. Sadly, we sold it as I couldn't justify spending any more money on it.

As a previous poster (Scouse) mentioned, if the motor doesn't give you grief the tranny will.

[Roverlord off road spares]

The Freelander 1 petrol is what the camira was for GMH.

If you troll through ebay you usually see heaps of petrol freelander 1's for sale, usually the seller says , "it needs work I don't know what's required and I don't have time to fix it...... that means it's a seller cop out, they know their engine is stuffed.

also watch out for the wording, converted to 2 wheel drive for economy..... that is seller talk for "I have a stuffed IRD and it's going to cost me a second mortage so I'm a tight wad and converted it to 2 wheel drive."

If only we had lemon laws in this country.... Land Rover would have gone broke on the FL1 Petrols.

The Diesels are good though engine wise

[haricane91]

As a first time car buyer my heart said yes, but everyone here, and my head, have convinced me otherwise. I took a look at it in person today, I don't think it's worth the grief..

Thanks for all the help!

[Ausfree]

Yeah, I know the feeling mate.:( I think it is probably wise to walk away, the track record of the FL1 is not good and now they are getting long in the tooth, troubles are sure to surface.

The other problem is getting a mechanic who is willing (and has the gear) to work on them. Those that do (and they are a rare breed) charge an arm and a leg.

Now the Freelander 2 is a different beast. But they are expensive to buy.

[Lightwater]

It was a sensible decision to walk away, I have been around long enough and know the cost, and it really hurts. In the meantime save your hard earned funds. Think on the positive side, while you are saving funds you will not have the running expenses so you will save even more.

[pop058]

What about a 99 manual diesel with 170 kms ??