Thread: 2002 Freelander 5 Door - Lemon or not.

G'day George,

I have 1998 Diesel Flandie and recently I had cooling system problems which started with the heater core leaking (fitted a by-pass as it's too much work to get it out) and then the radiator had to be replaced due to cracks.
Other than normal wear and tear it's been going great.
Get yours checked out before anything goes pear-shaped. I get mine serviced and inspected by a reputable mob and it did pay off catching things before they get bad.

We decided on the Flandie coz:
1. SWMBO didn't want ANOTHER Land Rover (got a 1961 in storage - long story) but
2. SWMBO realised our 'side trips' killed our other car (Barina) as we tended to do detours through, well, less travelled roads and therefore we needed something more ... robust
3. Reckons Discovery is "too big"
4. SWMBO knew I would not be caught behind the wheel of any other brand 4WD

Good luck sorting things out.


--Irek

Originally Posted by Turtle61

G'day George,

I have 1998 Diesel Flandie and recently I had cooling system problems which started with the heater core leaking (fitted a by-pass as it's too much work to get it out) and then the radiator had to be replaced due to cracks.
Other than normal wear and tear it's been going great.
Get yours checked out before anything goes pear-shaped. I get mine serviced and inspected by a reputable mob and it did pay off catching things before they get bad.

We decided on the Flandie coz:
1. SWMBO didn't want ANOTHER Land Rover (got a 1961 in storage - long story) but
2. SWMBO realised our 'side trips' killed our other car (Barina) as we tended to do detours through, well, less travelled roads and therefore we needed something more ... robust
3. Reckons Discovery is "too big"
4. SWMBO knew I would not be caught behind the wheel of any other brand 4WD

Good luck sorting things out.


--Irek

Yes Irek, certainly will have it looked at. The same problems keep coming up all over the net in relation to heater core, radiator cracks and the rest.
For the age of my Freedomlander (2002) with current ODO at 112,000ks I need to have it looked at. I'm not a serious off-roader, I'm more the gravel roads and tracks type of adventurer. There is nothing I like more than driving hours on the gravel and maybe see one other vehicle on the same road. It's a wounderful feeling of freedom, and the Freelander does it beautifuly...but I don't want to get stuck out there. Need to get a CB and NextG phone set up.

Regards

CB is on my list as well.
Given the available space I'll be going for the GME TX3440 as I can put the main unit where CD stacker should go under the front seat, mic can be placed anywhere and I'll use an external speaker somewhere on the dash... but tyres are first on the list.
As for travel, the previous owner, a friend of mine, has been to the Corner Country in it and few other trips and I took the Flandie to Fraser Island - handled sand very well.

Originally Posted by Turtle61

CB is on my list as well.
Given the available space I'll be going for the GME TX3440 as I can put the main unit where CD stacker should go under the front seat, mic can be placed anywhere and I'll use an external speaker somewhere on the dash... but tyres are first on the list.
As for travel, the previous owner, a friend of mine, has been to the Corner Country in it and few other trips and I took the Flandie to Fraser Island - handled sand very well.

Yes, tyres for me first also. Got a quote from Bridgestone Select Store (Kewdale, WA)... "The price and availability on the Desert Dueler 215/70R15 D683 is $234 ea fitted and balanced, we have them in stock here at Kewdale, and a front wheel alignment is $49". I'm assuming they are a good tyre. I like the idea about the CB under the front seat where the CD stacker is now...I heard the GME TX3440 is a good unit. I'll do some research.


Regards

Mate,

I have the following 215/70R16 tyres in mind, prices from JAX:

Cooper ATR - $208 ea
BFGoodrich AT - $254 ea
Bridgestone D694 - $183 ea (Oz made, not imports)

Currently steering towards the D694. Read some good reviews and those that were bad were usually on heavier 4WDs. I currently have old-style Coopers AT and quite happy with them, and for my needs BFGs are a bit an overkill (they are the only ones LT not passenger construction).

Originally Posted by Turtle61

Mate,

I have the following 215/70R16 tyres in mind, prices from JAX:

Cooper ATR - $208 ea
BFGoodrich AT - $254 ea
Bridgestone D694 - $183 ea (Oz made, not imports)

Currently steering towards the D694. Read some good reviews and those that were bad were usually on heavier 4WDs. I currently have old-style Coopers AT and quite happy with them, and for my needs BFGs are a bit an overkill (they are the only ones LT not passenger construction).

Thanks for the tyres info. I have always heard that Coopers tyres are a good product (some swear by them), and I do like the Bridgestone product. I'll do some research before deciding which way to go. I guess it's how I will be using the freebie...mainly gravel roads and tracks.


Regards

Originally Posted by Turtle61

Mate,

I have the following 215/70R16 tyres in mind, prices from JAX:

Cooper ATR - $208 ea
BFGoodrich AT - $254 ea
Bridgestone D694 - $183 ea (Oz made, not imports)

Currently steering towards the D694. Read some good reviews and those that were bad were usually on heavier 4WDs. I currently have old-style Coopers AT and quite happy with them, and for my needs BFGs are a bit an overkill (they are the only ones LT not passenger construction).

Why are you not going for 225/70R16s - I have BFG 225/70s ATs and they are not LT construction - mine were $210 fitted and balanced. They give a bit more ground clearance and do not touch any structural bits of the car. They wear well but are a little noisy at low speed - but then my previous 195/15 Bridgestone H/Ts were noisy as well.

Garry

Legally (in NSW and other states, not sure about WA) you're allowed 15mm extra tyre diameter from the manufacturer's specifications of the largest tyre option available.

The Flandies came with:
195/80R15 - 693mm diameter or
215/65R16 - 686mm diameter

add 15mm to 693 and you get 708mm

215/70R16 are 708mm
225/70R16 are 722mm making them 29mm over the specification and therefore not quite legal.
225/65R16 would be a better option IF you can get that size.

Yes, it would be nice to get a bit more ground clearance but larger tyres increase fuel consumption and reduce effective power and so with the diesel I'll stick to 215/70R16.

I suggest you check the legality of increased tyre size before you splash out on new rubbers.

BTW, got some more quotes today and Bridgestone-owned tyre centre will match the lowest quote I got. Still not sure about Coopers ATRs or D694s...