[Mr Cat]

Hi all,

i am looking at getting a freelander TD4 roughly spending 2.5K pref 3door/ hard/softback/manual (hopefully)

what is there to look out for. Have seen a couple on an 03 plate up for grabs.

what's the running costs I know prob get 30 -35mpg, road tax £260,
servicing? tyres etc.

Cheers for advice

 

[Hedgehog70]

The TD4 is a pretty reliable lump as far as Land Rovers go thanks in no small part to BMW money on the R&D.

Apart from odd electrical issues with central locking and elec windows they are pretty sound. Check rear tailgate for rust.

My brother emmigrated to Australia last week leaving his 2004 TD4 HSE behind for me to sell. They seem to hold their value well.

T

 

[Tempus Fugit]

Check the 4wd drive is intact and that there are no whines or knocks coming from it and that all 4 tyres are the same size.

 

[Bainzi]

How would you check the 4WD ?

 

[E_T_V]

The TD4 is a pretty reliable lump as far as Land Rovers go thanks in no small part to BMW money on the R&D.

Apart from odd electrical issues with central locking and elec windows they are pretty sound. Check rear tailgate for rust.

My brother emmigrated to Australia last week leaving his 2004 TD4 HSE behind for me to sell. They seem to hold their value well.

T

Any idea on the potential sale price and where it might be in the UK?

 

[Tempus Fugit]

How would you check the 4WD ?

If it clonks or there's a grinding noise from the transmission when accellerating or cornering, also if the VCU is hot after a driving it. If it feels as if the the brakes are coming on at parking speeds on full lock in reverse is also a good indicator.

Oh and the obvious when looking underneath is it there!!! Many owners remove them saying it improves fuel economy and that it is "easy to replace because of got the parts", i.e. the VCU but the IRD has gone kerching, kerching, kerching.

Just as an update. Guy just posted on one of the LR forums that he was having trouble with his Freelander, recently purchased, whilst trying to negotiate a snowy hill. Heard a noise from his brake pedal and had warning lights on the dash, so was advised to change the brake light switch, apparently a cheap and cheerful fix. However decided he would look underneath said car to check 4wd. Only find there wasn't one!!!!

Brave bloke to admit his error I reckon - respect.

 

[Bainzi]

Thanks for the info Ill check it as soon as I can in low speed and full lock.

 

[Dr Dave]

Running a Freelander will empty your wallet!

 

[Bainzi]

Your not wrong! new tyre two days into ownership and £90 to fill her up.
However, great to drive and its done what I wanted it to do when I bought it. Get my wife safely to work (Nurse) in this bad weather so she can pay for said fuel and tyres etc

 

[Tempus Fugit]

Your not wrong! new tyre two days into ownership and £90 to fill her up.
However, great to drive and its done what I wanted it to do when I bought it. Get my wife safely to work (Nurse) in this bad weather so she can pay for said fuel and tyres etc

Be most careful with running with different sized tyres between axles. Can be expensive. See post #3.

 

[barkingdog]

Running a Freelander will empty your wallet!

Try a V8 Disco for the empty wallet syndrome.

 

[DJM160]

Running a Freelander will empty your wallet!

Or not. Although it looks like ours is now ready for the breakers, we have had 13 years of enjoyable and mostly trouble free motoring in our Hippo.
Running costs have been less than the horroble jelly mold Sierra SWMBO had previously.

 

[Dr Dave]

I'd say you had a lucky escape.

Or a Wednesday morning car.

 

[barkingdog]

Or not. Although it looks like ours is now ready for the breakers, we have had 13 years of enjoyable and mostly trouble free motoring in our Hippo.
Running costs have been less than the horroble jelly mold Sierra SWMBO had previously.

Jelly mold Sierra? How dare you sir. 150 BHP V6 Joy bringer. If your brave.

 

[DJM160]

Certainly being in a Sierra is one of the best places to be - it's the one place you cant actually see how ugly it is.

 

[barkingdog]

Certainly being in a Sierra is one of the best places to be - it's the one place you cant actually see how ugly it is.

Didn't Clarkson say that about the later Scorpio?

 

[Dr Dave]

Didn't Clarkson say that about the later Scorpio?

I think so ........ now that was a dog ugly motor car!!

 

[Tempus Fugit]

I think so ........ now that was a dog ugly motor car!!

If you look at the definition of ugly in the dictionary it does say:

Ugly: Ford Scorpio second generation 1994 - 1998.

If my dog was as ugly as that then I would have to shave its backside and teach it to work backwards.