1998 Freelanders

Dogstar

Dogstar

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A friend is asking about any issues with the above vehicle before she buys- any comments/experiences will be passed on... had a feeling there might be head gasket problems with this era?? Thanks!!
 
I wouldn't have another one if it it were a gift. horrible things. mine went with the above problem 2 days before christmas 2 years ago. My panic buy was a subaru impreza and it has been fabby. Made mince meat of the snow and ice.
My mechanic hates freelanders and went nuts when i bought it. One of his lads worked for rover and said there was a constant stream of them coming in with blown overhead gaskets. Heap of ****e imho. sorry but there are far better small 4wd out there. The rav4 gets a great write up.
 
This has been my general opinion, I wouldn't have one, but several friends seem to love theirs, despite their unreliability!? Thanks for your help!
 
I have a Freelander 1998 and its been nothing but trouble!! At first the cylinders in the back went this cost me £300 and then 3 months ago the differencial seized and was dimolished this would have cost me £750 just for it to be tarted up, not a new part, just the old one tarted up. Thankfully my dad saved the day and turned my freelander into a 2 wheel drive. I'm not paying £750 for a part that could blow again.
This is just my opinion....
 
The head gasket problem has been going on for years affecting any Rover with that K series petrol engine-yet even after all this time and despite several modifications even the latest item has been known to fail.The TD4 diesel fuel pump packs up-£250+,the turbo-£900+,and then there are various nasties with differentials as previously mentioned,then the clutch slave cylinder,"Hill Descent Control" light staying on,digital clock display in the centre of the dash breaking up...

If you get a good one and it all works,they're a nice drive...unfortunately that doesn't happen very often!:)
 
I have a 1999 one and the only problem I have had with it was a blown rotor arm (the AA said it was a fuel pump issue.........)

My mechanic says the Freelander 1 is a good vehicle if cared for and serviced regularly.

I love my Landy and wouldn't swop it for anything!!
 
Wouldn't touch another freelander is someone gave me one. The turbo went on ours and it cost over £1000 to repair. Lots of other little nigly things were wrong aswell. Love my discovery though
 
Freelander,a classic example of inbuilt unreliabilty. What utter moron designed the 1800 XEI. Oh,lets make the water pump as cheap as possible and run the timing belt over it. Cylinder liners securely held by the block,"dont know about you but I think that is so 20th century"."Accesability,Hah, overrated. Who is ever going to need to repair this masterpiece?"Its built in the finest traditions of British Engineering,like the Reliant 3 wheeler and the Titanic.
 
Mum had one. It was terrible.(thats to put it mildly) and it was brand new!!! Made an odd noise as you went over 50mph as soon as she had it, like a train was coming into the back of you!! (My Dad is a mechanic so she wasn't imagining it) It went to Land Rover for weeks. They came back with the conclusion that...its wheels weren't round!! lol New alloys and tyres still didn't sort it so she got rid. She's had Rav's ever since.

This one was made on a Friday!
 
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I'm on my third, ran the other two into the ground, no major worries with any of them and love my latest one. Sorry but had to post to stick up for the Freelander. I understand the petrol ones had problems but I have only had diesels. Husband's a Landy fanatic tho so I doubt I'd be allowed anything other lol.
 
The problem with that era Freelander is the head gasket, the engine is an alloy head and warps quite easily, the engine in question is what they called the 'K' engine it is basically the same engine fitted in a Rover 45 of the same era, which has the same problems. I believe the 1.4 & 1.6 petrol engines are affected.
 
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