Bonkers Freelander - is there such a thing?

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BOOMER

BOOMER

Bloke from Dorset
Posts
6,051
Location
All Over Dorset and beyond.
Come on then guys, I drive a doggy old rotten rusty Disco and I got this daft idea of doing something different this time around - like maybe modding an earlier 3 door Freelander to play with.
As I know very little about them can I ask some questions?

  • XEDI engine - any pitfalls and can it be run on vegoil or a vegoil/derv mix? Is it a better option than a TD4 in terms of simplicity and maintenance?
  • Has anyone done a suspension lift using the Bearmach +2" springs and camber pins and does it work ok?
  • What are the biggest tyres I can get away with to give good ground clearance (when combined with the suspension lift) taking into account that a Freelander has no transfer box - will it make the gearing too high? Will the infamous IRD be able to cope?
  • Has anyone fitted a snorkle kit, is one available?
  • Do the Freelanders have any corrosion issues because I'd like to just have nut and bolt issues to deal with - not welderising.
That'll do for now, any comments (or abuse :D) will be appreciated, thanks.:)
 
BoomerV8 said:
Come on then guys, I drive a doggy old rotten rusty Disco and I got this daft idea of doing something different this time around - like maybe modding an earlier 3 door Freelander to play with.
As I know very little about them can I ask some questions?

  • XEDI engine - any pitfalls and can it be run on vegoil or a vegoil/derv mix? Is it a better option than a TD4 in terms of simplicity and maintenance?
  • Has anyone done a suspension lift using the Bearmach +2" springs and camber pins and does it work ok?
  • What are the biggest tyres I can get away with to give good ground clearance (when combined with the suspension lift) taking into account that a Freelander has no transfer box - will it make the gearing too high? Will the infamous IRD be able to cope?
  • Has anyone fitted a snorkle kit, is one available?
  • Do the Freelanders have any corrosion issues because I'd like to just have nut and bolt issues to deal with - not welderising.
That'll do for now, any comments (or abuse :D) will be appreciated, thanks.:)
Click to expand...

Can't answer all your questions but I've only seen one type of snorkel used on the Freelander. I personally think it looks **** though. Pics:

Freelander Snorkel Installation

The Freelander doesn't rust like what the Disco 1 is renowned for. That's partly due to the gay looking plastic trim which you can't fail to notice. This is probably why it can also float like a boat when it's most inconvenient. One woman found this out for herself though and detoured along a river before realising that her car was in fact, not a boat. She subsequently died.

Woman drowns in flooded river | The Sun |News

Some say the XEDI engine is more reliable than the TD4, albeit less refined, less economical (marginally) slower and nosier. I don't know whether or not it's cheaper to maintain.

As you probably know, they chew up tyres, have a weak clutch and have drivetrain issues. The standard ground clearance is an issue. I don't do anything extreme and I've already grounded it a couple of times.

Also, the IRD ratio was changed in later models. It's thought that later models are less prone to IRD/VCU issues. Obv if you buy an XEDI, you'd be buying an earlier model. Land Rover didn't give much info about this though, so it's hard to tell exactly when this modification was made. I dunno whether my 51 plate TD4 has it or not.
 
Last edited:
RichM said:
Can't answer all your questions but I've only seen one type of snorkel used on the Freelander. I personally think it looks **** though. Pics:

Freelander Snorkel Installation

The Freelander doesn't rust like what the Disco 1 is renowned for. That's partly due to the gay looking plastic trim which you can't fail to notice. This is probably why it can also float like a boat when it's most inconvenient. One woman found this out for herself though and detoured along a river before realising that her car was in fact, not a boat. She subsequently died.

Woman drowns in flooded river | The Sun |News

Some say the XEDI engine is more reliable than the TD4, albeit less refined, less economical (marginally) slower and nosier. I don't know whether or not it's cheaper to maintain.

As you probably know, they chew up tyres, have a weak clutch and have drivetrain issues. The standard ground clearance is an issue. I don't do anything extreme and I've already grounded it a couple of times.

Also, the IRD ratio was changed in later models. It's thought that later models are less prone to IRD/VCU issues. Obv if you buy an XEDI, you'd be buying an earlier model. Land Rover didn't give much info about this though, so it's hard to tell exactly when this modification was made. I dunno whether my 51 plate TD4 has it or not.
Click to expand...

If this is what you mean it looks like its been 'assimilated by the Borg' :D
Thanks for the info:)

snorkelfinal[1].jpg
 
RichM said:
Can't answer all your questions but I've only seen one type of snorkel used on the Freelander. I personally think it looks **** though. Pics:

Freelander Snorkel Installation

The Freelander doesn't rust like what the Disco 1 is renowned for. That's partly due to the gay looking plastic trim which you can't fail to notice. This is probably why it can also float like a boat when it's most inconvenient. One woman found this out for herself though and detoured along a river before realising that her car was in fact, not a boat. She subsequently died.

Woman drowns in flooded river | The Sun |News

Some say the XEDI engine is more reliable than the TD4, albeit less refined, less economical (marginally) slower and nosier. I don't know whether or not it's cheaper to maintain.

As you probably know, they chew up tyres, have a weak clutch and have drivetrain issues. The standard ground clearance is an issue. I don't do anything extreme and I've already grounded it a couple of times.

Also, the IRD ratio was changed in later models. It's thought that later models are less prone to IRD/VCU issues. Obv if you buy an XEDI, you'd be buying an earlier model. Land Rover didn't give much info about this though, so it's hard to tell exactly when this modification was made. I dunno whether my 51 plate TD4 has it or not.
Click to expand...
IRD ratio change was model year 2001 (thats model year, not when registered). Mine is post mod and allis well.
 
buy the kit from North offroad, the D-lander kit can be bought in several different stages of build, from kit to full car
they are disco 300s with gaylander bodies on
 
RichM said:
So is there still generally a need to change the VCU after 70k miles for MY01 Freelanders?

http://www.freelanderspecialist.com say it's necessary, but they would say that wouldn't they.
Click to expand...

Only in the same way you change the disks every 60000 miles and the pads every 30000 miles irrespective of the condition!:rolleyes:.

Of course not. You check it regularly and change it when you think it is starting yo play up. Add it to a 3000 or 6000 mile service.
 
Boombox me old mucker. Long time no hear. Is you teasing us Freelanderers again you naughty old boombox.
 
RichM said:
So is there still generally a need to change the VCU after 70k miles for MY01 Freelanders?

http://www.freelanderspecialist.com say it's necessary, but they would say that wouldn't they.
Click to expand...
Not broken, dont fix? Trouble is non of us really know what level of middle wear or non function of VCU is acceptable. I,m going to carryon till something happens and hope that I notice change early - I think you get to know your own motor quite well.
 
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