How to replace td4 turbo

Hi, So my 2003 td4 has been sat on the drive sorned since the turbo died last oct and iv'e decided im gonna put a second hand replacement on the girl. Anyone got a tutorial or link showing whats involved and is their any consiquential damage that may have occured that I need to check out before assuming swapping the turbo is all thats needed, don't want to swap it over and find bits of shrapnell in the cylinders or summat , It was making quite a racket and pluming smoke. advise appreciated

You need to remove the turbo and check if there are bits missing really

I have no idea what symptoms or condition your car was in when it went, so guessing as to the state of your turbo would be silly.


Remove IRD unit - drop subframe , remove o/s/f driveshaft , remove IRD brackets , remove coolant pipes, remove prop, remove 4x ird bolts , slide out.

Remove Airbox (the bit with your airfilter in) - Undo bolts, like 4mm AK iirc.

Remove Turbo - Undo obvious pipes from underneath , Remove stupid plate heatshield that seperates exhaust manifold from airbox (slides out), Remove multihex bolts retaining turbo.

Drink Beer - Always cold , never out a glass!




I hope i didnt miss anything, havent taken a turbo out of a td4 in years.

Thanks for the info, the symptoms were.. plooms of smoke, engine woz revving its nads off, had to stall it to stop und a grinding orrible sound. It had used a load of oil and some water. What do u think ?

Oooooooh ..... so turbo seals have gone.

Well either that or piston rings


Well its most likely (i say most likely) that unless you remove the turbo and its proper just 'SPLODED!' that no debris should have entered your engine. Since the fault is oil seal failure internal to the turbo. You should also check your cyclone filter to make sure it isnt swelled, as its the usual cause of blown turbo seals on Td4.

The other thing to check is remove the exhaust and make sure it isnt full of oil also. Oil in the exhaust causes constant smoking as well and if its soaked into your exhaust silencer it can be a bitch to burn off.

Goodluck with it though

Its like going to school coming on here, learning all the time from you guys. Really appreciate your advise, I will Strip down the turbo to see if its sheared and check the cyclone filter, but where is that located ? Is it the same thing as the crank case breather, if so I changed it only about 8k ago, cheers

Crank case breather

Absolutely no fricking idea why its called a cyclone filter , i blame BMW! They sucks

cheers mate, I know what u mean now

I broke down this weekend with the exact same problem but caught it early enough that the engine didn't run on but it has dropped all it's oil . Been quoted £850 to supply/fit a reconditioned turbo. Think I'm gonna stop being lazy and try and do it myself oil in the exhaust and intercooler pipes is my biggest concern for getting clean will keep you posted as to how I get on. Seen refurbished turbos for about £280 with you sending your old one in . Is this about the right price I should be paying .

Vissie said:

Crank case breather

Absolutely no fricking idea why its called a cyclone filter , i blame BMW! They sucks

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on the freelander td4, which is a BMW engine as we all know, original LR fitment was a foam cylindrical filter element, although it's actual function is as an oil separator.

the same part for the same engine but in a BMW is a hard plastic cyclone piece , which carries out the same function by using a cyclone of the fume laden air (think dyson vaccum cleaner).

as they are interchangeable, BMW part fits freelander td4, so cyclone filter it is !

Reggy85 said:

I broke down this weekend with the exact same problem but caught it early enough that the engine didn't run on but it has dropped all it's oil . Been quoted £850 to supply/fit a reconditioned turbo. Think I'm gonna stop being lazy and try and do it myself oil in the exhaust and intercooler pipes is my biggest concern for getting clean will keep you posted as to how I get on. Seen refurbished turbos for about £280 with you sending your old one in . Is this about the right price I should be paying .

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The last 2 turbo changes I have just fitted new turbo cores 120 130 quid per kit depending on where I got them from,
Some really good how to threads here personally I go the non IRD removal and a second pair of hands can be a great help for first time

Got it down this time using a spare turbo I had refurbed 4 hours non IRD removal start to finish on a 2003 TD4

If anyone needs i have a pdf of how to remove without ird removal I can send

fredi250 said:

If anyone needs i have a pdf of how to remove without ird removal I can send

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Yes please

fredi250 said:

If anyone needs i have a pdf of how to remove without ird removal I can send

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Can you forward a copy of the turbo replacement PDF please

fredi250 said:

If anyone needs i have a pdf of how to remove without ird removal I can send

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would really appreciate that [email protected]

fredi250 said:

If anyone needs i have a pdf of how to remove without ird removal I can send

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Would be much appreciated, I get the wife to help !! [email protected]

fredi250 said:

If anyone needs i have a pdf of how to remove without ird removal I can send

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I don’t suppose you still have that PDF do you? In the middle of replacing mine and having a bitch of a job! Thanks in advance

I would be interested in that too

Sorry I don't, but I seem to remember uploading it to the Freelander forum with the 22m end cap for EGR valve, a

I will set up a guide this afternoon or tomorrow to update that one. Basically with bits that I found they can be done in a better way to save time.
You will need a second person to screw something upon putting it back though. Can't see how else.