To buy or not to buy??

[rob_bell]

Couple more questions;

Clutch change, is it full engine/gearbox out job?

Probably depends on the engine option fitted, but I would think that it would be possible to do the clutch in situ on a K-series car - but probably easier with the gearbox dropped I'd imagine

Is there some kind of mod for the front grill/bumper in the facelift that people bolt in over the stock set up? Seen a few, I think they look awful, but if it can be removed easy then no bother..

As the guys have described - this is an optional nudge bar. Removal will leave exposed holes in the original bumper. Best way to delete would be to obtain a replacement bumper and sell on the existing bumper/ nudge bar/ brackets. You'll find a healthy market for them

Finally, how come some have fog lamps further inboard on the bumper and on long stalk type housings?

As Nodge says - there's no space behind the bumper to mount them, so this is a "pod" to enable their fitment

 

[Karlos28]

Odd how they choose to put the fogs/spots there though, instead of the normal place in the bumper?

Still thinking of a td4, although everyone i speak to is trying to put me off diesels as they are going to be priced off the road soon..

Just unsure auto or manual!

 

[Hippo]

Cost of running a diesel may go up a little but any gov who attacks diesels harshly too soon will be voting themselves out at the next election. Major cities need to clean up because of rules and will limit use but outside of this we will be ok for some time.

 

[Nodge68]

Odd how they choose to put the fogs/spots there though, instead of the normal place in the bumper?

Factory fogs were in the bumper outer corners.

Dealer/ owner fit spots were in the pods, mounted on the black sections of the bumper. These could be fitted with or without the nudge bar, but look better with the nudge bar fitted.

Still thinking of a td4, although everyone i speak to is trying to put me off diesels as they are going to be priced off the road soon..

Just unsure auto or manual!

If you want an auto, then you've only 2 engine choices available, those being the TD4 or V6 petrol.

If you're wanting good economy then the TD4 manual is the way to go.

It'll be a while until diesels are priced off the road, but it'll happen, eventually.

 

[Karlos28]

Yeah I think they look odd in their own!

My thoughts exactly on the diesel front! Think will be ok for the three years or so I expect to get out of the Freelander.

Yeah Im leaning towards td4, for the economy side of things. Is the difference vast auto/manual with fuel usage?

Just spotted another interesting one. 03, Facelift on the outside, but not on the inside.. annoying as the inside is the reason I want a facelift! Cheap though, manual td4 138k £1k..

 

[Nodge68]

Just spotted another interesting one. 03, Facelift on the outside, but not on the inside.. annoying as the inside is the reason I want a facelift! Cheap though, manual td4 138k £1k..

It's been facelifted by fitting the later bumpers and lights. A real facelift came out for the 53 reg vehicles

 

[Karlos28]

Makes perfect sense! Didn't know if it was a bit of a weird changeover year..

 

[Nodge68]

Makes perfect sense! Didn't know if it was a bit of a weird changeover year..

No. The facelift was new for August 2003, so 53 plate was the first reg it was available from a dealer. However there were a few pre-production "press" cars about on an 03 IIRC. When the facelift was made, it also included the revised interior, so everything should match. If the interior is wrong and the reg is before 53, then it's been facelifted by an owner. There are lots about, but be aware that they are classified as a modified vehicle, so cost more to insure than a genuine facelift.

 

[Karlos28]

Yeah, not interested in anything but facelift, for the interior!

Also not interested in modding to be honest. Just needs to work and be reliable!

 

[rob_bell]

I got a pre-facelift for the exact same reason: I prefer the earlier interior: brighter and more fun LOL

But then, I am someone who almost imported the original Renault Twingo, and wanted the one with the early "FisherPrice" interior

 

[Karlos28]

Haha each to their own... I do love the gf's smart car mind!

Mpg is what's putting me off now, mainly incase I need to do a long motorway run. My commute is mostly 50mph road with the odd 70 bit, so I'd imagine that will be ok.my 120d does 50mpg on that run now, which is awesome I think. It is getting tempting to just get the older generation 1 series and make do in winter and have it looking a bit battered (I feel a landy could pull it off so much better though!)

 

[rob_bell]

Lol! Exactly

A Td4 would be ideal. Just drove to Milton Keynes in my ZTT (M47R engine, like Td4) - around 40-45mpg all the way up and back down again on the delightful M1

 

[Karlos28]

The larger heavy freelander will be doing a bit less then I guess?

 

[Nodge68]

The larger heavy freelander will be doing a bit less then I guess?

The Freelander is shorter than a Rover 75 and 20% heavier. But it's also higher with a square back end, so has a higher CD, making it worse on fuel by a bit. A manual TD4 will still do 40 MPG, which is still good by today's standards. Our 65 plate family Ford Kuga doesn't more than 42 MPG with careful driving, and more commonly 38 MPG with normal driving.

 

[Karlos28]

I could definitely live with 40..

Speaking of CofD, are roof rails easily fitted to vehicles that don't have them as standard? I notice a few don't have them. Looks weird (5 door).

 

[GrumpyGel]

I could definitely live with 40..

Speaking of CofD, are roof rails easily fitted to vehicles that don't have them as standard? I notice a few don't have them. Looks weird (5 door).

I fitted them to my daily off my parts car. Was straight forward. Lift off the cover plates and bolt on the rails.

Make sure you get all the bolts (IIRC 2 at each end, so 8) plus there were some spacers or something in there I think and make sure you get the cover panels for the rails (hides the bolts).

 

[Karlos28]

Ah that's good then, should be able to get it all off a scrapper or something.

Also been reading up on a few articles recently about the future or diesel cars.. from what I can work out they want rid of all none DPF cars, I don't think any fl1's have them fitted?

 

[trx]

They cant get rid of Diesel cars until 50% at least are battery power.
To much Co2 comes out of Petrol cars and its already gone up a few %
In the last 18 months due the drop in Diesel buyers.
Bad for global warming is Petrol.
Dave

 

[rob_bell]

Ah that's good then, should be able to get it all off a scrapper or something.

Also been reading up on a few articles recently about the future or diesel cars.. from what I can work out they want rid of all none DPF cars, I don't think any fl1's have them fitted?

No FL1 or FL2 came with a DPF. You’d need a 2016 Discovery Sport or Evoque (etc) to get this (EU6).

 

[td4van]

Freelander 2 had the option of DPF until 2011MY (engine change and mild facelift) when it became standard fit

AdBlue is what came in 2016MY Discovery Sport and Evoque