FBH fuel burning heater - silencer.

Hi all.

I’m about to sell my 2006 Td4 Freelander sport. (86000 miles FSH)

As many of us will know, the FBH can make quite a noise on start up (the old air blowing across a milk bottle sound)

I didn’t want this noise to put off perspective buyers that might not be familiar.

There seems to be a silencer available for them but have read that land rover didn’t bother fitting them? Does anyone know if that’s right. And if that’s the case, is it worth fitting one, and is it a simple job to do so? Someone mentioned to me that it involves pulling apart most of the front end?

Thanks for you help.

The FBH should not be firing up on start every time you start the car, if it is then something is not right, it should start if 5c and below then once warmed up go off, it may need cleaning out or servicing personally I would explain this to the potential purchaser rather than try to hide the fact it is making it's usual noise, at least they know they have a working FBH albeit needs servicing.

If you did want to had a silencer, then the FBH can be access by removing or peeling back the NS wheel arch liner, but I am almost sure you can add the muffler from below by removing the under tray but do not quote me on it, also you need to know what size the outlet pipe is 22mm or 24mm links below
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_...reelander+1+Webasto+exhaust+silencer&_sacat=0

No it only starts up when it’s cold out and the engine is cold, as it should.
But when it does it makes the noise, it’s not an uncommon noise, just might sound odd to anyone that’s not familiar with “a car” making such a noise.
Thanks for the link, they’re the ones I’ve been looking at. So is it right that land rover didn’t bother fitting them?

FreelanderJohn said:

No it only starts up when it’s cold out and the engine is cold, as it should.
But when it does it makes the noise, it’s not an uncommon noise, just might sound odd to anyone that’s not familiar with “a car” making such a noise.
Thanks for the link, they’re the ones I’ve been looking at. So is it right that land rover didn’t bother fitting them?

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Yes I think Land Rover and Rover with the R40 diesel engines they were classed as a optional extra, I have seen some FL 1 with the muffler and also my R40 Tourer had one fitted, sorry I mistook your explanation above as that the FBH was firing at all start ups if not and is firing up when it should use that as a bargaining tool to help sell the car, ire it will warm the car up quicker in the winter moths as it is now. good luck with the sale

Cool. I think for the sake of a few quid I might stick one on.
Thanks for your help, I’m a bit reluctant to sell it as I can’t fault it and it’s always been a pleasure to drive, but the onset of a company vehicle means it really won’t get used
Cheers.

Just for interests sake I have a freelander 2 that has the preheater on it, just about to get a blue tooth telestart put on it to convert it to a parking heater. I'll have to look at it to see if has a silencer on it as mine doesn't make hardly any noise at at all. you just get the weird exhaust fumes floating out of the wheel arch."

I hadn’t realised so many other car makers used the Webasto FBH until just flicking through google. Seems most German manufactures use them, but seems almost all other makers used the silencer. The fact that there is a silencer available suggests that the noise is normal. But to anyone that doesn’t know that may wonder what it is. Maybe they put silencers on the freelander 2 as a result of the noise reported from the FL1’s?

FreelanderJohn said:

No it only starts up when it’s cold out and the engine is cold, as it should.
But when it does it makes the noise, it’s not an uncommon noise, just might sound odd to anyone that’s not familiar with “a car” making such a noise.
Thanks for the link, they’re the ones I’ve been looking at. So is it right that land rover didn’t bother fitting them?

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It wasn't that LR didn't bother fitting the FBH silencer. It's not actually needed, as it can't be heard when the engine is running. The Discovery 3 has the FBH silencer in the engine bay, next to the FBH. The noise that makes is much reduced, but far from silent.
Me I'd not bother trying to fool a potential buyer. Just sell it a benifit for those cold winter months. I have a FBH remote, so can fire it up from indoors. I like to be able too open a window and hear my FBH running, knowing I'll be getting into a warm car for work.

Nodge68 said:

It wasn't that LR didn't bother fitting the FBH silencer. It's not actually needed, as it can't be heard when the engine is running. The Discovery 3 has the FBH silencer in the engine bay, next to the FBH. The noise that makes is much reduced, but far from silent.
Me I'd not bother trying to fool a potential buyer. Just sell it a benifit for those cold winter months. I have a FBH remote, so can fire it up from indoors. I like to be able too open a window and hear my FBH running, knowing I'll be getting into a warm car for work.

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I’m not trying to fool anyone, to be honest this was the first td4 I bought and when I went to look at it, it was the first question I asked “what’s that noise” not helped by the seller saying “I dunno!” I went away and got some more info before knowing that it was completely normal. Then went back and bought it. But to anyone not so savvy, they might just walk away thinking that it sounds sh@&&£d!
The noise only actually lasts for a few seconds when the burner kicks in and soon fades.

There is a fog horn sound for about 10 seconds as the burner ramps up to full power. After that it just sounds like a fan running. If you sell it in the next week or so. The FBH won't even run because it'll be over 5°C.

Out of curiosity, how much are you looking to get for it?

That’s exactly how it is! And yes with the weather getting warmer it won’t even be any issue
Well.. to be honest I’d be happy not to sell it, but I have just been told that my new company vehicle is being delivered in 2 weeks and I just won’t have a use for the freelander
It’s just turned 86000 miles. Serviced last summer and MOT in August with no advisories. Interior is imaculate. I really can’t fault it. And probably love it more than is healthy for a man to love a car!! But it’s so hard to know what to sell it for! Looking around people are advertising similar for over 4K but then you see others for less than a grand! As usual it’s finding he right person at the right time, ideally I’d like to get £3500 for it but in reality at that price I can’t have it just sat on the drive when the other one is delivered!

Land Rover did do a silencer for the Fbh and they said if I had a timer put on then that would be best, but I never did have a timer on so I did not buy the silencer but I believed they are not cheap.

teddywood1 said:

Land Rover did do a silencer for the Fbh and they said if I had a timer put on then that would be best, but I never did have a timer on so I did not buy the silencer but I believed they are not cheap.

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Morning.

You can get a new genuine silencer for around £25. Or you can get a kit with the flexi pipe that you need to fit it for around £60. I’ve heard it can be a pain to fit though and many people resort to taking the front bumper off to fit them

FreelanderJohn said:

Morning.

You can get a new genuine silencer for around £25. Or you can get a kit with the flexi pipe that you need to fit it for around £60. I’ve heard it can be a pain to fit though and many people resort to taking the front bumper off to fit them

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There's an intake silencer available too.
The front bumper does need too come off, as access to the FBH heater is restricted if going through the wheel arch.