Head Gasket Failure

Hello,
Some advice is much needed and will be very greatly appreciated!

Having suffered head gasket failure on my 2001 2.5 V6 auto Freelander, a local garage (not a main dealer) has qouted me 2000 pounds for a new head gasket, inlet manifold, cam belts, engine lifters, radiator cap, oil and antifreeze.

I don't have a clue as to whether this is reasonable or not for the work required?

Any advise would be appreciated.
Many Thanks

Join the club. My head gasket blew yesterday
Well Land Rover quoted me £1300 to replace both head gaskets, easier to take the engine out to do this job they say. They said a new engine would cost £2000 all though I suspect this is a reconditoned unit, not brand new. Might be a good idea to ring your local Land Rover dealer to get a comparison. Depending on mileage you may not need some of that work done?

Have you seen this site with other owners with similar problems.

http://www.preloved.co.uk/fuseaction-forums.showdiscussion/thread_id-10411/startrow-581/maxrows-20/b4adcfd3.html

Thanks for the advice, just looked at the 'preloved' link. Shocking to see how many of us are in the same boat!

Thanks Again.

I have a suspician that most of those were the underpowered 1.8 litre models. I done a fair bit of research on the Freelander before I brought it and everything pointed towards the V6 if you didnn't mind low MPG. I think I've just been unlucky
Out of curiosity, has anyone else on this lovely forum suffered a failed head gasket on the V6 engine?
So far, skids66 and myself are in the club.

Hi there,

yes, I too thought the V6 to be my 'best bet' having done a bit of research! Would be interesting to know if it is a common problem with this model or just bad luck.

Just rung a couple of local parts suppliers to get a price for the head gasket replacement, 35 pound is the highest so far, 22 pound the lowest. The garage I went to told me the gaskets alone cost 521.70?! A big difference, will have to do a bit more research I think before putting it in for repairs.

Jon

If you do it yourself you'll need to buy new head bolts too. I was advised this is a must.
I'm waiting for a quote to change my head gaskets from a local garage I use. I'll let you know my findings.
£527.70 just for the gaskets seems very expensive to me. I'd go with the £35 ones, middle of the road price. Hang on, that's not middle, it's bloody cheap

Spoke to my brother in law last night, who has a mate with a garage, he is going to price it up on Monday for me, can't help but think this other place is ripping me off!

Will be interested to know how much you get quoted though, good to have something to compare to.

top of my head figures:
for comparison, the diesel head gasket is about 38 quid. (rimmerbros).
(couldnt find the v6 gasket price).
EDIT, just found it, they are 22.50 each.
......................................................
then say approx, 100 quid for other parts. 1 days labour max. say roughly 400 quid at a landy specialist. so about 600 quid all in.


ps.
i could do head gaskets for 2000 quid a time, all day long.
(id be willing to get my spanners out of cold storage).

good luck.

I have been a member of various Freelander sites for sometime, and as far as I understand the V6 is exactly the same design as the K engine. As these came into production far after the 1.8 I think it will be a while if a lot of problems materealise.

Hopefully they don't, as then there will then be a lot more dissatisfied L/R customers.

I thought the V6 engine was sourced from Ford? It's technically not a Rover engine. Correct me if I'm wrong some body!
@Ormos, Land Rover quoted me £1300 to change both head gaskets.
---------------
£22.50 for parts. £1277.50 labor. How do they sleep at night? Oh, I know, on a huge bed of cash!

ive just phoned a mate for a rough quote, hes still in the trade.
answerphone jobby, said he will call me back later. i will update you all asap.

just seen the preloved site, (re freelanders) im horrified at some of the sories there and the quotes given out!
2000 3000 35000 4000 5000 5500 quid!!!
no wonder the directors can afford to fill up their petrol RR,s!



ps re the k series engine, its a rover engine, developed from the old rover saloon 1.8 engine.
http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?engineindexf.htm

Thanks for all this info, much appreciated, looks like a need to find myself a more trustworthy mechanic!

I knew the 1.8 litre "K" series engine was a Rover lump but I thought the V6 engine was a Ford lump.
--------
Oh, I take it all back. Just checked out the web site Ormus directed us to. The KV6 engine (Rover) looks exactly the same as the V6 in my Freelander. Therefore I think it's safe to assume that I was wrong, the engine is indeed a Rover KV6 engine. Learn something new every day

I've just found an interesting forum discussing the KV6 engine and the head gasket problem:

http://www.preloved.co.uk/fuseaction-forums.showdiscussion/thread_id-10411/startrow-281/maxrows-20/8709c124.html

The piece that caught my eye is as follows:

"Hi from a L Rover Mechanic. The V6 engine is notorious for head gasket failure. The reason is because it is the big brother of the smaller 1.8 K Series. It is known as the 2.5 KV6. 9 times out of 10 these usually require replacement of the engine due to the massive amount of heat they generate when running. You are not alone at all, most people with a KV6 have probably had it renewed and if they were lucky had head gakets done. Either way the engine has to be removed due to space limitation and therefore you will have a hefty bill. These KV6's use many of the parts and design features of the 1.8 K Series including the dreaded Head Gaskets. Providing the vehicle has a full service history and has had regular oil and water level checks by yourself, I would advise you to push very strongly for a 100% payment for the cost of repair from Land Rover. Hope this helps".

All of a sudden I'm thinking "Did I buy the right car"?

one guy on that site quotes a kv6 engine as a 100% failure rate!
good luck all of you.

Great

marksurry

That's the link I posted earlier in this thread, you may also find this one interesting http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.eea90db/892
I think it is mainly American so they will be the V6.
This site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freelanderclub/messages are really helpfull and have plenty of knowledge.

Sorry Syrup, I'm not paying attention today, one of hose days.
I'll check the links out. I'm sure I'll be crying again real soon

mark

people only seemed to post on forums when they have problems, it just our nature, I'm sure there are Freelanders out there problem free, but it depends on whether you can take the strain.