Help needed please

Hi all, This is my first post having joined today.

I'm looking at changing vehicle next weekend and having browsed the used car websites have been particularly fancying the Land Rover Freelander.

As I've got a 5k budget the best I can seem to find for my money is a 2005 plate freelander 1.8 petrol with 54k on the clock. I'm guessing this vehicle is what's referred to as the K-Series.

Naturally I've been doing a bit of research including on this website and was shocked as there seems to be a lot of negativity about this vehicle - head gasket problems, etc.

I just had a few questions and I'm hoping another member who most likely knows far more than I could help out with some answers.

1. If the above mentioned vehicle is a 2005 plate does that mean it falls into road tax band 'K' instead of 'L'? It's just that band L seems to be double the price.

2. I've read a lot of comments about the engines and head gasket failing at between 40-60,000 miles meaning a new engine is needed. Assuming the engine hasn't failed to date is there a mechanical procedure that a garage can do to prevent this happening? If so is this something I can check when buying if the previous owner has had done?

3. Given point 2 above would my money be better spent buying a diesel version with higher mileage given my 5k budget. Does this problem still affect the diesel models.

4. Any tips on what I should check (particular to Land Rovers) when buying used. I haven't got a lot of money to cover major jobs afterwards so ideally am looking for a vehicle that is reliable and that I can run into the ground for years to come.

I suppose I'm wondering what would you buy with a 5k budget????

Thanks

Oh behave you muppet. 5k and you choose the worst model ever made. FFS.

Dont do it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Right, i've opened another beer,

1. Your priorities seem wrong, your first question is about road tax, or VED or whatever the feck its called in the UK now. If you buy the K series 1.8 this wont be an issue as it will be on a SORN most of the time.

2. You can get a modded head gasket but its like putting a cherry on a turd.

3. If you must have a gaylander, the diesel seems to be the best option. Although this is like comparing Ronnie to Reggie Kray...deep down you dont want to see either when you open the front door.

4. Do a search. FFS

while were on the subject, anyone know what it should cost to get a k series head skimmed? including strippin and rebuilding? just ish?????

truly, the 1.8 is not the vehicle to go for. unfortunately, even though there a number of mods you can do, such as upgraded gasket kit, remote thermostat mod and so on, chances are it will occurr sooner or later. Now, you can either accept this and budget accordingly, and hope that the head doesn't warp, or the liners slip, or you can do the sensible thing and look for a td4. Although not without it's fair share of problems, (like any older vehicle) it has the bmw engine which is fairly reliable, as long as the crankcase breather filter is changed every 12k.

good luck with your searching.

With 5k to spend the TD4 is definitely the one to go for, it doesn't have the HG problems and averages 10mpg more than the 1.8 petrol engine, its quicker as well.

For road tax, if you know the reg number, put it into here and the amount of road tax will be shown Click

Search and read, this question has been answered passionately many times before!

1.8 should be avoided at all costs, td4 is the far far far far far (that's 5 fars) superior choice.

Even if you googled 1.8 freelander problems you'd get tons of stuff to warn you off that idea. The head gasket is not an issue with the diesels

On your budget get an oil burner, have it subjected to a decent service by someone who actually knows something about Freelanders instead of regaling you with myths and bollocks (which rules out most garages to be honest) and don't ignore any faults, however seemingly insignificant. Freelanders follow in the footsteps created by all other Land Rover models in that they can go wrong, can do it often, and can do it horribly too.

thainy said:

while were on the subject, anyone know what it should cost to get a k series head skimmed? including strippin and rebuilding? just ish?????

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Don't bother as it will most likely remove all the surface hardening and renders it scrap. If the head is badly warped (which is actually quite rare, you're more likely to have one that's gone porous) get a new one. There's a firm in Wem I've used called Motorcast that do exchange heads for about £250 (brand new they are about £225 from XPart but that's bare), complete with new valves, and they seem to supply pretty decent stuff. Just swap the cams over.

TD4 all day long. Remember the Freelander is a heavy car with permanent 4wd. The 1.8 engine is a straight lift out of an MGF which is a development of the 1.4 from a 1980s Maestro.

k series was never in a maestro!!

thrasher said:

k series was never in a maestro!!

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thought it was in the Allegros ?

Dim memory time, but there was a development Maestro fitted with an early K, and a Freebie mule was disguised as a Maestro van (not hugely convincing), but no production models. I'll say this as a fan of the engine, it's got some bloody good ideas in it and was way ahead of the game when launched, but it was not the right choice for the Freelander, not at all. There wasn't the money to develop a decent engine family, which meant stretching what was supposed to be a small capacity unit for shopping trolleys to suit more purposes that it was ever intended to do.