Newb Freelander owner seeks... advice

After owning a Toyota RAV4 for over 12 years and having had my beloved car written off by a Royal Mail van that hit it so hard it was knocked out of its parking bay, I find myself with a 2005 Freelander 1, 3 door, petrol. I am used to driving old cars but would love to know how to look after this one the best way possible. So far it seems:
1) check the oil and other fluids weekly (how do you check fluids other than the oil?)
2) warm up sufficiently especially in winter
3) do not overrev
4) drive conservatively
5) get service every 5-6k miles.

I'd really value any feedback as I don't mind looking after a car if I can at least find out how to do it properly.
I have a good mechanic who has yet to know that I've bought this... and if it doesn't work out, I'll be back to buying a high mileage RAV4 3door anyway...
This is 68k, has a tow hitch (uh oh) and has a bit of wear on the interior but seems really sweet (see my avatar). I don't mind some problems but lots of problems would be an issue. The car won't be used every day.
Thank you in advance.

Cairns blue, my current favourite colour.
Welcome.

Nodge68 said:

Cairns blue, my current favourite colour.
Welcome.

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Is it? This is the first blue car I've ever bought. Haven't brought it home yet so a bit nervy about how to look after it...

Kriz said:

Is it? This is the first blue car I've ever bought. Haven't brought it home yet so a bit nervy about how to look after it...

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Just leave it at the side of the road, preferably not under a lime tree, unless you are driving it.

Odd wash might not go amiss if you want to make it feel loved. And make sure you get a permit if you are in the CPZ.

Turboman said:

Just leave it at the side of the road, preferably not under a lime tree, unless you are driving it.

Odd wash might not go amiss if you want to make it feel loved. And make sure you get a permit if you are in the CPZ.

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It'll get all the love I previously lavished on my poor deceased RAV4, including all the legals for Westminster. What I'm worried about is the maintenance. Also a bit concerned that the back bars may entice some of the wayward youths on the street to use my car as a climbing frame. Mainly, though, any pointers for keeping it sweet under the bonnet and all the moving parts?

The important things relating to Freelander are covered in this...

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/tests-new-freelander-owners-should-do-on-their-car.312863/

The only other major thing you need to be careful of is coolant levels with a 1.8. Don't run it if the coolant level is not right as the K Series will destroy its head gasket/cylinder head.

Kriz said:

It'll get all the love I previously lavished on my poor deceased RAV4, including all the legals for Westminster. What I'm worried about is the maintenance. Also a bit concerned that the back bars may entice some of the wayward youths on the street to use my car as a climbing frame. Mainly, though, any pointers for keeping it sweet under the bonnet and all the moving parts?

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Wow, Westminster! Nice and central, and I hear the council tax is very reasonable for London. I wouldn't worry too much about the bars, there must be loads of very upmarket motors round there for them to vandalise.

I have never had one, I did once have a Maestro with the 1.8 engine. But I would have thought just the usual, oil changes, maybe change the coolant. Brake fluid if you can change it on those. Set of spark plugs is cheap and never does any harm.

This is EXACTLY what I need! Thank you so much. I was searching through the forums but missed that link. How easy is it to check coolant levels? Also how often?

Kriz said:

This is EXACTLY what I need! Thank you so much. I was searching through the forums but missed that link. How easy is it to check coolant levels? Also how often?

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Probably an expansion tank under the bonnet. Should be a level marked on it. You could get a new cap if you want to push the boat out, they are cheap too.

Turboman said:

Wow, Westminster! Nice and central, and I hear the council tax is very reasonable for London. I wouldn't worry too much about the bars, there must be loads of very upmarket motors round there for them to vandalise.

I have never had one, I did once have a Maestro with the 1.8 engine. But I would have thought just the usual, oil changes, maybe change the coolant. Brake fluid if you can change it on those. Set of spark plugs is cheap and never does any harm.

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The cars here get vandalised all the time which is why I don't have a newer version of anything for these streets: keyed, smashed (as per mine, as you can tell I'm still bereft) and one dude knocked all the wing mirrors off cars on Great Titchfield Street... so yeah, there are gangs, dealers, drunks and bored kids out there doing stuff alongside the Royal Mail drivers.... *clears throat*. So the bars will be unique. No one else has a car like this near me. Outside of a normal service, I'm sure this car needs special treatment...

Turboman said:

Probably an expansion tank under the bonnet. Should be a level marked on it. You could get a new cap if you want to push the boat out, they are cheap too.

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Expansion tank... ok, will google that. Thank you!

So @gencybay has bought a Freelander and feels the need for a different identity

There is an expansion bottle on the drivers side wheel strut in the engine bay. Has 2 levels Min & Max - with a cap to remove for filling.

Kriz said:

The cars here get vandalised all the time which is why I don't have a newer version of anything for these streets: keyed, smashed (as per mine, as you can tell I'm still bereft) and one dude knocked all the wing mirrors off cars on Great Titchfield Street... so yeah, there are gangs, dealers, drunks and bored kids out there doing stuff alongside the Royal Mail drivers.... *clears throat*. So the bars will be unique. No one else has a car like this near me. Outside of a normal service, I'm sure this car needs special treatment...

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That sounds a total bore.

I am surprised, I know another LZ member in Westminster, and as far as I know, he has left his Rangie parked at the roadside for many years without issues.
However, he has also pointed out to me on occasions that Westminster is a very mixed bag, maybe you are in one of the less favoured areas.

GrumpyGel said:

The important things relating to Freelander are covered in this...

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/tests-new-freelander-owners-should-do-on-their-car.312863/

The only other major thing you need to be careful of is coolant levels with a 1.8. Don't run it if the coolant level is not right as the K Series will destroy its head gasket/cylinder head.

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Grumpy Gel - just read through your post and it is sensational. Thank you. I'm now terrified! But easy does it, I'll get there. I don't know all the body parts yet... but that's a fab post and one I needed to read.

GrumpyGel said:

So @gencybay has bought a Freelander and feels the need for a different identity

There is an expansion bottle on the drivers side wheel strut in the engine bay. Has 2 levels Min & Max - with a cap to remove for filling.

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Are all the Freelander 1s the same worldwide as far as specs? NZ the same as UK?

You didn't say what petrol engine is fitted, but I'm assuming it's the 1.8.
Both petrol engines run hot, so it's vital that the cooling system is in tip top condition. Never let it run low on coolant, and investigate any coolant loss immediately. The coolant tank is known to crack, which causes coolant loss. Thankfully they are cheap and easy to replace. One thing you'll notice about a Freelander, is parts are much easier to get and cheaper than Toyota parts. This is good, because Land Rover's like to keep you busy buying said parts.
Although not always.

Turboman said:

That sounds a total bore.

I am surprised, I know another LZ member in Westminster, and as far as I know, he has left his Rangie parked at the roadside for many years without issues.
However, he has also pointed out to me on occasions that Westminster is a very mixed bag, maybe you are in one of the less favoured areas.

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I should find him and say hello. I said hi to a lady who had the exact same RAV4 as me and I think she thought I was going to mug her...

Turboman said:

CPZ

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Isn't that from Robot Wars?

Nodge68 said:

You didn't say what petrol engine is fitted, but I'm assuming it's the 1.8.
Both petrol engines run hot, so it's vital that the cooling system is in tip top condition. Never let it run low on coolant, and investigate any coolant loss immediately. The coolant tank is known to crack, which causes coolant loss. Thankfully they are cheap and easy to replace. One thing you'll notice about a Freelander, is parts are much easier to get and cheaper than Toyota parts. This is good, because Land Rover's like to keep you busy buying said parts.
Although not always.

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Whew. Well, I put in a new clutch in the RAV4 and all sorts. Would have kept it on the road if the drive shaft hadn't been snapped and the chassis bent (the dude was literally carrying the mail, a fellow resident saw the accident and told me) so as long as it can be fixed, I'm against the disposible car culture.... Thank you. Still terrified!

Nodge68 said:

Isn't that from Robot Wars?

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Central Parking Zone or maybe carboxypeptidase... I think the former.