Freelander 1 Should she stay or should she Go

Hi all,
I"ve owned my 2003 FreelanderTD4 Auto Serengeti for 6 years and if you consider how much I paid for it then it has probably cost Peanuts to run. I had 4 new AVON All Season tyres fitted a few months ago, She has solid bodywork, clean interior and only 148000 miles. The BMW motor uses a bare minimum of Oil and there are no Water leaks. All in all she"s a really good Cheap 4x4. Yes she has her faults like most older vehicles so why am I thinking of getting rid of her and spending a few thousand pounds on a replacement???? Wouldn"t the money be best spent on Her??.
I could pay someone to fit a Facelift Front and rear Bumper and Lights, I can"t do it I"m too bloody old!!
I could get a local Landrover Specialist Garage which I have quite close to me to carry out a Full Service and Replace anything that needs replacing Or would it be a waste of money. I"ve looked on Autotrader ebay etc and most of the younger 4x4s on there have higher mileage and could well have suspect History.
So my learned Freelanderers what do you think. Should she stay or should she go?

If the Freelander is still going to be reliable, and does all you need, then there's little point in changing it, as least not in my opinion.

Keep it and spend a few quid on it to repay it for faithful service. Even if you spend £1,000 on it, it wouldn't buy you a better or newer one !
PS - if you do sell it send me a message as they are rare and valuable in good condition !!

Spending money on a motor that you are going to sell and not get the money back, is obviously a waste.

Spending money on something you're going to keep is is something only you can decide - for example, what value do you put on installing facelift bumpers and lights?

I think my '99 pre facelift looks pretty decent still. Think it looks nicer than most of the current crop of 'cross overs' and pumped up hatchbacks.

You can probably get more economy from a newer vehicle, reliablility and cost of ownership is another matter.

As others have said, a good example is a rare thing nowadays because freelanders went through the cheap car phase, so if you've got a good one, keep it. You could do a facelift on it, but the alternative is to accessorise it, my '02 looks cool AF with the rubber nidge bar and its associated spot light pods, as well as the original recessed front spotlights all completed with the original light guards, and at the back it's got the light guards on it. Makes it look more "on mission" than contemporary crossovers/soft-roaders and looks a bit tougher than the facelifted model's admittedly smart bumpers and lights.

The biggest thing against the pre-facelifted hippo was the acres of black plastic that fades, and faded anything looks naff. But if you treat it with wurth's black plastic dye, which I highly recommend as it is sensationally good, and lasts, it looks fresh, and gives your body colour something to pop against. It also gives you an easy way of doing a quick half wash, wash the paint, skip the plastics

Here's a link to the Wurth stuff:
https://eshop.wurth.co.uk/Product-c...t-PT/31083007020701.cyid/3108.cgid/en/GB/GBP/

A good well maintained Freelander is a rare thing for sure. Mostly they are abandoned maintenance wise. So if you like it, keep it. I don't know anything better than a car that you have been maintaining and know well. Buying a used car you buy all the other people's problems with it.

Stance said:

Buying a used car you buy all the other people's problems with it.

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So true.
My FL2 is a bit like that. Looks amazing on the outside, but for an LR maintained vehicle is woefully un-maintained, although that shouldn't really be a surprise I guess.

Thanks guys for the advice, it looks like I"m stuck with the old girl so I"ll probably keep the Freelander as well.
I agree with everything you say and thanks Jayridium if I can find one I will fit a Nidge Bar(Sorry Nudge Bar). Anyone know where I can buy one??

mudinuri said:

Thanks guys for the advice, it looks like I"m stuck with the old girl so I"ll probably keep the Freelander as well.
I agree with everything you say and thanks Jayridium if I can find one I will fit a Nidge Bar(Sorry Nudge Bar). Anyone know where I can buy one??

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No. And if mine goes missing, I'll know where to fookin look.


On a serious note. They were quite popular, so might be piled high in a Freelander breakers yard somewhere. If you get one, make sure you get the 2 brackets that fit on the metal bumper behind the plastic and the bolts that goes through each one securing the A Bar. The brackets at the bottom are not as important and are more of a nuisance really (I wouldn't install them). You could also score yourself one of the plastic bumper surrounds/valances as well to practice cutting the holes for the brackets - assuming its not to costly. This is assuming you are after the standard LR black 'soft' A bar for the pre facelift. Pic of bumper brackets...

Hello all.
I would need a head test if I got rid of mine. Got it at 70,000mls from two owners that were of the same family. Changed the usual stuff. And never skimped on servicing, don,t see the point!
Every 6 thou, Filters and fully synthetic oil change. Not that expensive.
For me, if the clutch went that might be the point to part with it. At my age I couldn't do the job myself, so I keep my fingers crossed.
I look after her and she looks after me.

MULDERKE said:

For me, if the clutch went that might be the point to part with it. At my age I couldn't do the job myself, so I keep my fingers crossed.

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A good connection, well maintained FL1 is worth many times the cost of a replacement clutch, the prices of these cars is now rising.

Nice looking motor Mulderke. Good on you.