watchdog?

OK everyone - one last question afore we take the plunge! we met someone today with a Freelander registered 1999 who had major engine problems which turned out to be a fault from the manufactures and also appeared on WatchDog!
Does anyone have any info about this or even any ideas if there is a recall list we can check - it would be just our luck
Thanks

No but would be very interested to find out

from what i've read, steer well clear of the 1.8 petrol engines, they are a nightmare.

Does anyone have any information on any success with getting this problem dealt with by land rover either by legal route, warranty is one thing but producing an engine with a flaw as widespread as this seems would appear to be challengeable via legal system or directly with Land Rover. There was no recall on the engine, they did recall the handbrake, the information needed would be when this gasket problem started appearing in numbers as they should then have recalled. Land Rover Ireland had a one year warranty mine was extended because of minor ongoing problems by the local dealer. I believe they may contribute in some cases but this still leaves me with an car which may have same problem if I retain it and in selling it market not great.

Ok, well I have just spoken to LandRover customer service and the chap was very honest and informative...

He basically said that the problem was accepted by LandRover (although not by MG Rover who used the same engines) and there is a modification on the engine (something to do with a seperate thermostat not 'on' the head gasket) which should solve it.

I asked him about how far LR would go to cover costs and he said that it depended on;

a)regular service history
b)number of owners
c)condition of car (?)

Basically, he couldn't guarantee anything, its purley on a case by case basis...I am off to the dealer tomorrow to see if the engine has been 'modded' nad if not, I will endeavour in my best pigeon french to either get the deposit back or get some work done before we buy.....wish me luck

Hi the engines are supplied by a company called POWER TRAIN to landrover and rover,the problems did not happen to the same extent to rover as the engine had more space under bonnet and kept cooler,the mgf mg suffered quite badly as shoe horned into a tight space,landrover freelander suffered due to getting hot also week head gaskets and some idiot fitting plastic dowels to locate the head, so it moves!at least landrover are good enough to try and resolve the problem,the new modification is easy to spot if you look under the bonnet at the front just on the right hand side you should see a white coloured bowl inbetween the hoses,this now houses the new thermostat,the old thermostat is removed this helps the car to run cooler,i have not seen many cars return with the same problem,landrover are pretty good with holding up there hands and they seem to try and keep customers happy,what the service advisor told you is true it does depend on sevice history how many owners and mileage i hope this helps,tiga.

Thanks, c how get on with a direct approach to Land Rover Ireland, car service reg but not always with dealer, as they were unsatisfactory low mileage and one owner driver should hopefully get me somewhere.

Got no satisfaction at all with Land Rover Ireland who said any payment at discretion of dealer and would be of a token nature, now have to put new engine in and hope oil water gunge does not ruin that engine also. Total cost in region of €5000 great!!! My brother was about to buy diesel, this has put him off and will certainly be sending tale to national newspaper motoring section.

As I said in my reply in another post I have a 98 1.8.
"As for the thermostat upgrade, I toyed with the idea but my local 4x4 garage (not main dealer) said "if it aint broke don't fix it". I've heard of some early freelanders having the mod and still have the gasket go. Some later models that have the revised gasket and cooling mods still have H/G go. I've been told by a few other freelander owners that correct maintanance is essential especialy bleeding of the cooling system when neccesary."