[davidlscott]

Hi!!!

I bought a cranky old 104k miles 98 Freelander last year after getting stuck in my daily driver 130 BMW in the snow.

It gets used for carrying my trials bike or bicycles on a Dave Cooper rack, towing the trailer with trail/enduro bikes on or as a general load lugger and grotty weather vehicle.

I have no expectations about getting more than a couple of years out of an £1800 car although generally it's in pretty good nick and the K series is holding out so far. MOT in February didn't throw up any comments or advisories.

 

[snaggers110]

Hi!!!

I bought a cranky old 104k miles 98 Freelander last year after getting stuck in my daily driver 130 BMW in the snow.

It gets used for carrying my trials bike or bicycles on a Dave Cooper rack, towing the trailer with trail/enduro bikes on or as a general load lugger and grotty weather vehicle.

I have no expectations about getting more than a couple of years out of an £1800 car although generally it's in pretty good nick and the K series is holding out so far. MOT in February didn't throw up any comments or advisories.

Hi and :welcome2: Be advised though, the K series 1.8 petrol suffers with weak head gaskets. Go on the Freelander section loads of good peeps who will help and give advise happily. I do hope you have a thick skin for the inevitable leg pulling you will get for owning up to Gaylander ownership. Good people on here bring your sense of humour and enjoy.

 

[davidlscott]

Thanks for the welcome and warnings .

I worked on the basis that if it had survived to 104k the previous owner must have sorted the head gasket problem and it runs at a nice even temperature at just below mid point - the last owner had it for about 6 years and as long as I get about another 15 months without a major bill I'll be happy and maybe look for a Disco (am I allowed to say Disco? - my brother in law hates his being called that) and my neighbour seems to spend more time under his than in it. Range Rovers will be out of my budget unless they are real dogs.

For the mileage I do I would be happy to have a V8 (I have had a TVR and like bigger engines - my BMW is a 3 litre) and don't really give too much concern about fuel consumption.

ETA: The sunroof inevitably leaks so one of my first purchases was a pair of Halfords cheap seat covers and the cubby on the boot gets condesation in it - can you put a mesh lid on it?.

 

[snaggers110]

Thanks for the welcome and warnings .

I worked on the basis that if it had survived to 104k the previous owner must have sorted the head gasket problem and it runs at a nice even temperature at just below mid point - the last owner had it for about 6 years and as long as I get about another 15 months without a major bill I'll be happy and maybe look for a Disco (am I allowed to say Disco? - my brother in law hates his being called that) and my neighbour seems to spend more time under his than in it. Range Rovers will be out of my budget unless they are real dogs.

For the mileage I do I would be happy to have a V8 (I have had a TVR and like bigger engines - my BMW is a 3 litre) and don't really give too much concern about fuel consumption.

ETA: The sunroof inevitably leaks so one of my first purchases was a pair of Halfords cheap seat covers and the cubby on the boot gets condesation in it - can you put a mesh lid on it?.

You could have a good one there Dave. Best and cheapest solution to the sunroof problem is silicone sealant mate. A nice thin bead around the opening will keep you and Missus nice and dry.

 

[davidlscott]

Cheers Snaggers

I had read about silicone but there seemed to be some doubt about it's usefulness.
I have been poking wire down the drain holes so it keeps the pipes clearish.
Didn't get any water in over the last few days of heavy rain.

Even allowing for the dealer giving it a big clean, it had never had a tow bar on it and the underside was as clean as a whistle. Bodywork pretty good with just a couple of bits of lacquer lifting

The seats were a bit grubby but when I had the carpets cleaned the other day, they did all the seats for £30 and they came up pretty well.