I’ve been looking for a cheap towcar for a while. Found myself looking at Freelander 1s which have a few well documented issues but generally the TD4 with the BMW engine seems pretty reliable.
Just been down to Norfolk yesterday to look at this TD4 which was on eBay. And ended up driving it home. Its drives very nicely indeed. For a 17 year old motor it’s in superb shape and I can’t see any previous bodywork. Previous owners were a retired couple who used it to tow their caravan but had replaced it with a Freelander 2. It’s had the VCU, both propshafts and both sets of bearings replaced (it’s had two lots of replacement bearings four years apart) so unlike most cheap ones which have had the rear prop removed ‘for economy’ this one is correct with fully functional 4wd. All the electric windows work as they’ve had a couple of the regs replaced and basically it wants very little. There’s a slight rattle from the nsf over very bumpy roads. And the seller told me there is a slight leak from the injector pump but it doesn’t smell of diesel, there’s no drips on the ground and to be honest if he hadn’t told me I would never have known.
It’s got a nice beige interior which is in great condition, they’ve really looked after it and kept the seats covered. The rear load space is also immaculate and complete with tonneau cover and tools. So many of these have ruined interiors as they’re used by horsey types or on farms so this one stood out. The only problem is the headlining is sagging in the front, a nice nod to its Rover Group heritage.
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That looks a brilliant buy. Incidentally, the L series diesels were, if anything , more reliable than the BMW lump, I've seen vehicles with intergalactic mileages, but the BMW motor is a bit quieter and not fitted with some of BMWs more stupid ideas.
I always liked these facelifted gaylanders, they have a family look with the last of the disco 2s, that interior is a cracker.
https://www.bellengineering.co.uk for when you have problems... I know the owner and the son, great lads. The son uses an old high mileage snotter derv auto for towing his race bike up and down the country and thrashes the fuck out of it (as much as you can an auto) loaded up with all sorts, trailer on the back and it flies along. The transfer box holds about a pint of oil, keep an eye on it as by the time you notice it has leaked it'll generally be fucked and a new one in a box the size of 80 PG tips will probably cost you what that whole vehicle owes you. Tyre depth is also critical apparently, same as 4x4 Calibras etc, rotate and keep them within the spec it has in the user manual or it'll wind the transmission up.
A diesel Freelander remains the slowest thing I ever remember driving, even a NA 205 diesel seemed faster. I liked the rear window that wound down into the boot lid though
Scruffy Bodger wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 12:53 pm
Tyre depth is also critical apparently, same as 4x4 Calibras etc, rotate and keep them within the spec it has in the user manual or it'll wind the transmission up.
A good looking truck* that.
One thing I remember from starting driving in the early 70's was being taught the importance of matching tyres (make and physical size) on the drive axle, and even more so if you're twin rear wheels. Unless they are exactly the same dimensions (including the amount of tread) then it puts different loads on each side of the diff all the time, even in a straight line and wears them.
I've never really bothered that much then again I've never run a Freelander or similar.
Having sightly different tyres on the back of a twin wheel means they wear at an horrific rate
I do like a nice hippo. The pre and post facelift Freelander 1 do look rather appealing. A friend had an L series LWB on a W plate that loved to fill boot up with water under the little storage lid on the floor. Think it's a common thing for them. Not sure if facelifted ones got rid of that issue.
DodgeRover wrote: ↑Tue Oct 10, 2023 9:55 pm
I've never really bothered that much then again I've never run a Freelander or similar.
Having sightly different tyres on the back of a twin wheel means they wear at an horrific rate
I was on Migweb years and years ago, all the UK guys blew transmissions etc at a pace and couldn't understand how the higher power foreign units they had stayed together under more prolonged use.
A vehicle is normally pretty much the second most expensive purchase you'll ever make but people never take if ever a glance at the paperwork that comes with it.
"The transfer box – the bit that shuffles power around – needed a touch more maintenance. Like keeping the tyre tread within 2mm of each other and rotating the wheels"
