Given your Freelander is using so much oil and overheating badly it could be that the cylinder liners are cracked or have dropped so a replacement engine would be the best way forward. We can supply a reconditioned engine for £1,495, which includes the non-return surcharge (as it would be more expensive to ship your old engine back to us than to pay the surcharge. The estimated shipping cost to J’burg (if you needed a different destination please let me know and I will get you the rates):

By Sea to the Port: £200
By air to the airport: £300
By air to your door: £450

All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421

Good to hear you are looking for a Freelander. In the Freelander 1 models there are four different engines, the 1.8 petrol engine, the 2.5 V6 petrol engine, the 2.0 L-series diesel engine (from 1997 to 2001) and the 2.0 BMW TD4 diesel engine (2001 – 2006).

One thing common to all of the models is the issue of the drive train. Unfortunately the service schedule for Freelanders does not state that the viscous coupling unit (VCU) on the drive train needs replacing about every 70,000 miles to avoid damage to the rest of the drive train. Hence many people do not change this part in a timely manner. So, whichever Freelander you purchase, if it has done about 70,000 miles or more you should make sure the VCU has been changed, or get it replaced before exporting it.

Each of the different engines gives different benefits and issues.

The 1.8 petrol engine is fuel efficient and easier to work on if the specialist garages are not available in your area of Nigeria. The issue they tend to have is with regard to the head gasket. All Freelander 1.8′s were manufactured with a single layer head gasket. This will blow usually by about 70,000 miles. If the head gasket on a Freelander you are considering purchasing has not already blown it is worth getting it replaced with the modified multi layer head gasket before exporting it (it is cheaper to do this before it blows rather than waiting for it to go). If the head gasket has already been replaced check that a multi layer head gasket has been used and then you should not have further problems, otherwise treat is as though the head gasket has not been done.

The 2.5 V6 model is a very complex engine. It has great power – can really put a smile on your face – and is fantastic for towing. However, if there is not a specialist garage in Nigeria to service and repair this model then I would not recommend it, as it is far more complex than the 1.8.

The 2.0 L-series model – these are the older diesel Freelanders – is generally fantastic. They are very reliable, we get less of these in for repair than any other model; it is very fuel efficient, and for a diesel mechanic it should not cause a problem. It has less sensors and electronics on it than the other models, and hence you don’t get the same headaches in finding parts and requiring specialist diagnostic equipment. It does sound much more like a diesel than the TD4 Freelander, a little more tractor like, but it is a good solid model.

The 2.0 TD4 Freelander has a 2.0 litre BMW engine. These are quieter than the L-series however they do have a lot more sensors to deal with, so in Nigeria if anything goes wrong parts could be an issue. The main reason we see the TD4 models is because when they have been serviced the breather filter has not been changed (generalist mechanics often do not realise this even exists as it is tucked away out of sight) and this then suffocates the engine and causes catastrophic damage. So if you do decide on a TD4 make sure you take some breather filters with you, and if there is no evidence that it has been changed at the last service get it changed before you go.

I hope this helps, and if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to ask. We do have some Freelanders available for sale at times, so if we can help in supplying one we would be happy to.

All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421

Try driving the Freelander with the MAF sensor disconnected and see if this stops the problems. If the problem does not reoccur then change the MAF sensor.

Check the intake air temperature sensor which is on the inlet manifold to see if it is clogged up with dirt.

Has the fuel filter been changed recently? If this is clogged up it would be starving the engine of fuel.

Let us know if none of this sorts out the problem and we will think again.

All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421

You need to take it back to the dealer because it is leaking from somewhere, you should not be able to smell the coolant. They need to check the thermostat housing, water pump and all the coolant pipes and hoses.

We would be interested to hear what they find if you wouldn’t mind dropping us a line.

Best of luck,
Sue
0780 9575 421