I just purchased a 02' Freelander V6!!!

[CaliRover]

I just purchased a 02' Freelander V6, and now I am hearing nightmares about them. Can anyone tell me more about them? I dealership screwed me over, we found out the manufactored warranty has expired and now I am scared that I will go broke if I keep this vechile. I am looking into purchasing an extended warranty. Please feel free to give me advice? I am freaking out!

[DevilDisco]

Welcome, CaliRover! Congratulations on your new purchase. Stop freaking out. All vehicles break eventually, either due to time or due to neglect.
A warranty is always good. I am looking into getting one shortly myself because its better to be safe than sorry. I am sure that the FreeLander Owners will jump in here soon and let you know what a great decision you make. I have a Discovery and if I listened to all the negative stuff I heard and read then I would not have gotten it but now I kick myself for not getting sooner. Just relax and enjoy your purchase.

[Roverdude]

Congrats on the FL purchase. Don't worry about what other people say, FLs are great vehicles. They got some OK early press (won comparos in Automobile and Car and Driver) but quickly developed a bad (unjustified imho) reputation. Regardless, they make excellent commuter rovers (20mpg on regular!) and will do amazing things off road if you give them the chance. Only thing to worry about is the cambelt change around 60-72K miles. That can get expensive. Other than that, they're like any other rover, treat them right, and they'll treat you right!

[Rovin4life]

2k for the timing belt.

Coolant leaks include, coolant bottle, thermostat, and the heater core. look on the driverside underneath the dash at the fan. There is a sticker on it. if it is stained pink its leaking.



change the transmission fluid, trust me. its simlple. just open the drain at the bottom and let it flow, Then add seven quarts at a nipple at the top. easy for the dIYEr.

front brakes do go, as do the tie rods get loose. but rear end is solid.

window regulators drop with frequency mostly the RR or the LR. The speakers like to go. SOme times its all four some times one or two.
Intake manifold will rattle. its a grand for one.
PCV pipes will break causing engine misfires and rough running. not hard to replace.

Anyway, thats all of a freelander in a nutshell. SOme stuff goes alot some stuff goes immediately. Funny thing is most of the stuff can be fixed without special tools nothing really difficult for a DIYer.


Rule number one, never buy a used Land Rover from a dealer that isnt a LR or else you are bound to get royally screwed cause the techs dont know squat and dont know what to look for.

[TerryS]

My wife bought an extended warranty for hers just before the mfg warranty expired. She's got 58K on it and it's been quite reliable. The rear window regulator just died, but they do, and the extended will take care of it.
There have been a few Freelanders that gave the whole barrel a bad rap, but, in my mind, not deserved.
The front brakes pads did go sooner than I would have expected, but I told the dealer NO, when they tried to sell us new rotors at the same time. They backed off and said they were OK. The bushings for the rear diff are just now making a tiny bit of noise. I'll take care of those myself.
I do like the new one (LR2) but we'll hold on to this one for a bit longer, give the new one a chance to work the bugs out.
Riding in her car is quite a pleasure after my 110, they're neat little cars.

[Funrover]

Congrats on the purchase man!!! First off..they are great...... Everyone that I have talked to that owns one loves them....... You will be fine!!

[built2crawl]

Congrats on the purchase.

I just purchased an '02 Freelander SE(LR certified) a few months ago for my fiance. Perfect truck for cruisin around town. We'll see how the Hippo handles in the snow this winter. I had the VIS motors fail, but the dealer replaced them under warranty.

Oil change is a pain, but there is a link in the muddyoval forums on modifying the undercarriage plastic cover to make oil changes easier.

[Rovin4life]

You drill out the rivets on the side if they arent already done and pull down the piece of plastic.

just make sure you have enough room.

[HMBFreelander]

Welcome CaliRover! Congrats on your purchase. Don't worry too much. Some '02s have had serious problems but if you keep up with the maintenance and have a competent shop work on it you will likely be OK. Change the oil every 6000 miles and the tranny fluid at least every 30K. If you're the least bit handy with vehicles, you can do your own fluid changes, brakes and other minor stuff.

Where are you located in Cali? There are a few good shops - both dealers and independents I can point you to if you are in Northern California.

BTW, Rovin4life, on the tranny fluid change you should put in only as much as you drain out which is usually about 4 quarts. Put too much in and you can blow a seal.

[CaliRover]

Thank you for your uplifting responses. My husband and I feel a little better. Right after we purchased everyone told us these horror stories. Hearing opinions from people who actually have one makes me feel a lot better. We are trying to find an extended warranty, but it is hard in California because of our taxes and a lot of companies say landrovers are to expensive to fix (cheap people). j/k!!! We love the car, and how it drives. We feel so safe it in especially where we live (So. Cal, where all the crazy drivers come from). Thank you again. I will definentley e-mail again if I need help with the car.

[guitar588]

yea Land Rover is notorious for creating jealousy. the horror stories are expected. but seriously... anyone that hasnt even touched an LR has no caliber to speak. listen to these guys, they know what theyre doing, and congrats on the purchase

[OkieRover]

When are you getting the lift kit and the 35 inch MTs put on?
Did you buy a roof rack yet?
It's really not right that you get 20 mpg when the rest of us are getting only 12-15mpg in our Discos. A roof rack will help REDUCE your mile per gallon and make you feel like a true Rover owner.
Just kidding. Congrats. I am worried, like you, about my Discovery reaching the end of it's factory warrantee. I need to find a place to buy an extended as well.

[chrisvonc]

Well not to rain on a parade but I will toss in my own reflections on the Freelander I had and the one I have now. I currently have a '02 S Freelander. Its constantly falling apart and the only saving grace is that my extended warranty has been covering everything since the original warranty expired. Mine is in the shop almost once a month and it doesnt even have 50K on it. I've had it with this one and will be looking at trading it in on a a 04 D2 or maybe and LR3 if I can swing it. However, in fairness, my Freelander has extensive modifications and I do off-road it but so far, none of the issues I have had with the truck have been due to any of the mods.

Now on the other hand, I also had a '03 SE3, which my ex-wife currently still has, and aside from one or two standard recall items, that one has been pretty much no problem as I can recall.

[Rovin4life]

Now on the other hand, I also had a '03 SE3, which my ex-wife currently still has, and aside from one or two standard recall items, that one has been pretty much no problem as I can recall.

Yeah that must have been uncomfortable for the SM the first time you showed up with separate cars and addresses.

[chrisvonc]

funny story to that, when we first seperated, a few weeks after i moved out, my sm tells my then wife "oh i see chris' d90 parked outside this apt on my way into work.

this was before they knew we had seperated... my ex called me up to tell me the story and to say that if we were still together, i would have been so busted. lol