I am getting ready to buy an 03 Freelander SE (87K miles) for $4K. I have read and read and read about freelander issues.
The only thing I have an issue with is the notorious manifold rattle. The tranny was already replaced, recent timing belt replacement/tune, gaskets, etc.
Fortunately, the seller is being honest with me about all issues (I actually wondered if he was trying to talk me out of buying it??), including complaints about the European-style button location. The windows, including sunroof, all work fine. I drove it, and as someone who has never driven one of these before it seemed fine to me. The rattle...
It is not a sequenced rattle, it's like a baby's rattle, random like a piece of plastic being flung around in there. It comes from the intake area, and is not isolated to a particular side of the engine, but kind of all over the manifold. It increases intensity or speed with revs, but like I said, is not "ordered" like that of a lifter ping.
Everything else seems fine, no missing, trembles, or noticeable engine issues.

I have already committed. It seems logical that if all of the notorious issues with these have already been addressed by previous owners' money, and I am not afraid of doing my own repairs (I am the only girl I know with a torque wrench :-D - I've pulled and re-placed an engine before... successfully :-D <k, I had muscle-help&gt I think I feel pretty good about it.

I have already ordered a rebuilt Rover 75 intake manifold kit for it (reported to fit the 2.5, but didn't have the same VIS problems/programing as the Freelanders), and plan to lube the lifters and replace the thermostat all at once.

The seller took the truck to an independent shop, and was told that the rattle comes from two bad lifters. Yet the shop guy apparently didn't run diagnostics, or do more than put his ear to the car. Lifters are a rare problem, from what I have read, and have read posts from poor people who got shammed by shops doing a process of elimination, starting with the most pricey "fix". And it always came down to the manifold. I KNOW this is not lifters, as I had experienced this with a previous car.

Given the economy and the fact that most people don't have a clue what might be wrong with their cars, service departments are apparently having a hay day with these people. Should be a prosecute-able crime.

Does anyone have any comments or suggestions to help a girl out with her new baby? Thanks :-)

 

My 2003 Freelander goes to the shop next Thursday for the works (timing belt, water pump, thermostat). Thanks to this site, I was able to find an import shop that can do the work and I bought all the parts from Atlantic British...end result...I saved a lot of money over just taking it to the dealership.

I bought my Freelander in Anchorage, AK and it performed wonderfully. The AWD makes for easy driving on snow and ice. The electric windows seem a poor design and I have had three replaced. The fuel pump failed in the middle of no where on a weekend. I ended up renting a Uhaul and towing the car home.

If your deal falls through, I'll sell you mine. Otherwise, I'll keep the car for another year or so. Like you, I hope if I fix these common problems the car will be good to go for another 70K miles.

My Chevolet 1500 Silverado Pickup has 246000 miles, and runs great. Like the Freelander, it has a V-6 engine. The sparkplugs all come out a light tan, the engine starts with a simple turn of the key and the only sign of age is two small patches of rust and a torn seat. The truck cost $15K new. Then there is the Freelander. Why Land Rover engineers made the decisions they did during design is beyond me. The rear sparkplug wires are different from the front sparkplug wires. The water pump and thermostat are hidden and prone to leaking. Timing belts that have to be replaced and fuel pumps that are prone to failure.

Good Luck

 

Thank you :-)
The Freelander will be great for me here in Northern Utah.
I am aware that my intended repairs are not likely to be the last. I have in mind a plan to replace the other items (fuel pump, etc.) in bi-monthly (?) increments, instead of waiting until they fail (as I can afford them). I will have a look when I have the top off (manifold pulled) to see what I can do in there while I have it open. I will keep my current car until it is finished, just in case. :-)
I think in any case the Freelander becomes unwanted, I'll sell it and get something else with $, not another Freelander. :-)