I bought a used 2002 Freelander SE w/ 80k miles on it at the local Honda dealer. I heard the timing belt NEEDS to be changed at 72k miles. I contacted the local Rover dealer and they said they didn't do the work on it. Would it be possible they got this done somewhere else?

If they didn't I am going to have the Honda dealership do it (which is across street from Rover) where I have connections with the manager there. He said they have very good Rover mechanics. I'd just like to know if there is a way to identify that this was done or not w/o opening things up?

 

w/o opening things up. no, you can take off the very upper most cover and look at the belt that way. but if you dont feel comfortable with that, use your connections see if they can do a partial tear down and pick their brain on the subject.