Every day 4x4

[BDG]

Freelanders are not bad at all. They are very good at what they do, but what they do is not the same as a Disco or Defender.

People fear them because of the K Series petrol engine and its 'head gasket problem'. I have owned two rovers with the same engine, my Father three. Once the head gaskets were changed for the last type Rover designed and the oil rail and coolant pipes and thermostat were done, their was no reason to worry whatsoever.

The K series engine is made form the same alloy that Merc use in AMG engines, Lambo, Ferrari and the rest use. The problem with the K series was that the cooling system was desinged in such a way that when the engine had warmed enough to open the thermostat, a load of cold water was dumped into the cylinder head. This caused thermal shock, expansion and contraction issues and the old style gasket was not up to it.

With the new style gasket, all should be fine, with the oil rail and new coolant piping and thermo set up, all will be fine. I would be surprised if it did not have the new cooling set up.

The viscous coupling unit can also go - but I would have expected it to be replaced by now. This is basically a central diff - and I shit you not - works by the input and output binding together by torque working on a plastercine like substance.

As I say, that should have been changed by now. Take some tight corners and listen for bangs or a tight feeling (like a 4X4 with no centre diff winding itself up). Try the same in reverse. The problem puts a load of stain on the rest of the transmission and adds damage to it.

If the general condition of the car is good, it has little to no rust and it passes the above tests, I would get it. If it is the 2l diesel even more so. If it is the 2.5 v6 how many miles has it done and when was the cambelt last done as that is a big job?

Basically, its a Rover. 2002 was the bad year for head gasket models as there was problems casting then, but if it is 10 years old, I would bet its fine or has had a replacement engine. I think LR did replacement engines under warranty but rover would not. You might have some niggles, switches that break and so on, but if you know a scrap yard with some 90's rovers in, most of the stuff is the same.