Hi Marc, 20/11/2006

My name is Don Whittingham and I too have a 1.8 Freelander GS with 39k on the clock on a Y plate. I have had no problems with it until yesterday when I was driving down the road and noticed a great cloud of billowing steam coming from the sides of the car.

The head gasket appears to blown and water is spraying like a hose onto the exhaust manifold. I managed to get it home without cooking it and am waiting for a quote from my local garage. No way will I take it to a dealer.

I was a motor mechanic who left the trade in 1987 and I can't remember any other car that hasn't shown any symptoms before blowing the head gasket. The car was running perfectly. I am only thankful that it hasn't happened on my way to Switzerland where i am going between Christmas and New Year. I was going to drive but after looking at your website I thinlk I'll fly.

Unfortunately I don't have the tools these days to do the job myself so I'll have to throw myself at the mercy of a local mech.

Thanks for your website, I just wish I'd read it before I bought the bloody thing. I've had it 18 months but I don't think I'll have it much longer.

Don Whittingham

10/11/2006

The Freelander head gasket problem is both well known and well understood.
My Freelander head gasket went at 45,000 miles and was duly replaced. The head was replumbed in accordance with the manufacturers instructions and there have been no more problems. With regular servicing the vehicle has covered in excess of 180,000 miles. The engines in these machines need to be treated with common sense. You do need to watch water levels and temperature gauge readings and listen to it with a sympathetic ear. It must be driven sensibly. Ignoring a different engine note and driving round the M25 with no water will write off any engine so don't blame the K series engine for your own stupid actions and ineptitude.

Dr. Keith G. Ashness.

14/10/2006

You know when you start to read certain things alarm bells ring, and then everything falls into place?

I have just had that experience from reading posts from contributors on your site.

Some weeks ago my neighbour called to say that his 1999 Freelander driven by his daughter had suddenly died with only 53,000kms (40,000miles approx).

It was taken to the local Land Rover dealer in Estepona (Spain) who quoted €4000 (Euros) for a replacement engine.

Not willing to pay this amount and also being a wealthy businessman in Gibraltar, he gave the car to my 20 year old son who works in Gibraltar as an apprentice mechanical engineer as a project.

When we got the car home and got the engine out, we noticed that the cylinder liners were loose and could be twisted and turned and raised up and down by hand, also they had worn 0.5mm grooves into the cylinder head by being dragged up and down in the bores by the pistons.

We at first considered sending the engine to be reconditioned, or look for a 2^nd hand engine. I then spotted a company on ebay selling brand new 1.8K series engines for £1,300. plus £150 delivery to Spain.

I bought one of these, and we are in the process of fitting it.

Since reading the comments on your site I think we shall put this car up for sale for around £2,500 and walk away.

My son who works for Cammell Laird in Gib was also given a Rover K1.6 engine from a company car which apparently had a water pump fault. Removing the water pump produced a flow of milky white sludge (Bells…Alarms… 2 and 2 etc.)

Very best wishes,

James Gaitley (Casares Spain)