freelanderspecialist.com - Page 2

xsport · 2nd August 2016, 00:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by heli flyer

Hi xsport, mine is in for an engine rebuild (finally had to admit one or both head gaskets have given up the struggle) I chose them after I had a chat with them and read the reviews. And they are less than 20 miles away! I have yet to find out what the (expensive) problem is so I will certainly keep everyone posted. Wish me luck!

hope you are with freelanderspecialist.com at: glebe lodge brandon road methwold for your repair .... if you are then that is the one recommended on landyzone they offer a remanufactured unit for around £2000 with new liners/rings/big and main bearings/pump/stat/ and new belts plus oil and coolant all in.although fitting will be £800 on top if you dont do it yourself. the other outfit was a similar name in kingslynn i believe. names were almost identical. hope you chose the right one. keep us informed...... good luck.

heli flyer · 2nd August 2016, 10:58

Yes, my 190 is with the one in Methwold. My initial impression has so far been very positive. From picking up the car exactly when they said they would with a phone call from the driver to let me know what time he would arrive to being easy to contact with prompt calls back to let me know what is going on. And I was told this morning that their main mans' favourite engine is the KV6. They also fit a metal thermostat housing if wanted, er,yes,I think so! All good so far, I will keep you posted over the next few days.

Monty Hotspur · 2nd August 2016, 11:55

Just to clarify: the 'other lot ' were called freelanderirdspecialists.com. They were advertising VCU units for Freelanders and took money off a good few people who never received the item. So if you ever hear of someone called Dan Ball pushing spares it would be best to spend your cash elsewhere - he's just another George Mackmurdie.

Monty Hotspur · 2nd August 2016, 11:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by heli flyer

Yes, my 190 is with the one in Methwold. My initial impression has so far been very positive. From picking up the car exactly when they said they would with a phone call from the driver to let me know what time he would arrive to being easy to contact with prompt calls back to let me know what is going on. And I was told this morning that their main mans' favourite engine is the KV6. They also fit a metal thermostat housing if wanted, er,yes,I think so! All good so far, I will keep you posted over the next few days.

Hope it goes well with the work.

xsport · 2nd August 2016, 12:05

oh thats good news !! at least you have gone to a well recommended repairer.the rest of it is in the lap of the gods as they say. two points to ask. first did i read in an earlier post of yours somewhere that you used kseal or similar to try to cure this ? i hope you have renewed or flushed rad and oil cooler and heater matrix and also told the guy to flush out the system as this stuff is lethal. second can you find out if he has facilities for flashing up /grinding the crankshaft as these will certainly need doing in order to fit new shells.or does he put these engines out for rebuild ? these are the things we dont know. that said he does have good reviews and hopefully you will be sorted.my reservations would be with that kseal added if not removed completely that the overheating/gasket problem could resurface. have a good talk with the guy expressing your concerns whilst you can. heater matrix and oil cooler can be flushed clean but the rad would need replaceing (they are cheap) imho. im only offering advice/suggestions as it would be more than a shame if the problems come back again not to mention the cost !! wish you all the best and keep us informed ...

heli flyer · 2nd August 2016, 14:50

It wasn't actually me that used k seal in the engine. I think it was the garage who changed the cam belts just before I bought the car. Nightmare. Blocked the oil cooler but strangely, not the heater matrix. Bypassed the oil cooler, flushed out the system and changed the thermostat (stuck open). Then the new img failed, carried on topping up and bleeding for a few weeks then took it to Lates Another new thermostat, img, cam belts etc and new hydraulic lifters. Oh, and a new water pump. Which failed big time after all of five weeks. Now, img and/or head gaskets have failed - again in the case of the img. Huge clouds of water vapour, hydraulic locking and massive overheating. Strangely, steel seal stopped all that except the overheating. Stuck closed new thermostat I think. What fun! What joy! I have explained all this to freelander specialists in great detail so they know what to expect!

xsport · 2nd August 2016, 15:33

well done !!! ... fingers crossed eh ...

TomRS · 2nd August 2016, 15:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by heli flyer

It wasn't actually me that used k seal in the engine. I think it was the garage who changed the cam belts just before I bought the car. Nightmare. Blocked the oil cooler but strangely, not the heater matrix. Bypassed the oil cooler, flushed out the system and changed the thermostat (stuck open). Then the new img failed, carried on topping up and bleeding for a few weeks then took it to Lates Another new thermostat, img, cam belts etc and new hydraulic lifters. Oh, and a new water pump. Which failed big time after all of five weeks. Now, img and/or head gaskets have failed - again in the case of the img. Huge clouds of water vapour, hydraulic locking and massive overheating. Strangely, steel seal stopped all that except the overheating. Stuck closed new thermostat I think. What fun! What joy! I have explained all this to freelander specialists in great detail so they know what to expect!

Im impressed it still ran..... a fully rebuilt engine will solve any issues, aslong as the block and heads are ok the rest will be replaced.

heli flyer · 2nd August 2016, 17:40

Right then, just heard back from freelanderspecialists. First, the good news, it's not the head gaskets or the img's! That's where it ends. It has a cracked liner. In other words the engine is dead. The cost of getting the engine out etc and then the rebuild would be £2795. That is a complete rebuild including crank. I just can't justify that much less afford it!
So, this is where I need your advice. My head says I should scrap it and cut my losses.
My heart says stick a second hand engine in.
Would be a great shame to scrap it as it is a high spec 190se with full cat back stainless exhaust, Navall 3 with uprated speakers and a sub in the boot. MG7 rear lights and everything works (except the b....y engine!)
So, what do you think chaps, make me an offer perchance?!

jonc3725 · 2nd August 2016, 21:02

Sorry to hear the bad news.

Drop in a second hand engine with history. It would be a no brainer for me. I am lucky I have a spare 190 engine tucked away in the garage preserved just in case such an event should occur in the years to come

2nd August 2016, 21:02	#20
jonc3725 Posted a thing or two MG ZT 190 + and MKIV Supra Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Plymouth Posts: 1,551 Thanks: 224 Thanked 493 Times in 359 Posts	Sorry to hear the bad news. Drop in a second hand engine with history. It would be a no brainer for me. I am lucky I have a spare 190 engine tucked away in the garage preserved just in case such an event should occur in the years to come __________________ Jon C Living the dream MK IV VVTI Tiptronic TT Toyota Supra MG ZT 190+ BornTuesday, 10th July 2001 @ 09:01:10 259th ZT to run off the production line, out of 18,894 252nd ZT 190 + to be made out of 4,023 101st ZT in Solar Red (code: CEU) to be made out of 1,888

2nd August 2016, 10:58	#12
heli flyer Avid contributor MG ZT 190SE Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: kings lynn Posts: 112 Thanks: 5 Thanked 20 Times in 12 Posts	Yes, my 190 is with the one in Methwold. My initial impression has so far been very positive. From picking up the car exactly when they said they would with a phone call from the driver to let me know what time he would arrive to being easy to contact with prompt calls back to let me know what is going on. And I was told this morning that their main mans' favourite engine is the KV6. They also fit a metal thermostat housing if wanted, er,yes,I think so! All good so far, I will keep you posted over the next few days.

2nd August 2016, 11:55	#13
Monty Hotspur Avid contributor Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Berkshire Posts: 110 Thanks: 3 Thanked 24 Times in 22 Posts	Just to clarify: the 'other lot ' were called freelanderirdspecialists.com. They were advertising VCU units for Freelanders and took money off a good few people who never received the item. So if you ever hear of someone called Dan Ball pushing spares it would be best to spend your cash elsewhere - he's just another George Mackmurdie.

2nd August 2016, 12:05	#15
xsport Posted a thing or two rover 75 club se Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Leicester Posts: 1,684 Thanks: 358 Thanked 419 Times in 310 Posts	oh thats good news !! at least you have gone to a well recommended repairer.the rest of it is in the lap of the gods as they say. two points to ask. first did i read in an earlier post of yours somewhere that you used kseal or similar to try to cure this ? i hope you have renewed or flushed rad and oil cooler and heater matrix and also told the guy to flush out the system as this stuff is lethal. second can you find out if he has facilities for flashing up /grinding the crankshaft as these will certainly need doing in order to fit new shells.or does he put these engines out for rebuild ? these are the things we dont know. that said he does have good reviews and hopefully you will be sorted.my reservations would be with that kseal added if not removed completely that the overheating/gasket problem could resurface. have a good talk with the guy expressing your concerns whilst you can. heater matrix and oil cooler can be flushed clean but the rad would need replaceing (they are cheap) imho. im only offering advice/suggestions as it would be more than a shame if the problems come back again not to mention the cost !! wish you all the best and keep us informed ...

2nd August 2016, 14:50	#16
heli flyer Avid contributor MG ZT 190SE Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: kings lynn Posts: 112 Thanks: 5 Thanked 20 Times in 12 Posts	It wasn't actually me that used k seal in the engine. I think it was the garage who changed the cam belts just before I bought the car. Nightmare. Blocked the oil cooler but strangely, not the heater matrix. Bypassed the oil cooler, flushed out the system and changed the thermostat (stuck open). Then the new img failed, carried on topping up and bleeding for a few weeks then took it to Lates Another new thermostat, img, cam belts etc and new hydraulic lifters. Oh, and a new water pump. Which failed big time after all of five weeks. Now, img and/or head gaskets have failed - again in the case of the img. Huge clouds of water vapour, hydraulic locking and massive overheating. Strangely, steel seal stopped all that except the overheating. Stuck closed new thermostat I think. What fun! What joy! I have explained all this to freelander specialists in great detail so they know what to expect!

2nd August 2016, 15:33	#17
xsport Posted a thing or two rover 75 club se Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Leicester Posts: 1,684 Thanks: 358 Thanked 419 Times in 310 Posts	well done !!! ... fingers crossed eh ...

2nd August 2016, 17:40	#19
heli flyer Avid contributor MG ZT 190SE Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: kings lynn Posts: 112 Thanks: 5 Thanked 20 Times in 12 Posts	Right then, just heard back from freelanderspecialists. First, the good news, it's not the head gaskets or the img's! That's where it ends. It has a cracked liner. In other words the engine is dead. The cost of getting the engine out etc and then the rebuild would be £2795. That is a complete rebuild including crank. I just can't justify that much less afford it! So, this is where I need your advice. My head says I should scrap it and cut my losses. My heart says stick a second hand engine in. Would be a great shame to scrap it as it is a high spec 190se with full cat back stainless exhaust, Navall 3 with uprated speakers and a sub in the boot. MG7 rear lights and everything works (except the b....y engine!) So, what do you think chaps, make me an offer perchance?!