I'll have both camshafts replaced this month, probably next week. I'll come back with pictures with the old camshafts and a complete list of components that were replaced.

Not only the camshaft needs to be replaced, you'll probably need to remove the swirl flaps from the inlet manifold. Before buying anything try to find a good mechanic, maybe you'll need to replace other things like the timing belt kit, some gaskets, fuel high pressure pipes ...

The best price in town can be found here: http://eshop.original-teile.de

Atlas,

Having information on the parts, difficulty/time and cost of this would help a lot of owners of early FL trying to decide whether to go ahead with the replacement. From looking at earlier posts by Alex it seems that the fuel drive shaft is also likely to be very worn. Why are you replacing bith camshafts? Also from earlier posts someone commented that special tools were required. Are these tools more than you expect a well equipped competetent mechanic to have?

I'll be very inetrested to see how you get on. Like most I wouldn't be doing this myself but would be employing a local mechanic to do the work.

Regards

Chris

My decision to replace both camshafts was determined by the fact that Land Rover issued 3 releases for both parts, not only for the exhaust camshaft, over a period of 3-4 years, latest release was done in 2010 if I'm not wrong. They know something ...

To me that was a clear sign that both parts were made from the same materials and it's only a matter of time until an intake camshaft will fail.

Here is the culprit! 4 pieces snapped off (luckily all have been recovered (2 from the sump). Major strip down, replacement oil filter, oil and coolant. Main cost was labour to strip down and build back up - major job. Was left speechless when I was told the price!! Expected £800 tops - came in at just under £1,500!!!

Been advised all looking good under there so should be no more problems. He said they are a very reliable motor normally. Suppose any vehicle can have its problems.

Carried out a service free of charge too - made me a little happier

atlas wrote:

My decision to replace both camshafts......

Job all completed but this is the other end of the camshaft if that helps.

Hi
Where did you have the repair done? I'm in Hudds and have in the past used the Landrover Centre for work on previous FL1s and would like to know a decent garage
Cheers

The work was carried out at Pennine Landrover, Holywell Green, Halifax.

Chris has been more than reasonable (and understanding) with the repairs.

Isn't it time that this was brought to Landrover somehow?
An engine that suffers failure after only 90K miles or so is surely not fit for puprpose. As the 07 and early 08 freelanders pile on the mileage these cases look to become more and more common.
The fact that the camshaft design was changed and that all failures have been from vehicles before that change surely presents a strong case.
Anyone got any suggestions? I understand that there are Landrover dealers/representatives on the forum, what's your or anyone elses opinion?
It just not right that owners are having to deal with something that so obviously seems to be a serious defect in the design of the engine.
The reason I'm concerned is of course that I've got an early 08 (that has done 15200km) too!!!

Regards

And wait to see how many other cases appeared on the Russian forum...
Definitively a serious problem...

Finally my engine has new camshafts:

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Some new photos (sorry for delay):

Old camshafts:

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Thanks for taking the time to post all the information and pictures from the work done its great. The pictures of the fuel pump don't seem to show the kind of wear that the pictures posted earlier by alex pecaru showed to the pump shaft and adapter and they don't appear in the parts list so must have been in good shape. How many kms has your engine covered?
I did a quick search on parts and the cost came to around EURO 1200.
You have the labour costs at EURO 300, how long did it take to do?
Was the work done by yourself, a LR dealer or mechanic?

Thanks again for the great info.

Engine has 100.000 Km. Work took almost two days and it was done by a local auto repair shop.

Guys, first post here but felt I had to make a comment about this. Not a freelander owner, we have an old td5 disco. I was searching because of a friends 2011 freelander SD4 auto, 35000 miles, which just stopped on them while driving at low speed, dealer has apparently diagnosed broken cam and helpfully offered to replace the engine for £10,000. It seems this is not common on later cars, in fact I haven't seen it reported at all. Anyway I was looking with interest at the photos early on in this post, of the components of the failed cam and pump fittings. It struck me that on the photo of the hardened steel adaptor, that sits between the pump and the cam, there are wear marks on the mounting faces that tell an important story. The marks indicate that the rotational axis of the pump was out of alignment with the axis of the cam, which would clearly induce wear on the faces of the interlocking tabs, but more importantly, it could massively increase the stresses in the end of the cam (and particularly at the higher pressure 2000rpm zone where this car would have been operating) as it could introduce an additional tear out force to the already tensioned cam tabs. Added to the likely free play that would have existed due to the excessive wear it is an almost inevitable failure at some point. In short, if the fuel pump is not correctly aligned with the end of the cam, it is only a matter of time before something breaks. I would be interested to hear your thoughts.