Possibly returning to the fold but...........
After five years away having fun with a BMW and now requiring a tad more practicality i am thinking of returning to the marque, it would be the last model FL2 before the advent of the disco sport, i seem to have read somewhere that the auto transmission and rear diffs are little brittle with a number of failures, anyone care to voice an opinion? 57 tambora flame SE mud flaps,side strips,twin s/roofs,18"HSE wheels,courtesy lights on w/mirrors



58 saab 93 convertible vector sport 1.9 TTid 180

My 63 plate SD4 auto box has never missed a beat, I think you wont go wrong with the later ones.

I think I read a thread about the later boxes having ironed out the problems of the earlier ones, but can't find it. Updated- Waiting for a Scotland v England 6 Nations home win. 24th Feb 2018
Gone-1972 88 SWB Soft top
Gone-1981 24v FFR Lightweight
Gone-2009 Freelander 2 TD4 GS manual
Gone before it bankrupted me- 2008 Discovery 3 TDV6 Auto
2013 Freelander 2 SD4 GS Auto

The automatic gearboxes seem robust, while the rear diffs seem to last around 80-100,000 miles. In a nutshell.

What BMW have you been driving?

I have a manual but no one on this site has made me feel the auto is a weak spot. Alas diffs do fail but there is no pattern, it may be those with a lead foot that see the problem. My one big issue in 6 years from new has been the EGR valve.

A late car with low miles and good warranty and you will be fine.  FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

Tigger wrote:

The automatic gearboxes seem robust, while the rear diffs seem to last around 80-100,000 miles. In a nutshell.

What BMW have you been driving?

Around the 25k on mine also. p****d off with a Digital Keyboard Warrior

After years in a FL2 XS SD4 Auto with no trouble, I bought a late model Metro SD4 Auto, and I'm still very pleased.

(touch wood) I have had no major faults yet. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 77k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

185k on the original auto box and diff - even with a lead foot and towing a caravan regularly. IMHO not a weak spot Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

I’m on 192k miles ‘09 plate, never an issue with auto and diff '09 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto
19" shadow chrome wheels
Lago Grey

Previously, '00 Freelander TD4 GS Manual

Relatively baby compared to some of above but no troubles here.

If you look hard enough you can always find something wrong

Welcome back, you know you want to  If it wasn't so bad it'd be funny.

🐑
Freelander 2 HSE auto 2014 ( Florrie ) ..... Try again.
Freelander 2 GS 2012...... Gone.

The later rear diffs had a larger more durable bearing.
However Im a great believer in more frequent oil changes than manufacturers recommend.
(JLR doesnt mind you having to replace the transmission components when its out of warranty).

I would also suggest getting the Haldex unit oil & filters changed @ 30-40K miles and rear diff oil at the same time.
The Haldex 4th Generation unit is a PITA to get at - cleaning the pump filter requires the pump to be removed, which, on the very late models, can only be done with the drive flange removed (not necessary on 3rd Generation units and earlier 4th Gen).

Then there is the front power transfer unit (PTU) oil, gearbox oil and power steering fluid to consider changing too.
These are not particularly difficult. Jules