Hi everyone, I've just joined this forum as I want to buy an FL2. I've seen a few with the side steps fitted and as an ex-avid off-roader and wanting to greenlane the FL2, I don't want the steps.
Maybe a silly question but are they easy to remove and does it leave any unsightly holes when removed?
Thanks in advance.

I think it depends upon what make they are and who put them on.

I have no experience of sidesteps on the FL2.
However, the genuine sidesteps on my previous only FL1 and Disco 1 and 2 did not leave visible holes when removed. Jules

Check out a site called PowerfulUK and there should be videos there the show how to install running boards. Do the reverse.

They are easy to remove but will leave a cutout in the plastic sill covers , only visible from below so ok . My side steps were removed and re-fitted to another Fl2 so the sill covers were swapped .

Mark 2009 FL2 TD4 SE (Sadly gone)
2007 FL2 TD4 GS (The wifes , gone after 8 great years)
2012 FL2 SD4 SPORT LE(Gone and missing it)
2015 DISCOVERY SPORT 2.2SD4 HSE (Now gone)
2014 Ford Bmax 1.0 ecoboost ( Gone but what next )
2014 Ford Focus 2.0tdci Zetec S (Gone,but what a car)
2020 Ford Fiesta ActiveX 1.0 Ecoboost
2024 Skoda Kodiaq 1.5 Tsi SEL

Although easy to remove in principal when I intended to take ours off to judge whether we actually wanted them or not it proved impossible to release the bolts from the rivnuts used by the factory, the rivnuts just revolved in the floorpan as the bots were so corroded.

So yes easy to remove if they are almost new but after many years, my experience is no. Regards

David

Lovely i6 has now gone, but not me......

Please let me know if anything in my post offends you, as I may wish to offend you again......

Thanks all for the replies above, very useful. If I find one I like with steps, I'll make it a condition the dealer removes them and makes good.
Thanks again

theres a dealer in Bristol Area called Yates who always seem to have a nice stock of Freelanders and decent 2 year warranties

Thanks RogB. I had seen them on autotrader but had not realised they had the 2 year warranty. I'll check them out, Thanks for the tip.

S

The vast majority of Fl2s dont seem to have steps, they are not really so high that you'd need them. Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

I agree that steps are not needed on a Freelander.

My partner is 5ft 4" and has no problem getting in.

Bobupndown wrote:

The vast majority of Fl2s dont seem to have steps, they are not really so high that you'd need them.

Oh yes and they are very useful in our narrow lanes as most of the undergrowth is actually GRANITE and the side steps make a nice grinding noise before any bodywork is damaged, so the wife tells me  Regards

David

Lovely i6 has now gone, but not me......

Please let me know if anything in my post offends you, as I may wish to offend you again......

can you swap the side steps for side tubes? they look better.

Hi, I removed the side steps, they had originally been on the car for 13years, the brackets had rusted all the way through and so only 4 were actually holding them on. At least 4 bolts sheared trying to take them off and another 6 of the bolts just spin so would not come out.

Overall, 3 hours later and with a bit of force they were off, I would even recommend removing them because the ground clearance is improved dramatically.