Can anyone advise what to look out for in buying a 3.2l

Thanks

I would go one by one and check that the electronics are working properly (electric seats with memory, navigation, cabin lights, steering wheel controls, park sensors, terrain response, HDC etc...)
next on the list is rust in the wheel arches (need to remove the rubber protections), i would not disqualify a car with rust but i will make the dealer fix it on his own expense.
and the most important is any rumble or vibration from the back of the car, this will indicate a bad differential, i will only buy it if the dealer would suggest to replace it with a new updated one.

As regards to maintenance even if it is below 10 years old i would try to get the dealer to change the diff and haldex oil

Thanks

Can't yet reply to personal message as only 2 posts so far

Rear diff, already mentioned (same, petrol/diesel) - sounds a bit like a wheel bearing.
Also search on this forum for posts re. power-steering problems (metal swarf in system).
Most likely if that had been a problem it will have been fixed by now, but check paperwork.
Weeping rear diff seals aren't good - there isn't much oil in the rear diff.
If you buy, consider changing oil in rear diff and in gearbox - service intervals are very long.
And changing the two filters in the diff/haldex unit.
Good anti-rust coatings, body cavities are wax-injected, but cars that have been thrashed in dirty conditions best avoided.
I would suggest the Freelander 2 is as good as any other similarly-complex leading-marque car.
And is considerably more reliable than other LR products. The quick brown fox

Thanks much appreciated

I would be wary of buying a 3.2 since there are so few around that the dealers and indies won't have much experience of them. That said a petrol engine is usually less complex than a diesel so should be more reliable anyway. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

I'm running an i6 and the engine is the best part of the car. No troubles with it so far (110k mls). Just make sure you can afford the extra cost of patrol.

The 3.2 is a Volvo engine and not particularly complicated. The only specific maintenance it needs is the accessory drive belt and pulleys to be changed at around 100'000 miles.

The rest of the car is the same as any other FL2 so comments about mainentance, haldex, diff, etc apply to all.

There is only one thing that you need to be aware of with the 3.2 and that's the alternator and more to the point the alternator drive pulley. Volvo (or most likely Ford) put the alternator under the intake manifold with a rather complex gearbox arrangement to drive it. The alternator is very close to the engine block and gets quite hot, there is a single bolt which holds the pulley in place that can work loose. Plus there is a coolant bleed hose which sits above the alternator that was known to leak.

One or perhaps even all three of these things together means the alternator will have to be replaced at some stage. It's a PITA but not horrific when you have a little experience.

Have a look here http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic25554.html this is the only "bad" thing about the 3.2 and I would buy another one tomorrow without hesitation. 2008 Freelander 2 HSE Si6 Black/Black - Hers
2009 Jaguar XKR 4.2 S/C Portfolio
2005 Jaguar XJR 4.2 S/C Black/Cranberry
2005 Jaguar X-Type 3.0L AWD - Gone