Just had my second service (2years 24000 miles) a couple of weeks ago at an independent landrover garage. They spotted slight oil leak on the rear diff and noted it on the service.

I took the car into the local dealer the following day and they booked it in for a couple of days to investigate and fix.

At the end of the first day I was told that they had taken the drive shaft out of the diff, presumably to enable them to do the oil leak, but the end of the drive shaft where the splines are which locate into the diff had sheared and become wedged in the diff itself.

Now waiting for a new diff from landrover

Spoke to technician who said that it is a one off and has not seen this or heard of this problem before.

In the meantime have been supplied at landrovers expense with a D3 HSE Auto which is quite nice but am missing the freelander.

Not sure when the new diff will arrive as have been told that landrover are currently waiting for a new batch to be delivered.

Will keep posted with developments.