Hi guys,

Took my Freelander 2 (2011) for a service at the local dealer, and have been told I’m due the large service the includes timing belt change. From what I see, this is normally done at either 120,000km or the 10 year mark. While the car is now coming up on 10 years, it’s only done 65k kms to date, with full service history to date.

The question is, should I really have them replace the timing belt at this point, considering the above? My main concern, beyond the £1200 quote for this service, is more with the fact it appears to be a massive job, with many parts needing to be taken out within the engine bay. The car has been reliable and error free to date, so not keen on having someone take so many things apart, unless I really need to.

Any advice is welcome.

Many thanks.

You could be forgiven for thinking they have quoted you for servicing a helicopter not one of the commonest Diesel engines ever used . In the U.K. a good independant LR garage would do that work for less half the price for the big service and belt . The engine is a bog standard Peugeot /Ford unit , nothing special to service at all. Changing the belt isn’t rocket science either any competent mechanic can do it , it’s common practice to replace the belt tensioner and water pump whilst doing the belt . 2009 GS Auto Zermatt Silver - Sold June 21 after 10 years of ownership

2016 Subaru Outback SE 2.0 diesel SE Premium Lineartronic Sold 2024 after 8 years and 80k miles . Best Car I ever owned !

2023 Toyota Hilux invincible X 2.8 Auto .

Last edited by MartynB on 29th Sep 2021 8:31 pm. Edited 1 time in total

My local garage ( NOT LAND ROVER DEALER) changed my timing belt & water pump( Gates kit) for £280. Why would you take a 10yr old car to a main dealer ? The garage showed me the old belt which had done 60,000 miles was like new but I sleep better at night now it’s been done.

Take it to a none franchise competent spannerman
(must be some on Gib)
and as said full Gates kit inc Water pump and tensioner, DAVE.

It took me thirty minutes with the engine out. I reckon on ninety minutes with the engine in as it is tight to get at some of the bolts. If you do it yourself, allow half a day, as youtube videos can be helpful if you get lost. You might need to get a new crankshaft bolt. I used an eight milllimeter HSS drill shank in the flywheel, and eight mill bolts in the cam wheel. Get the fullkit including pulleys, and also change the accesory belt and idler pulleys as well. Get a Gates or Motocraft kit, about £85. You need to take out the front under wing mudguard, intake ducts from turbo includingairbox, ten minutes. Unclip the harness on the left of the belt cover, release the accesory belt, 15mm long spanner, take off the two idlers, put the 8mm pin in the flywheel hole, it goes in without removing the starter motor on pre 2010m/y. Unclip the TDC sensor left bottom attached to the harness. REmove the top belt cover, put the bolt into the engine where the sprocket recess is, undo the Crankshaft bolt, (I used a Dewalt Impact tool, well worth £169) Pull the front pulley off, then the plastic rotor, ( mark up everything for position with Tipex as you go, and take photos). Loosen and remove the pulley inside the engine mounting, then Tipex at places on the front of the fixed sprockets where you can see them. This is to compare positions against the old belt. Remove the other idlers and tensioners, the belt slides out with care. Reverse your actions, tension the belt, after replacing all new idlers, position the timing disc, put the front small cover back, then pulley, tighten crank bolt, replace the top cover, then the ducts, then the accessory belt. Not too bad to do. Saves a few hundred pounds too. We ran a VW PoLo diesel for 14 years on its first belt, no wear showing either. When you replace the water pump, put a light smear of Hylomar on both sides of the gasket. I took a pump out after 10k miles and it had a slight weep with no compound.

de049 wrote:

have been told I’m due the large service the includes timing belt change. From what I see, this is normally done at either 120,000km or the 10 year mark. While the car is now coming up on 10 years, it’s only done 65k kms to date, with full service history to date.

The question is, should I really have them replace the timing belt at this point, considering the above?

de049 Are you feeling lucky. I mean lucky enough to risk an engine replacement or car write off due to a belt or belt tensioner/ bearing failure?

Thanks for your inputs guys. I guess the piece of mind (guarantees?) that come with the LR dealer is what keeps me going back. But I agree it’s probably time to seek alternatives.

Need to now find a reliable local mechanic and get this done. Don’t want to take any unnecessary risks by not doing this.

Thanks again!

de049 wrote:

My main concern, beyond the £1200 quote for this service, is more with the fact it appears to be a massive job, with many parts needing to be taken out within the engine bay.

I Like Chips wrote:

de049 Are you feeling lucky. I mean lucky enough to risk an engine replacement or car write off due to a belt or belt tensioner/ bearing failure?

£1200 for a timing belt and service, that's outrageous. The timing belt is a 90 minute job from start to finish, add another 90 minutes for the other items that need attending to at the same time, the job should be half what you've been quoted, including the parts and consumables needed. Hyundai Ioniq 5 Ultimate. The family car.
2009 Rimini Red SE TD4. Gone.
2006 Tonga Green i6 HSE. Gone.
Audi A5 convertible, my daily driver.
1972 Hillman Avenger GT, the project.

Well speaking from personal experience. It aint gonna be 90 minutes, it took me about 6 hours, mainly duie to some stupidly tight bolts, then when I got it all apart the belt had already been replaced, the water pump and tensioner / idler hadn't been as they were genuine parts (the belt was a Gates and could of been original I suppose - writing still visible), there was hardly any wear to the belt it was almost as good as the new one!!

It’s not just the belt I worry about. They all seem to be okay on replacement.
But as Merlin said, the water pump is more likely to fail, and that could be just as catastrophic as a belt snapping.

Just for reference Dayco kits on eBay at about £75, Gates at about £95. Cheaper than a year ago for some reason!

Not sure what postage to Gib would be though.

Vanbursta wrote:

Well speaking from personal experience. It aint gonna be 90 minutes, it took me about 6 hours, mainly duie to some stupidly tight bolts, then when I got it all apart the belt had already been replaced, the water pump and tensioner / idler hadn't been as they were genuine parts (the belt was a Gates and could of been original I suppose - writing still visible), there was hardly any wear to the belt it was almost as good as the new one!!

just out of interest,who knows of a belt failure on a freelander,and what age/mileage was it?and was it due from oil contamination? I work for a roadside repair company and to be honest ive never seen one fail on a freelander.they are just too thick.