Hello all, I must say so far this site as been the only positive in my 1st Land Rover experience.

I bought a 2007 XS 4 weeks ago from Bristol Street Motors in Doncaster. After driving away in our new car we discovered a couple of faults, the front Aux socket didn't work and the battery light was on even though the car was running.

I rang BSM when i got home in Leeds, sorry about that please bring it back and we will change the battery hopefully that's all it will be, they said. I took the car back, new battery but still the light was on. BSM had no courtesy cars available until the following week so i had to return at a later date. When home i realised the parking sensors didn't work, so now they had the battery light, parking sensors and aux socket. I returned the car and drove away in a renault twingo!

BSM then in their workshop replaced the alternator, still the light was on so they booked it into the local Land Rover dealer. LR had the car for 7 working days! they found fault with the wiring loom and replaced, they fixed the aux socket but could not find the fault with the sensors and blamed the after market tow bar as the problem but couldn't fix it. BSM now need to book the car into a decent auto electrician but they are fully booked until next wednesday so do i want to collect the car and return it or leave it, we decided to collect it as we need a big car for a weekend trip. On collecting the car tonight i found non of the audio/BT working the service manager called LR who said they had no tech guys but to call round to see if they could do anything! They couldn't and asked me if i was leaving the car or bringing it back, i now started to get upset and told them the service was terrible how could they have a car for 7 days not fix it and add another fault!!! A guy came over and asked me to lower my voice and questioned wether it was working when i droped of the car!!!!!

What a joke, if i treated my customers like that, i'd have none!!!!!

I don't want to go until next wednesday with no audio, anyone any idea? ive checked the fuses and all seem ok other than F21 under the bonnet is not connected but not sure if it needs to be.

Thanks for any help.

Can you not take the car back and ask for your money back and then go elsewhere?

Sorry to hear your bad news - not the new car experience you want.

I would suggest you take it back to them and ask for your money back and look elsewhere unless the warranty you got covers you for next 12 months. Possible that they sort out one problem they sort them all out if you are lucky.the car was not right when you bought it and by doing the work they seem to accept that.

Be re-assured they are not all like that - we have a lot of happy owners on this site (and the occassional unhappy one).

At least BMS seem to be trying to get it resolved for you booking it in with LR dealership must be costing them unless part of same group?

All the best with this one. Keep us posted.

DR There's always a way forward!

2008 Freelander Td4 GS - Stornoway Grey - Now Gone - Sob
2011 Freelander Td4 GS 150 - Rimini Red - in its place - Better x far x 4!!

which land rover dealer did they use ? freelander 2 SE black and beige - now sold

If it was Stratstone Doncaster then their approach/service level you experienced was just 'business as usual' for them - expect nothing better so I wouldn't persevere with them. I have had bitter first hand experience of that bunch of incompetent amateurs - I wouldn't let them walk my dog (even though he's smarter than them) never mind fix my car. They truly are clowns so don't even 'get it' when you prove they are - LR customer service are not interested either - they even admitted that they get loads of complaints about them but nothing improves. Get your FL2 across to Duckworths or even Guy Salmon in Wakefield - even better have Iain (TFC) come out and fix it - then give BSM the bill.

Take it back - get your money back and buy approved used from a LR dealer. It might cost you more and you may still have the odd problem but the added piece of mind and the fact you have the backing of a proper warrantee should at least see you either fixed with a smile or sent off in a decent car until they do get it fixed

I wouldn't just settle for your nearest dealer though - try and go somewhere recommended as they do vary considerably Freelander 2 TD4 Auto, SE, Narvik Black, Alpaca full leather, Rear Headrest Entertainment System, 6 CD, 18 HSE Wheels, Privicy tints

+1

It was Stratstone, I spoke to the principle who was just rude, trying to tell me the audio might not have been working when i took it in!! To be fair to BSM they have paid for all the repairs and the LR costs.

They are now putting it into a local auto electrician who they say is top notch, we love the car, the ride is great. To be honest if LR had been in the least bit courteous i wouldn't be kicking off.

Can i realy get my money back even when they are trying to sort things?

Do you think I have bought a dog of a car, i'm going to ring the last owner to see what sort of problems they had.

Thanks for the responses

Sorry to hear about your experience. Interesting to hear you've also had problems with the Aux input. Mine was noisy from new then stopped working altogether shortly afer. I suspect a poor quality connector or wiring near the armrest input why it's given up but not why it's so hissy. Still, that's the only problem for me so far (10,000 kms) so will just wait until first service to get it looked at.

TrickiDicki wrote:

Sorry to hear about your experience. Interesting to hear you've also had problems with the Aux input. Mine was noisy from new then stopped working altogether shortly afer. I suspect a poor quality connector or wiring near the armrest input why it's given up but not why it's so hissy. Still, that's the only problem for me so far (10,000 kms) so will just wait until first service to get it looked at.

The dodgy aux connector is probably the multi block connector under the centre console not plugged in properly when it went in for the PTC recall. Mine was exactly the same and I was able to fix it by removing the little tray on the rear of the console and re-fitting the multiblock connector. Mine was completly disconnected so I had no power to the 12v sockets either...

All sorted now though and all i needed was a flat blade driver and about 10 mins! Freelander 2 TD4 Auto, SE, Narvik Black, Alpaca full leather, Rear Headrest Entertainment System, 6 CD, 18 HSE Wheels, Privicy tints

The FL2 is a very good car and I am sure the faults you have will be fixable - you just need to get it looked at by the right people. I very much doubt Stratstone Doncaster will ever sort it for you.

Once fixed you can go on to enjoy the car and forget all about these initial problems. Don't let the Stratstone prats put you off - over the years (and several LRs) I have had experience of a good few dealers and non-franchised specialists - without doubt Doncaster Stratstone are far and away the worst I have come across - and worse still they don't care - they just want your money. Hope you get it all sorted soon.

PS. Alternatives in Doncaster are DCV - www.doncastercountryvehicles.co.uk - (up the road in Kirk Sandall) or LRSUK - www.lrsoffroad.co.uk - (out towards M18 J4) - both non-franchised but seem to know their LRs

Thanks Donny, do you have the details for ian at tfc? i can't find them on the net. To be honest i've never had a good experience from main dealers!!! i will be keeping well away and sticking to my local garage that looks after my fleet of vehicles at work. The last main dealer i went to was with my Porsche i've had it 3 years and it's been looked after by a specialist ever since i walked out of JCT in Leeds.

donny wrote:

The FL2 is a very good car and I am sure the faults you have will be fixable - you just need to get it looked at by the right people. I very much doubt Stratstone Doncaster will ever sort it for you.

Once fixed you can go on to enjoy the car and forget all about these initial problems. Don't let the Stratstone prats put you off - over the years (and several LRs) I have had experience of a good few dealers and non-franchised specialists - without doubt Doncaster Stratstone are far and away the worst I have come across - and worse still they don't care - they just want your money. Hope you get it all sorted soon.

PS. Alternatives in Doncaster are DCV - www.doncastercountryvehicles.co.uk - (up the road in Kirk Sandall) or LRSUK - www.lrsoffroad.co.uk - (out towards M18 J4) - both non-franchised but seem to know their LRs

the FL2 is a good car,, but LR still make cars on friday afternoons same as anyone else,,

reject the car, and get your money back,,, as you are entitled to.. then stick the reg plate on here to hopefully help the next purchaser avoid the same hassle,,

Iain's contact details are on www.offroad-essentials.com - he offers a mobile service so comes to you

Iain or 10forcash (TFC) can be contacted via email from the link in our sponsors page Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis