There probably wont be anyone on here that still owns an Xdi FL1 but quite a few may have owned one in the past.

if the overall condition is good for its age and the engine well looked after then those bits should be fine.

Its the drive train/transmission that would need to be checked thoroughly

quote from Ashcroft transmissions web site.

''The Freelander has 3 main drivetrain problems areas, the Intermediate Reduction Drive (IRD), Viscous Coupling (VC) and the rear differential.



The reason for this is the front wheels on the Freelander are driven faster than the rear wheels so it handles well, like a front wheel drive car. To accommodate this ratio difference, a VC is fitted inline with the rear propshaft which thus is constantly slipping.



On the earlier models this ratio difference was too great resulting in the viscous coupling working overtime and failing by siezing solid. When the viscous coupling is too tight or seized solid the front tyres are fighting the rears as the transmission is "winding up", initially this just wears the tyres (causing a "saw tooth" effect) but it also puts increased load on the IRD and rear diff as they are fighting each other causing rapid wear on both and ultimately failure of one or both.''


the ratios were changed on later models (essentially when LR came under BMW ownership) so any TD4 from 2001 onwards would be a much better bet. The BMW TD4 engine is also a much smoother and better engine than the 2.0 Di Rover engine.

The answer really is, the car was face lifted with mechanical changes when BMW actually bothered to get round to it in 2001, the car was launched under BMW ownership in 1997 and LR had been owned by them since 1994. One could argue that the only reason it was updated was BMW was trying to sell the company and need to improve the reliability, after all they sold Rover for a quid and they could hardly afford to sell LR for the same.
Lets not get over enthusiastic about the BMW era, they wanted LR for the technology not to improve the breed, looking at their products in the 4x4 area they either didn't get it all or the knowledge was ignored my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.

100% agree that BMW did only want LR for its 4x4 technology and experience.

However the post 2001 models of FL1 were certainly a lot better than the pre 2001. The only Rover engines to be carried over were the 2 petrols (1.8 and 2.5 V6) and were pretty shocking. The 2.0 Di was a decent lump but is not as refined, economical or generally as good as the TD4 and the alteration of the transmission ratios on the TD4 helped reliability massively.