It's been nearly a year (Oct 19) since the raised air intake arrived. Due to several factors all out of my control , this has been a stop-start project. Although I initially liked the original design, I decided I would slightly redesign it to suit my needs and aesthetic ideas.
I have absolutely no intention of submerging my vehicle long or deep enough for it to suck in water at the original air intake - therefore did not need to plumb in and waterproof he pipework that came with the intake and turn it into a "snorkel".
I have taken just enough of the rear surface away so that it would fit over the existing intake grill. Leaving this in place, the raised intake was then bonded to the wing and A-pillar. In turn it was completely sealed around the original intake so no water should ingress between the wing and intake and make it's way in to the intake system should the need arise for me to take a short "dip". Also the front part was cut out too in order to fit a spare intake grill I had kicking around - the back of which was blanked off. Before being fitted, this had the added benefit of allowing access the inside so the raised intake could be fully bonded around the original wing grill too.
I removed a large section of the intake which had quite a bow in it and straightened this out with new material. I used copious amounts of carbon fibre filler , fibreglass and high build primer to achieve a result I was finally happy with. Then painted it all with high build matt black.
I'm happy at how it turned out - finally !!

Original "test fit" Oct 2019.





Modified and fully bonded to the vehicle.

Cracking looking job and it certainly looks the part 👍.

Mark 2009 FL2 TD4 SE (Sadly gone)
2007 FL2 TD4 GS (The wifes , gone after 8 great years)
2012 FL2 SD4 SPORT LE(Gone and missing it)
2015 DISCOVERY SPORT 2.2SD4 HSE (For now ?)
2014 Ford Bmax 1.0 ecoboost ( Gone but what next )
2014 Ford Focus 2.0tdci Zetec S

Certainly looks the part
is there much visual restriction around the nearside A post?
Dave DAVE.
I.A.M. F1rst Driver.
Gone 2003 Discovery TD5 Auto,
Gone 1986 Defender 90 Station Wagon
Gone 1984 Range Rover 3.5 Vogue Manual.
Gone 1970 Series 11A/3 SWB 3.5 V8 Hybrid
Gone 1964 Series 11A LWB Van
Gone 1966 Series 11A SWB Van
Gone 1964 Series 11A LWB Station Wagon,

OK, I’ll bite - why?

Dave47 wrote:

Certainly looks the part
is there much visual restriction around the nearside A post?
Dave

Not much really. However I am used to having a raised air intake on my F1's so I won't really notice it as much as I suspect most would.

Click image to enlarge

Excellent job Sir



 If it wasn't so bad it'd be funny.

🐑
Freelander 2 HSE auto 2014 ( Florrie ) ..... Try again.
Freelander 2 GS 2012...... Gone.

great looking job, both in the original design and in your version

but is it sad of me that I would still have the FL1 in the last pic? the one with the Land Rover Graphics up the side and white wheels. Looks like one of the 6 WRC Freelander that were produced and used by the Ford Focus rally team.

There's no arguing that the FL1 when kitted out looked amazing.

But also, as someone else asked, why fit a raised air intake if not as a snorkel? Not being cheeky, I seriously don't understand the mechanics/pros/cons of doing so. Learned to drive in 2011.
Bought a Micra - great little car
"Upgraded" to Kia Sportage - hated it
Proper upgrade to FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - tailgate paint issues, fuel gauge rewire, transfer box failure at 36k miles, clutch at 60k
Reconditioned diff at 70k ish
Sold at 84k and now on a DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental

I can't see a downside using a snorkel...........cleaner air too. Looks good, I assume it's fiberglass or is it plastic? Flexible hose to airbox?

Chuckalicious wrote:

There's no arguing that the FL1 when kitted out looked amazing.

But also, as someone else asked, why fit a raised air intake if not as a snorkel? Not being cheeky, I seriously don't understand the mechanics/pros/cons of doing so.

Chuckalicious wrote:

There's no arguing that the FL1 when kitted out looked amazing.

But also, as someone else asked, why fit a raised air intake if not as a snorkel? Not being cheeky, I seriously don't understand the mechanics/pros/cons of doing so.

At least for those of us who drive on the correct side of the road having the air intake on the left is better that the right.

A B-double passing.


This is the level of dust in one fold of the air filter last year which included about 2000km of dirt roads.
 Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

Acoustic insulation ARB TPMS 3xARB air compressors After cooler Air tank On-board OCD pressure air/water cleaning Additional 50L fuel Carpet in doors ABE 2x1kg Waeco 28L modified fridge Battery 4x26ah Solar 120w Victron MPPT 100/20 DC-DC 18amps 175amp jumper plug Awning 6x255/60R18

I'm not trying to increase the actual wading depth of the vehicle. Nor have I any desire to ford rivers or streams. Hence no need to fully waterproof the original Land Rover ducting inside the wing, which is adequate as it is. However, I have done my fair share of off roading in the last 25 or so years to know that it doesn't always take a swim in a lake to swamp an exposed air intake. On off road sites sometimes relatively shallow water can still hide a drop or deep rut that can cause , however briefly, the left side of the vehicle to dip deep enough for the water to get above the intake level, sucking in water and soaking the air filter with dirty ,muddy water. Even the spray , especially if the soil is clay based. My Freelander 1's were all fitted with raised air intakes. Never used for wading, but to avoid the dust kicked up on dry, fast gravel or forest tracks, which again clogs the air filter.

"Simon J" OK, I’ll bite - why?
Why Indeed