New freelander owner with a few questions

[muir318]

First of hello all!

I have just bought a 1998 freelander 1.8exi with 81000 miles on the clock.I have acouple of questions for you that i hope you can help me with,First one is that i have noticed once or twice when pulling away from a stationary position i have heard a loud bang/thump coming from what i think is the rear of the car.Can anyone give me some pointers as to what this could be?Also it has a leather interior and the 2 front seats are slightly worn.Is there anything i can use on the leather to hide the age cracks in it and put it back to looking a bit better?Also the plastic trim is looking a bit dull and has lightened over the years.What would be the best product to use to put it back to its origional black colour?

All info would be appreciated.

Thanks

[david1701]

for the bumpers used engine oil after the next service works brilliantly, if you don't service yourself then you can buy stuff called back to black that kinda works.

I don't know much about the leather, sorry.

The Clunks on acceleration/deaceleration could be the ird mounting bushes, my sisters 2000 1.8 does this

[Llanigraham]

First of hello all!

I have just bought a 1998 freelander 1.8exi with 81000 miles on the clock.I have acouple of questions for you that i hope you can help me with,First one is that i have noticed once or twice when pulling away from a stationary position i have heard a loud bang/thump coming from what i think is the rear of the car.Can anyone give me some pointers as to what this could be?

Rear diff mountings worn, most probably the front one. Easy to replace.

Also it has a leather interior and the 2 front seats are slightly worn.Is there anything i can use on the leather to hide the age cracks in it and put it back to looking a bit better?

A good quality leather feed/saddle soap, or even try your local furniture store as they normally sell leather products for settees, etc.

Also the plastic trim is looking a bit dull and has lightened over the years.What would be the best product to use to put it back to its origional black colour?

All info would be appreciated.

Thanks

DON'T use engine oil on plastic! it might look nice but it doesn't do it any good. If really dirty try some PVC garden furniture cleaner, and then any of the good quality bumper products. Have even heard of people using smooth peanut butter (??)

Lastly, join the Freelander Club (www.freelanderclub.co.uk) and get out and get it muddy!!

[broon]

Rear diff mountings worn, most probably the front one. Easy to replace.

A good quality leather feed/saddle soap, or even try your local furniture store as they normally sell leather products for settees, etc.

DON'T use engine oil on plastic! it might look nice but it doesn't do it any good. If really dirty try some PVC garden furniture cleaner, and then any of the good quality bumper products. Have even heard of people using smooth peanut butter (??)

Lastly, join the Freelander Club (www.freelanderclub.co.uk) and get out and get it muddy!!

hi there i use cherry boot polish on bumpers came up like new just put on with brush wipe with clean cloth seals them and will be easer to keep up

[FridgeFreezer]

The clonk is a rear diff mounting bush, shouldn't be major drama to change.

As for bringing up trim, that's not my specialist field but Jules has raved to me about "Bumper gel" and it's magic restorative properties. Usually every time he sees my bumpers

My solution is cover it in mud, then it doesn't notice.

[Blippie]

I use linseed oil on bumpers. I wouldn't use used engine oil as it is a carginogen.

I concurr with the others, the thump is likely to be the centre/front rear diff mount...

Cheers

Blippie