Freelander Cracked Dash

[Pushrod28]

Good day guys. I am interested in buying a Freelander 2 for my wife. We would like to replace her Polo GT because it is necessary to have a SUV or Double cab in EL because the roads are so bad and as well her car a stiff suspension. I came across a Freelancer 2 on Gomboom and so far it looks in good condition but the sales person mentioned to me that the dash has a crack on it. He said that he can have it covered and that it will look like new. I question is, is this a normal thing for the freelancers. According to him and his research this is a normal thing that the dash cracks. Can someone please give me some advice on this topic. Thanks.

[MikeBob]

Yes the dashes do crack. My 2007 is cracked

[Skylark]

How exactly will they cover the cracks, put a piece of carpet on the dash?

I'd ask for a discount and either live with it or have it fixed yourself, be careful though a dash is high visibility and takes a hammering if they do an ugly job or use budget materials it's going to look ugly really soon.

[Pushrod28]

Thanks guys for the feedback. The sales person said that they going to cover it in vinal. I test drive a 2013 last year and from what I can remember the dash was plastic not vinal. Skylark it's correct what you saying rather get a discount on the car than letting them do it.

[Henris]

I would also fight for some money off. Then make a plan yourself.

There are a couple of options.

But first you need to get rid of the material that cracked. Else it just cracks somewhere else. Even it it cracks under that vinyl, it will still show at a later stage.

[mountainboy1974]

Fairly common

Cracks around the airbag. I would not put vinyl around as this may influence airbag deployment

Got quoted R1500 few months back to repair. Apparent uses some paper based material

Get a discount and repair yourself

[mariusrautenbach]

Hi All.

Any suggestion on how to DYI a crack on the FL2 dash?
Mine started on the passenger airbag around the corner..

[leonlieb]

I would steer well clear of such a vehicle. Enough 2nd hand vehicles out there to choose from. Rather look at another vehicle.

Do you really want a "spoeg-en-plak" job on the dash

[lizardalpha]

I would steer well clear of such a vehicle. Enough 2nd hand vehicles out there to choose from. Rather look at another vehicle.

Do you really want a "spoeg-en-plak" job on the dash

The original thread is 2 years old, sure the buy has bought a car by now

[mariusrautenbach]

I would steer well clear of such a vehicle. Enough 2nd hand vehicles out there to choose from. Rather look at another vehicle.

Do you really want a "spoeg-en-plak" job on the dash

When I bought my car it was fine.... Only saw a small crack appearing earlier this week. So why steer clear of such vehicles? Can happen on any car...

And if I can do a spoeg en plak, and it is done decently. Why not?..

[Dr Jones]

Slightly Ot, I obtained a 2nd hand dash from a broken disco 3, then sanded the PU down a bit and covered it with leather over a couple of weekends, A La D4 style. Now still to make a proper cover to protect it a bit more and then a few days to fit it.

[cruiser]

Old thread I know... but I also have cracks around the airbag..2012 model... Surely there must be a fix... what happens if the bag is deployed at any time? do they fit a new dash?

[lizardalpha]

Old thread I know... but I also have cracks around the airbag..2012 model... Surely there must be a fix... what happens if the bag is deployed at any time? do they fit a new dash?

Usually when airbags deploy the car ends up being a writeoff?

[Skylark]

Apparently black Pratley Wondafix is good stuff for making neat dash repairs.

[Peter1949]

I must admit that generally speaking (not specific to this vehicle) I thought that these cracking issues had been sorted many moons ago.

My 22 year old Isuzu has spent the larger part of its life outside, not undercover and in some harsh environments at times.
Yes, I do use one of those flexible shields and I do treat it with silicone / whatever "protection" but even now - NO CRACKS.

I thought this problem had been solved with new materials somewhere in the 1960's or 70's ?
Open to some timeline criticism here - my sequential memory is no longer functional - but something like that.

I also owned at one time, an old BMW 518 which I sold at age 32 years moons ago - no dashboard cracks, but to be fair that old girl spent more time in garage or at least under cover.
But also treated with dash spray and flexible shield when outside.

So I am really surprised to read that this is still an issue in this day.

[lizardalpha]

I must admit that generally speaking (not specific to this vehicle) I thought that these cracking issues had been sorted many moons ago.

My 22 year old Isuzu has spent the larger part of its life outside, not undercover and in some harsh environments at times.
Yes, I do use one of those flexible shields and I do treat it with silicone / whatever "protection" but even now - NO CRACKS.

I thought this problem had been solved with new materials somewhere in the 1960's or 70's ?
Open to some timeline criticism here - my sequential memory is no longer functional - but something like that.

I also owned at one time, an old BMW 518 which I sold at age 32 years moons ago - no dashboard cracks, but to be fair that old girl spent more time in garage or at least under cover.
But also treated with dash spray and flexible shield when outside.

So I am really surprised to read that this is still an issue in this day.

Well, my 1988 Jetta had a cracked dash. Plenty of golfs as well, so probably only got sorted a little bit later for most vehicles.

[thabogrobler]

I got a dash cover from Mark(Oooms) at 4x4 Assist.

Will post a pic when the missus is back from the farm.

[Thys Willemse]

Any dash , or for that matter, any air bag area, should never be covered, it will impact the efficiency of the air bag deployment, and most probably have the insurer void your claim.

[Skylark]

Any dash , or for that matter, any air bag area, should never be covered, it will impact the efficiency of the air bag deployment, and most probably have the insurer void your claim.

Why would an insurer void your claim and what would you claiming for?

The only person who will be negatively impacted by an obstructed airbag is the passenger it's supposed to be protecting.

[Thys Willemse]

Why would an insurer void your claim and what would you claiming for?

The only person who will be negatively impacted by an obstructed airbag is the passenger it's supposed to be protecting.

Hi Skylark,

Don't under estimate the assessors, and if there are any personal injuries, as you mentioned, as a result of a botched air bag deployment, and resultant claims for injuries, it happens, so me personally, I will not do it, life is about choices, so I choose the approach as posted in my previous reply.

What ever any one else does, it is their call and their responsibility.