the car runs very well indeed. 5 weeks out of LR warranty now.

stands me £37k with purchase + parts & stuff I did post purchase. I need to get my hands dirty on cars to 'get into them' so bought a full service kit + brake fluid etc.

just because its got fully dealer history doesn't mean they actually DID anything at service time other than collect the money!

thanks for the offer of help too.

Trust me deciding this is one of the easiest jobs in a service. I admire your patience with this and feel the same about my cars. I don't trust dealers either and know that when I have done a job it has been done properly...
I'm guessing that the dealer stamps in the past have not changed this and maybe it has seized up or something.
Why not take the unit off the mounting, from memory it's a couple of socket head screws onto a braket and then you can get a good grip of the collar and give it a twist. It WILL come off with what I remember is only a quarter of a turn. Keep it vertical now though as its full of fuel and you will spill the diesel if you don't keep it upright!
Stay with me on this one as I'm determined to get you through this!
Pm me your phone number of email address and I will walk you trough it.

many thanks for your determined help!

I was probably under the affluence of incohol when i registered with ffrr and somehow managed to get my email as my handle!

hoping to have another go at it tomorrow or Friday with a large canister grip - if still stuck I will drop you PM - cheers

How did you get on?

Success

i cant image how anyone can do this job without first disconnecting all the pipes on the filter head and then removing the head however - too many pipes in the way.

the only thing i couldn't work out was what happens with the screw on plastic thing which is on the new filter. it has a gasket inside but no connector on so i assumed it was a dummy to seal the filter until fitment and reused the old one. is that what you unscrew to drain water which has been separated from the deisel?

took about 30 mins all in but could do it again in 10.

not sure which arrows should line up - it works and doesn't leak and when the big plastic securing nut was turned to secure the new filter it 'positively locked' so I think its good.

thanks for the encouragement.

next job bleed the brakes

Yes
It is a dummy
Some of them do t have the electrical connection
And they need to keep moisture out

Well done by the way!