Range Rover Classic Dilemma

[Brent_Crude]

The MOT is up on 10th Nov and I have just taken her to my local Landy specialist and testing station for some pre-checks and the prognosis is not good at all, with lots of corrosion, welding required and other bits and bobs identified as likely reasons for failure - they are going to send me more details, but most of it sounded well beyond my mechanical/welding abilities or current finances. The new MOT (EU) rules re: airbags is also an issue as my SRS light is on, which is apparently a failure. I know where it has been disconnected, but if it is more of a job than just reconnecting this wire, then this could be very costly - 20 yr old SRS!! 

 

 

This news is particularly disheartening after sparing no expense on her in the last 3 years, with lots of new parts along the way, but I really think our time together might be about to come to an end. No advisories on any of this stuff at the last MOT either (different garage last time), so it is not like I had much warning that I needed to get it sorted. I trust this specialist though and they have looked after it for me during my ownership. I will be truly gutted as I bloody love the thing and will only buy another one at some stage in the future anyway, when funds allow and other chod on the wantlist has been tried.

 

She is running brilliantly though and I only just replaced the dizzy cap, rotor arm, plugs and leads at the weekend, which makes this MOT news all the more hard to take.

 

So, on to that dilemma.... if the joblist comes back from the garage and is going to be more than I can afford right now, do I...

 

a) Sell her on quickly while she still has some MOT and tax left and can be driven away legally to someone that is better equipped than me to get her through the MOT or... God forbid... weigh her in, strip for parts or BOBTAIL4OVROADINBEAST. Then put the money towards that 924 I always wanted.

 

 Try and quickly arrange some storage, declare SORN and keep her as a 'long tem project', which realistically means being stashed in a garage for 10 years, while I talk about it, but never quite get round to it, wasting money on rent in the process. I might be forced into this if I were unable to sell her before 10th Nov.

 

c) Take the view that I will only need to spend money on a replacement car anyway and it is better to sink a few grand into a car I know very well, rather then some old chod that I know little about and could be hiding some expensive problems. 

 

 

N.B. Option C probably comes with the likelihood of divorce, as Mrs_C will never comprehend the logic of investing in a classic, rather than just getting a different car. Also, we have spent a lot on the Rangie already, so from her point of view it is just more £'s, which I do understand. Conversely, that 'investment' could be seen as reason to keep the Rangie going and get the most value from what I have already spent on her.

 

d) Hope that it is not all that bad and that I can get away with spending less than £1k to get her through the test and be grateful that I still have the car I always wanted and try and get at least a few more years out of her (I am already hoping for this outcome anyway).

[scruff]

Looks just the same as mine - very nice.

 

These soft dash Classics are getting very spendy for nice ones so it is worth getting them welded up. How bad is it? Mine had sills, rear arches, body mounts, rear body crossmember, bonnet and tailgate. Then a lot of waxoyl.

 

Don't know what specialist you use but could happily recommend a RRC loving garage out at Tring if you wanted a second opinion/quotes.

[garethj]

I'd go for a or c.  However it's worth getting a second opinion on the repairs needed, because d might be the winner.  d is just a differently worded version of c anyway, your other half will see straight through it

[Junkman]

No advisories on any of this stuff at the last MOT either [...] I trust this specialist though and they have looked after it for me during my ownership.

 

Interesting how different my opinion is. If both of the above is true, I would do the opposite of trusting them.

Also, I'd just have it tested, which costs 40 odd quid and then decide what to do.

 

[Brent_Crude]

Thanks scruff. I should know more later this afternoon, then the necesary course of action will be clearer. Tring is not far from me, so if I need a 2nd opinion, I might well come back to you for some details. Cheers

[NorfolkNWeigh]

For the sake of £40, I'd run it in for an actual MOT, you can have a lot of holes in a Range Rover/ Discovery without them being an MOT fail, as for the airbag,chances are a non-enthusiast/specialist won't even realise it's got them.

We have a very we'll respected LR indie near me and most of my family and a lot of friends use him, but I've found he thinks he's doing you a favour by not charging main dealer rates,even so every bill seems to be £500, I don't think I've spent that much in 8 years of keeping my old 300 tdi Disco going.

[Brent_Crude]

 

 

Interesting how different my opinion is. If both of the above is true, I would do the opposite of trusting them.

Also, I'd just have it tested, which costs 40 odd quid and then decide what to do.

 

 

I think it was the dodgy London garage that did the MOT last year for me that I should not have trusted. I was pushed for time and they were too, by the look of it.

 

Naturally, I will be assessing everything the specialist tell me needs attention myself, rather than just take their word for it. But they are reputable and have always done good (and very reasonable) work for me in the past. If I have reason to doubt them, I will go elsewhere.  

[alf892]

Looks just the same as mine - very nice.

 

These soft dash Classics are getting very spendy for nice ones so it is worth getting them welded up. How bad is it? Mine had sills, rear arches, body mounts, rear body crossmember, bonnet and tailgate. Then a lot of waxoyl.

 

Don't know what specialist you use but could happily recommend a RRC loving garage out at Tring if you wanted a second opinion/quotes.

I reckon any garage that does repairs on these will love them.............once the owner trusts them it is pretty certain they have some stable income over the next few years as it rots and wears out

[Brent_Crude]

I'd go for a or c.  However it's worth getting a second opinion on the repairs needed, because d might be the winner.  d is just a differently worded version of c anyway, your other half will see straight through it

 

Ha! You are probably quite right, Gareth. The only slight difference is that d) might mean affordable repairs, where as c assumes at least £1.5k-£2k, which I cannot afford in the near future.  

[dollywobbler]

You'd need £1500-2000k to get a halfway decent soft-dash I reckon. I've got sick of throwing money at cars and then selling them so having chucked a fair chunk at my Discovery, I'll keep it. Trying to spend very little on the Daihatsu as I probably will sell it at some point. 

 

At least a specialist is (hopefully!) likely to do the welding repairs properly rather than just MOT-bodge. 

[cort16]

As said above I'd be tempted to lob it in for an MOT then you know where to stand. I.e. You have an actual list of things it needs done for the MOT.

Have they given you a quote for the work? I find that garages sometimes give extremelyt high quotes for the work they don't want to do (especially welding).  Welding can turn into nightmare as you peel back the layers you can find more issues, which means they end up with cars stuck on the lift for longer than they want them to be there. It might be better to try to sub divide the work between places.

 

If you stick it away all that'll happen is it'll get worse unless you make a plan to fix it. I'd be tempted to get an MOT done then get a quote for the work in £ so you know where you stand then you can decide as it looks like a nice car.

[Brent_Crude]

You'd need £1500-2000k to get a halfway decent soft-dash I reckon. I've got sick of throwing money at cars and then selling them so having chucked a fair chunk at my Discovery, I'll keep it. Trying to spend very little on the Daihatsu as I probably will sell it at some point. 

 

At least a specialist is (hopefully!) likely to do the welding repairs properly rather than just MOT-bodge. 

 

A sensible approach. I think one option might be for me to get the repairs done for the MOT (I'll cobble the money together somehow) and buy this cheap Rover 200 from my mate this weekend, so that I have transport in the meantime. The Rover cover could then be kept on as the unloved/min. expenditure wheels and the Rangie as the long-term 'investment' to keep. Only thing is, I know I am going to enjoy that little Rover if I get hold of it and want to keep it and end up spending on it. Damn these old cars and my weakness for them!

 

As said above I'd be tempted to lob it in for an MOT then you know where to stand. I.e. You have an actual list of things it needs done for the MOT.

Have they given you a quote for the work? I find that garages sometimes give extremelyt high quotes for the work they don't want to do (especially welding).  Welding can turn into nightmare as you peel back the layers you can find more issues, which means they end up with cars stuck on the lift for longer than they want them to be there. It might be better to try to sub divide the work between places.

 

If you stick it away all that'll happen is it'll get worse unless you make a plan to fix it. I'd be tempted to get an MOT done then get a quote for the work in £ so you know where you stand then you can decide as it looks like a nice car.

 

Thanks Cort. I will take this on board. It is a nice car, which will make it even more of a shame if the new SRS rules are the most costly thing to put right and render it uneconomical to do. Even if I get all the welding etc. done, it could still fail on this and a perfectly good, running car ends up useless because a new SRS system costs more than it is worth. I am just guessing, but trying to prepare myself for the worst news.  

[meggersdog]

Wire the SRS light to the ignition light.Comes on with ignition goes out when started.Job jobbed.

[saucedoctor]

Airbag resistor, usually in the 2 Ohm range, like this:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fused-Airbag-Delete-Resistor-2-2-ohms-/290995794206?pt=UK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment&hash=item43c0b3711e

 

 

I've done a few of these, most recently on a 2002 HH-R. Works a treat, easy to fit.. Fitted one to a Mitsu Evo for my mate's sister after she changed to a wank looking aftermarket steering wheel, too.

[meggersdog]

It's good to have you back Ash saucedoctor.

Might try those resistor thingies next time.

[rml2345]

It would have to be options C or D. It's better to spend on a car you're fond of and can trust rather than potentially just buying a different set of issues. Spend the money it needs and continue to enjoy Range Rovering.

[Brent_Crude]

Thanks all for the replies and input, your experience is, as always, invaluable.

 

Having re-read my earlier comments; at some stage in this thread I appear to have gone from despairing about not being able to afford the necessary repairs, to talking myself into having the repairs done AND buying a Rover 200 as well. How in the name of Spen King did that happen? Must be Autoshiteist logic.

 

Better start looking for loose change down the back of the sofa, it's looking like an expensive few weeks.

[brickwall]

I think they are one of the best vehicles ever built (but not on quality). Selling with one months MOT with the ZOMG NEEEDZ WEDLDINGZ is sure only to fetch project money. I didn't find the welding hard except for the body mounts at the sides. Someone who knows the vehicles will give a better Idea. Most of the cost is in the welding prep.

[barmatt]

definitely don't sell it with a months ticket, you'll get peanuts for it. I'd go with the general consensus and put it in for an mot to get a real picture of what it needs and how much it will cost.

[purplebargeken]

Where are you in London. I have a good mate who does all the work on my shitters. He is honest and very reasonably priced. Why not get him to give you a second opinion on what is needed. He's in Crews Hill and is used to lots of scabby vehicles.

[Lord Sterling]

It depends really on how you feel about the Rangie. If you like it and are reluctant to sell then I say store it away if you can. That's what I've done with my other Rovers as I've never felt like I'd had 'enough' of them. When money or general car problems got too much, I stored them away in various garages (which I shall be slowly giving up at some point as I have some proper storage reserved for me) until I could get around to sorting them out, or at least that was the idea.

 

At least then you still have the Rangie, you can tinker with it at your own leisure working on sorting the problems and get the chance to try out something different car-wise. 

[Brent_Crude]

Doom and despair have been averted and she is MOT'd and back on the road - big grins all round as I took her home via the back roads, just so I could enjoy that V8 burble bouncing of the hedgerows. Sure, I am a few quid lighter, but not nearly as bad as expected.

 

Now there is just the small matter of the Rover 416 SLi that I was eyeing up as a potential replacement. It is still available, cheap, MOT'd and UTTER SHITE, in the very best sense of the word....

[garethj]

Man-Maths says that with the money you've saved on the Rangie or its replacement, you can afford to buy a 416 SLi.

 

You Know It Makes Sense, But Doesn't Really

[Brent_Crude]

Man-Maths says that with the money you've saved on the Rangie or its replacement, you can afford to buy a 416 SLi.

 

You Know It Makes Sense, But Doesn't Really

 

Exactly, Gareth!

 

I think. Hang on, what? Oh OK.