Rover 800 Coupe, gen me up plz

[RichardMoss]

Mo pretty much summed it up:

 

Rusty sills (square section, repair straightforward) 

Rusty rear arches - repair panels not available

Water leaks in the boot - the normal place i rear light but also (on coupes) poorly sealed panel joins near the boot hinges.

 

On all 800s, fuel fillers rot from above thanks to a mud trap between the filler and inner wing. It might be repairable if not too bad but you may have to fabricate something with tube/hoses.  The little metal fuels pipes sandwiched between the top of the tank and the boot floor rot - the tank has to come out to fix them.

 

Doors and all fittings are unique to the coupe - as are the seats and all other interior trim panels apart from the dash and centre console.

 

Mechanically they are the same as any other 800.  Key weak points, front suspension bottom balljoints, anti-roll bar droplinks, exhaust flexi pipes, dodgy solder joints in the fusebox, ineffective handrake (rear caliper fault - similar caliper to MGF/TF), blocked sunroof drains. The KV6 engine IS weaker than the others and expensive to fix if the headgasket goes (when rather than if?) but lovely if running OK.

[Lacquer Peel]

I just might* know where there are two 827SLi coupes and an Oxford Edition for sale.

A local Sterling specialist has 'em. Dude is the San Diego Dale Charles.

I was going to buy one but decided not to.

Lord Sterling, to the beige courtesy phone?

I'll get pics, but only if there's any interest.

 

Did he import the coupes?

 

800s are great, especially with the 4 headed VM boat anchor, if the KV6 pops that'd be a viable* option.

[Honey Badger]

ZF-1 fluid has been discontinued, replaced by DW-1 which some people say isn't any good for the Early C-series autoboxes. Carlube ATF-U seems to be the favoured replacement for a lot of older Honda Autos.

 

C27 is usually pretty tough, certainly very few issues in Legends I've seen but not infallible, I like the KV6 too, my brothers got a 190 MGZT and he's had no trouble for years, so buy on condition rather than reputation.

 

Given the choice I'd go for a T Series turbo coupe, but I bet they are like rocking horse poo.

[chaseracer]

I know its not really the AS way...

 

It really IS, y'know.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Oh dear, an 800 Coupe

 

If it's a post-1996 car then you're looking at the Rover-developed KV6. Don't be too put off by the OMGHGF and complex cambelt stories, though these repairs are worst-case scenarios. They can be expensive and time-consuming.

 

Later 800s don't seem to rust anywhere near as bad as earlier ones but watch the sills on Coupes, they can easily turn to Wheetabix. Boots will leak, check rear lights, these are usually the culprits.

 

If it's a pre-1996 Coupe, your looking at a Honda V6 powerplant. Please don't go believing in "bulletproof engines" bullshit. They're not, I've killed 2 Honda engined 800s yet my KV6 is happily still running. Go figure.

 

Honda V6s have very complex and fragile cooling systems, they are susceptible to blockages which cause overheating and HGF which is what has happened to 2 of mine, this isn't helped by radiators which crumble for fun and header tanks which crack through sheer boredam.

 

If the header tank needs changing, don't bother with Rover ones, they're shit. A Volvo 850 tank will suffice. This has been tried and tested with good results. There are a couple of handy guides floating about on the net.

 

Make sure you flush and change coolant, get the gunky crap out of the rad to prevent blockages. I'd advise using Blue stuff, never had great results with Red. (Both my dead cars had Red coolant)

 

Check that the auto transmission fluid is a light Cherryade colour, not black, if it is, it'll need changing. If it does need changing, only use ZF-1 ATF or whatever it's called these days (used to be known as "Hondamatic") You can purchase this online or through a Honda dealer, just don't tell them it's a Rover, get a plate from an early Legend and tell them it's for that.

 

Check electrics are working, these aren't as complex as you might think, but 800 electrics can suffer from dry joints in fusebox. Fuseboxes aren't hard to do, unplug some connectors, undo 2 bolts, take fusebox out and resolder all the points on fusebox.

 

As has been alluded to before, fuel filler pipes have, somehow obtained some sort Mk2 Escort tax premium, header tanks are heading the same way. Don't buy those, you can buy a whole Rover 800 for what a pipe can sell for, it's stupid. Shop about at scrappies or European sites, don't waste your time on eBay UK nor any Rover forums, too many chancers trying to cash in on this "premium".

 

Apart from that, usual car-buying checks should suffice. I didn't have the chance to do this with mine when I agreed to buy it so ended up with a right dog.

 

I have seen 800's in yards of scrap. What's worth nicking from one?

[chaseracer]

Engine, if you have big pockets.

 

[Lord Sterling]

I have seen 800's in yards of scrap. What's worth nicking from one?

Fuel filler pipes, header tanks, calipers, rear screen if it's a Coupe, wings if they ain't rusty, radiator if ain't crumbled.

[eddyramrod]

I've been to see it this morning.  Turbo, which equates to not having enough pots (I never even lifted the bonnet); and too many pedals.  It's sitting on flat tyres but it's at a garage, so that shouldn't be an issue.  Anyway, thanks to the engine/transmission combo, I'm oot, well and truly.  Anyone got a 1980 Buick Century to sell me?

[Partridge]

I'd say £500 would buy you a bit of a rotter. Really good coupes seem to be asking just over a grand now, and getting it as well.

[EssDeeWon]

I've been to see it this morning.  Turbo, which equates to not having enough pots (I never even lifted the bonnet); and too many pedals.  It's sitting on flat tyres but it's at a garage, so that shouldn't be an issue.  Anyway, thanks to the engine/transmission combo, I'm oot, well and truly.  Anyone got a 1980 Buick Century to sell me?

 

Wise choice Eddy, cars for sale that are sat on flat tyres (especially when being sold by a garage) should be walked away from.

[320touring]

Wise choice Eddy, cars for sale that are sat on flat tyres (especially when being sold by a garage) should be walked away from.

That depends. If the flat tyreas are on the rims under th sills so the forklift can get in then they are for winnahs!

[Lord Sterling]

I've been to see it this morning.  Turbo, which equates to not having enough pots (I never even lifted the bonnet); and too many pedals.  It's sitting on flat tyres but it's at a garage, so that shouldn't be an issue.  Anyway, thanks to the engine/transmission combo, I'm oot, well and truly.  Anyone got a 1980 Buick Century to sell me?

Don't blame you Eddy, I'm the same, not really into 3 pedal/4-pot Turbo combos. Turbo 800s have never been my thing.

[eddyramrod]

As soon as I spotted the gearstick I knew I wasn't going to be asking the price.  He didn't seem to care much whether he sold it or not anyway.  I'll go back to Plan A, look for something older, with enough pots and no more pedals than a real man needs.

[RoadworkUK]

I need a local mate who runs an 800 Turbo, just to know if I'm missing anything.