For Sale Rover 200 VI (basically a 5 door Lotus Elise) - spears or reapers - £100

[wuvvum]

This is sat around doing naff all other than being used as storage at the moment, and I was going to scrap it, but it's such a rare beast now and such hilarious fun when it's going right that I thought I'd see if anyone wants to rescue it.

 

I've owned it for a few years now - I spent a bit of money getting it through a test when I first bought it and then ran it around for a year pissing off VAG drivers.  Towards the end of the year however it started using increasing amounts of coolant, so when the test ran out it got stood up.

 

We're all aware of the obvious conclusion that one draws when a K-series starts using coolant, but none of the other signs were present - no apparent mixing of fluids, no white smoke from the exhaust, no excessive pressurisation of the cooling system (apart from when the level got too low and the bastard airlocked obvs), and if kept topped up and driven sensibly it could do longish journeys without the temp gauge ever moving above halfway.

 

Now that the coolant loss has got really bad I've finally been able to spot where it's coming from - it's the water pump.  I'm assuming it's been leaking slowly for some time but now it's, if not quite pissing out, then definitely a steady trickle onto the ground.

 

Unfortunately a water pump on a kettle (with all the cambelt-related shenanigans that involves - and there's two belts on a VI) is more than I'm willing / able to undertake, so that's pretty much ended its chances of going back on the road under my custodianship.  However I know that a lot of people here are far more competent K-series fettlers than I, and I'm hoping somebody will take pity on it and give it a new lease of life.

 

Bodywork is far from immaculate - it had some welding on the sills for its last test and the arches are a bit scabby, but not rotten.  The alloys are scruffy.  Interior (half leather) isn't too bad - I was going to take the seats out and fit them to the Rover of Doom, but I honestly can't be arsed at the moment.

 

The engine is a 143bhp 1.8 VVC as fitted to the higher-end MGFs and early Lotus Elises.  It's easily upgradeable to the 160bhp of the later MG ZRs by fitting the metal (and slightly larger) throttle body that those used.  It still starts on the button and sounds fine (a bit of VVC rattle when warm (tadt,s) but nothing excessive).  Clutch and gearbox are OK, it had a new nearside rear hub when I bought it as the wheel bearing was noisy.  Brakes are discs all round and are a bit shite for what they are tbh - they're really no better than the disc / drum setup on the RoD - but they work OK.  I think all the electrics work - the heater fan even works on all speeds, unusual for an R3.

It would need to be trailered away - although it does start and drive (and still goes like feck), it is losing water at a rate of knots, has no test and the tyres are shagged.

 

Here's a couple of pictures - quite old but it hasn't changed much.

 

 

 

 

In NE Norfolk, as always.

[Landy Mann]

Is this the one I drove when I picked up the post project drive special? If so it's great fun! I also have a couple of aluminium throttle bodies of the luck purchaser wants one.

 

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[dieselnutjob]

What's the difference between this and a BRM 200?

 

Presumably it has a MEMS2J ECU?

[M'coli]

From memory the BRM had shorter gearing and an LSD.

[Guest Lord Sward]

£15 for a water pump on one of these from memory.

[wuvvum]

From memory the BRM had shorter gearing and an LSD.

And an orange grill and sexy Oxblood leather seats.

 

From memory I think all the VVCs had MEMS 2J

 

 

Is this the one I drove when I picked up the post project drive special? If so it's great fun!

Yep, same one - and still just as much fun, albeit now only for a mile or so at a time...

[Mr Laurence]

I've wanted one of these for ages, this is even in one of the best colours, if the insurance wasn't so stupidly expensive and you weren't so far away, I'd be very tempted. Someone is gonna get a total bargain here

[dougiefourspeed]

That looks well smart. Well worth saving.

 

 

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[The Reverend Bluejeans]

That would make a very good track car. Ebay coilovers and some decent pads, away ye go.

 

Well worth a Oner.

[purplebargeken]

That would be the ali 52mm throttle body against the plastic bodied 48mm one..

 

Teamed up with a free'ish flowing air filter it does seem a bit moar responsive on the throttle

[Timewaster]

I love the 5dr Elise analogy.

 

By that logic I drive a 7 seat Audi TT

 

GLWTS

[D Spares & Tyres]

What's the difference between this and a BRM 200?

Presumably it has a MEMS2J ECU?

BRM has lipstick

[The Moog]

I keep trying to find reasons to buy it.

 

Sadly I think trailering it would be a step too far for me.

[NorthernMonkey]

What you need is a C5. And a towbar. And an A-frame.

 

 

 

Guess which two I can supply?

[Tickman]

I keep trying to find reasons to buy it.

 

Sadly I think trailering it would be a step too far for me.

 

I was wondering why this hadn't been snapped up by you and thought the trailering could be an issue.

 

What you need is a C5. And a towbar. And an A-frame.

 

 

 

Guess which two I can supply?

But that is sorted...

[The Moog]

Shhhhhh both of you.

 

The Puma might hear you talking and then break down.

[hairnet]

Shhhhhh both of you.

 

The Puma might hear you talking and then break down.

might be going mk next weekend

 

could nurse it home.........

[The Moog]

Probably wrong time. Will have a ponder.

 

Missus Moog would kill me so it is a case of working out how I could avoid that

[hairnet]

Probably wrong time. Will have a ponder.

 

Missus Moog would kill me so it is a case of working out how I could avoid that

[pauldoubleyou]

*Dons throbbing Rover history buff jacket

 

The engine differences between the 143 and 160 are quite different - you can throw on a larger TB onto the 143 and it will just make you feel better. The 56mm is the metal one off the T16 2.0 (you can use the turbo TB but you have to waste more time blanking a few extra nipples). There is a load of dickheads over the years who swear this will be better as youre going from 48mm to 56mm - OBV more airflow will increase BHP right?

 

There also a van full of dickheads who exist that swear this actually decreases the BHP by about 2bhp as it makes the aur flow 'incorrectly' into the inlet. The inlet size on the 160 IIRC is 52mm, and is another upgrade a third van of dickheads swear gives you more power.

 

Either way, go with the fact its 143bhp. The VVC belt is a piece of piss to retime as the access is superb - the other standard timing belt is really easy too, use bog standards kseries stretch bolts and MLS gasket set, youre looking at about £75 all in for a set, belt, pump, tensioner, coolant. I would change the stat too as its position was set by stevie wonders dog - right down under the inlet between the block and the bulkhead. Shittiest K series job available, unless its on an MGF / TF.

 

If this was near glasgow Id have it. Not many VIs left and even though its got lots of doors they are nippy when they come on cam. 

 

*removes rover badge from lapel

[pauldoubleyou]

Ya, different gearbox, LSD, load of interior changes, BRM has nice dark green paint, larger brakes, 3dr, 16" alloys (Cosmos - arguably the best 4x100 that Rover ever did).

 

Both on MEMS2 

 

Access for the aux tensioner is gerbage. I had a BRM about five year ago that i decided for some reason snip the aux belt. Silly idea.

 

The last VI i sold in about 2007 was a 3dr and i struggled to get £300 for it.

 

What's the difference between this and a BRM 200?

Presumably it has a MEMS2J ECU?

[wuvvum]

Any interest in this?  The council are getting whingey about it being sat around so it needs to go pretty quick, and the scrapman has started paying money for cars again.

[The Moog]

Any interest in this? The council are getting whingey about it being sat around so it needs to go pretty quick, and the scrapman has started paying money for cars again.

I can't really make it work sadly.

[sporty-shite]

I can't really make it work sadly.

O RLY?

[tommotech]

If I can form a plan to shift the Bini, which I’m not using anywhere near as much as I thought, and a 1.1 Rover 100 to gain storage space I’m in. Always fancied a VI, is it likely to need more welding underneath?

 

wuvvum, I will PM you at some point tomorrow.

[wuvvum]

is it likely to need more welding underneath?

Hopefully not, although I'll bung it up on the ramps tomorrow morning and have a look.

[wuvvum]

Looks like it's going to need a bit of welding at the very back of each sill, where they join the wheelarch.  I was able to pull bits off the offside sill, I wasn't on the nearside but it still felt a little tender.  Rest looks OK though (although IANAMOTT obvs).

[tommotech]

Thanks for the appraisal wuvvum, as wheel arch repairs look needed an extension into the rear of the sill shouldn’t amount to too much extra hassle - unless someone is willing to correct me.

 

A plan is forming to drop the Bini, although this has been a great little car. I will PM you when I can confirm some details, thanks again.