BL Bloke's Motors - 205 still here but the garage has gone

[BL Bloke]

As mentioned in the previous post the 205 has been taxed and this afternoon it emerged from the garage for the first time in nearly three months. It was nice to get back behind the wheel again and during the ensuing drive I only went for the non existent fifth gear once. Weather permitting it will be going out again tomorrow.

DSCF1443 by timothy jones, on Flickr

There is still a pile of Allegro parts at the back of the garage which I could do with sorting out and selling, including, IIRC, 2 VP grilles, a set of VP bumpers and 2 tinted rear screens among other random stuff.

DSCF1442 by timothy jones, on Flickr

Since the Fiesta left on Sunday I've been browsing Ebay and Gumtree for possible replacements even though I don't need one, as with the 205 coming back out and hopefully getting the Rover sorted it'll be like having two new cars to drive anyway.

[dozeydustman]

Every time I see your 205 I go all wobbly at the knees.

[BL Bloke]

It always brings a smile to my face when I see it, definitely my best buy from last year. 

[BL Bloke]

Despite the weather being overcast the 205 was out again as I drove out to the countryside for some exercise. After parking up in the lane it was photo time.

 

DSCF1444 by timothy jones, on Flickr

DSCF1446 by timothy jones, on Flickr

DSCF1447 by timothy jones, on Flickr

Off up the public footpath and a smoll French car seen across a field.

DSCF1448 by timothy jones, on Flickr

A walk back around the lane and we're back. 

DSCF1449 by timothy jones, on Flickr

So another 50 miles on the clock, taking it to just over 44600. It'll have a rest now until next Thursday, which will be 34 years since it was registered.

[BL Bloke]

I posted on Tuesday that the 205 was my best buy of last year. The worst buy was undoubtedly the Rover.  As I mentioned back in April it had been sitting on the corner of the drive since the end of last August until I got it taxed and insured so that I could use it in April.  Then I discovered that the exhaust was blowing and the battery kept going flat so it didn't get much use. I also managed to add another scrape to the n/s rear wheel arch. ☹️

DSCF1457 by timothy jones, on Flickr

I fitted a new battery a couple of weeks ago and topped up the coolant, which has since gone down again despite not being used. I keep thinking that it deserves better than sitting on my driveway deteriorating and ideally would like it to go to someone who would sort it out and look after it as deserving of a low mileage, if slightly untidy example. I know that even if I did get it sorted I'd just be waiting for something else to go wrong and whatever love I did have for it has gone. 

I may update my for sale thread from last year and also put it on the Owners Club forum, which I probably should have done last year. 

[BL Bloke]

This morning I was going to have a look underneath the Rover to see where the exhaust was blowing from but decided I'd look under the bonnet first to see if I could find where the coolant was going. I removed the oil filler cap and was met with a sight that didn't look at all promising.

DSCF1462 by timothy jones, on Flickr

I stuck a finger in and scooped out what I assume is the dreaded mayo.

DSCF1463 by timothy jones, on Flickr

I thought 'If the oil looks like that what does the coolant look like?' Not too good as it happened so I dipped a tissue into the expansion tank and pulled out this. 

DSCF1464 by timothy jones, on Flickr

I'm no expert on these matters but I'm guessing that these are signs of OMGHGF.

[Zelandeth]

Given there's both water in the oil and oil in the water, it seems rather likely...

[N Dentressangle]

Looks like OMGHGF to me

BUT...

it's not an awful job. Look at my thread about doing it on a '95 Metro. Yours is a 16v, but in theory not much harder. All you need is a cheap cam locking tool from Ebay. Parts should cost you about £80, plus a bit more if you get the head skimmed.

I'd happily* do it again

[BL Bloke]

I'm undecided what to do with it if I'm honest but if the HG does get done it'll be at a garage as I don't think I'd be able to do it myself. I definitely wouldn't have the patience to do all the necessary stripping down and reassembly.   

[BorniteIdentity]

22 minutes ago, BL Bloke said:

I'm undecided what to do with it if I'm honest but if the HG does get done it'll be at a garage as I don't think I'd be able to do it myself. I definitely wouldn't have the patience to do all the necessary stripping down and reassembly.   

Arsenips. 

I’d always use a mobile specialist for a gig like this. It’s something like £300 for a head gasket on a K Series these days. Some of them even turn up with a new head and whack it on with a new MLS gasket and take yours away. 

It’s certainly “Making your Mind Up” time tho. 

[clayts450]

Would recommend Dave and  Kayleigh Allkins at MG Rover Mobile  Mechanics, although I think they probably have a looooong waiting list http://www.mg-rovermobilemechanics.com/

Very well regarded in MG-R circles

 

[N Dentressangle]

Fifty quid an' I'll take it off yer 'ands M8 ?

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Ah. OMGHGF is a bit of sore point here as well....

[BL Bloke]

3 hours ago, Tadhg Tiogar said:

Ah. OMGHGF is a bit of sore point here as well....

Presumably parts for your CX are harder to come by than they are for my Rover.

After some thought I have come up with three options:

1. Get the HG and MOT work done and use it as once it's done it shouldn't need doing again and the money I would have spent on taxing and insuring the Fiesta should cover the cost.

2. Try and sell it as is for a pittance and replace it with something else, preferably larger, older and less silver (have I mentioned I don't like silver cars). 

3. As above but don't replace it and just have the Fabia, Saxo and 205 as I don't really do enough miles to warrant so many cars. 

Decisions, decisions....

 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

31 minutes ago, BL Bloke said:

Presumably parts for your CX are harder to come by than they are for my Rover....

They also tend to be more expensive when they do become available....

[egg]

I've got the same decision with my Metro. Awaiting a HGF repair quote....

[plasticvandan]

Mobile mechanic above quoted 450 Inc travel to do HG and timing belt,I got a quote of 280 to do just the belts and pump,but now I've read the manual and am a tight arse will prob do myself

[N Dentressangle]

19 hours ago, plasticvandan said:

Mobile mechanic above quoted 450 Inc travel to do HG and timing belt,I got a quote of 280 to do just the belts and pump,but now I've read the manual and am a tight arse will prob do myself

Do it. It really is just following the HBOL, and there are resources online, as well as the pics in my own thread.

The resident K experts here were amazingly helpful too, so thank you again to them!

[BL Bloke]

I've contacted MG Rover Mobile Mechanics as suggested by @clayts450 and they've quoted me £340 including travel and can do it in three weeks time. Looks like it'll be making a comeback after all.  Then I'll just have to sort the blowing exhaust and book it in for an MOT. 

[plasticvandan]

They said they couldn't do my belt untill 21 August,hence why I'm going to do it myself

[AnthonyG]

If you wanted to trim down the fleet why not move on the Fabia or Saxo, as you have three superminis atm?

Obviously don’t sell the 205 as that is a honey and will probably go up in value. 

Then you have the Rover if you need a larger (more comfortable?) car for anything, like a 6 hour motorway journey to shitefest 2021!!

[BL Bloke]

I had thought about that as three superminis is probably one too many. If I had photo ID the Fabia might have gone to WBAC by now. The Saxo was a rescue mission which I've grown to like and is now the only car on the fleet that is an actual colour. I'm sure if I did sell it I'd get back what I paid for it. 

[BL Bloke]

6 hours ago, plasticvandan said:

They said they couldn't do my belt untill 21 August,hence why I'm going to do it myself

To be honest I was quite surprised when they said July 8th as I thought I'd have to wait longer than that. 

[BL Bloke]

Yesterday marked one year since I collected my 205 from Colchester so to mark the occasion I took it out for another run (nowhere near as far though).  

 DSCF1471 by timothy jones, on Flickr

While I was out I thought I'd check the condition and date on the n/s/f tyre as the o/s/f tyre needs replacing due to wear on the inside shoulder and it might make sense to replace both. I did notice some cracking and the date looked like 390 which looks like it's 30 years old like the one I replaced on the back last year. I haven't checked the spare yet although that might be a good idea considering. 

[BL Bloke]

Dave from MG Rover Mobile Mechanics came this morning to replace the Rover's head gasket. The oil looked like someone had poured a milky coffee into the engine.

DSCF1490 by timothy jones, on Flickr

Just under three hours and it was done.  He did say that that someone had added coolant leak sealer in the past which I presume was done by the previous owner and when that didn't work they decided to sell it.  Next on the agenda is the blowing exhaust.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

21 minutes ago, BL Bloke said:

Dave from MG Rover Mobile Mechanics came this morning to replace the Rover's head gasket. The oil looked like someone had poured a milky coffee into the engine....

Just under three hours and it was done.....

I prefer to think of it as the consistency and colour of Baileys.

[BL Bloke]

I never thought of that but now that you mention it...

[Tadhg Tiogar]

2 minutes ago, BL Bloke said:

I never thought of that but now that you mention it...

Just don't drink it.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

3 hours is impressive for that job, it takes me like 3 friggin weeks despite having done it loads of times. Do you know what gasket they used?

[BL Bloke]

12 hours ago, Mr_Bo11ox said:

 Do you know what gasket they used?

He said it was a multi layer. According to their website they use MLS triple layer or elastomer gaskets.