My beige Rover

[plasticvandan]

Well after being on this forum for many years,and being without a car for five years,today I very unexpectedly bought a car.I had been rhinking ahead to my future plans with my Mrs and also commuting to work on a bike in winter is no fun so had been half looking for a car,then this popped up ten miles away,a 1999 Rover 416si with 35k on the clock.it had one rusty wing which I'm going to hope to replace,other than that it's very good,one previous owner,no service history sadly so I'll be giving it a full service,but I tend to do that anyway.Interior lights don't work and I need the code for the radio,other than that there ain't much wrong with it. I know very little about them but it's definitely very me,and in forum colours too!

If anyone has any advice in things I should do or check if love to hear,I'm thinking a coolant Change would be sensible,and thinking ahead cambelt as well.

[outlaw118]

Top Buyage Sir, looks a proper thing. Coolant flush and change would be a good idea as you've said, purely due to mileage - or lack of, let alone the possibility of OMGHGF.

There's been a few of these on here @Angrydicky has one, I'm sure he'll be along to offer support/warnings.

[Angrydicky]

Very nice indeed! Tiny mileage too so should have loads of life left in it. I guess the 416 of that age had a Honda engine, but I might be mistaken there of course.

[Lord Sterling]

What a buy! Great cars indeed.  I had a diesel saloon for a bit and loved it, effortless thing to drive. Also has the Diesel ZS for a small while which was again, a nice thing to drive.

Good to see proper mats in it too. A rare thing indeed.

[BeEP]

Only the automatic models still used the Honda engine; this will have the K-series.

[brownnova]

That looks lovely!

 Still never owned a Rover, need to correct that one day soon.

Top buyage! 

[Split_Pin]

Not many 400s left now. I can't remember the last time I saw one with the early front. Nice purchase indeed!

[Cookiesouwest]

Well done that man

[plasticvandan]

I'm quite excited really,is the cambelt a DIY job on these? I suspect it's never been done. Needs front wing painting or replacing,a rear tyre and a service but I'm very pleased with it,who knows I might be able to join in some shite events now once things get a bit more normal again!

[Wilko220]

Very nice indeed. Top buy!

For the radio code on my 45, I successfully (and cheaply) used this service (originally suggested to me by @clayts450

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-BUSINESS-BLAUPUNKT-ROVER-CD23-CD43-RADIO-CD-PLAYER-DECODE-CODE-SERVICE-25-45/112454167428?ul_noapp=true&ul_ref=https%3A%2F%2Frover.ebay.co.uk%2Frover%2F0%2F0%2F99%3Floc%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fitm%2F112454167428%3Ful_noapp%3Dtrue%26rvr_id%3D0%26rvr_ts%3D9301ef221720a4d059419c8dffe80660&pageci=c038c5aa-24b9-478f-b63f-455d02fe8943
 

Some other recommendations in this thread, in case helpful:

 

[plasticvandan]

Thankyou! I will of course try popping the unit out in case it's written on it

[dollywobbler]

Don't believe it's too tricky to do a cambelt on these. I've a feeling a locking tool helps but I think it can be substituted for something else. It's amazing condition and colour! 

I'd be tempted to fit a low coolant light on any K series, but maybe that's overkill. Fresh coolant definitely wise.

[Vince70]

Lovely looking 400 I sold my one a few years back  and it was a big mistake on my part as it ran like clockwork and was immaculate after I changed two of the doors and polished It up.

Mine had the Honda lump though as it was an auto and I bought it off an old girl for £250 then spent about £400 on it only to sell it with a years mot for £200 somehow I don’t think I would make a car dealer and it looks like it’s still giving sterling service.

[plasticvandan]

Got this booked in for an MOT on Thursday morning,couple if things I know of that might need doing but it will be good to get someone to have a good check over it,I'm fairly confident though alk so strange,and expensive! For me having only had old bikes for so long now,I know it will all balance out,I managed to insure it for £300 FC which I thought reasonable as I have zero no claims having not owned a car for five years.

Checked the colour code and it actually old English white,thought it looked familiar!

[Garythesnail]

My K series cars have almost always struggled with emissions, hope yours goes through this bit without any issues - get it nicely warmed up.

[plasticvandan]

Thanks for the tip,it's s good 6-8 mile run to the test,will take s longer route,primary reason I went to look at it in first place was it's excellent mot history,so hoping it will behave,there is an exhaust blow somewhere,the back box is pretty crusty so could be that

[aldo135]

Looks a nice one! I’ve had a diesel 400 and petrol ZS, loved them both, great cars  

[plasticvandan]

This got bunged in for an MOT this morning,passed with an advisory on two tyres which I knew about,and a bit of rust near a front suspension mount,under drivers floor,I had a quick look as I hadn't seen it and I think it will wire brush,rustkill and stone chip. not bad for a 21 year old Rover

interior lights was just a missing fuse, exhaust was deemed fine,it just sounds fruity.The emmisiond were better than most modern cars the tester said, extremely low,which is great as I haven't put new filters and plugs in yet due to non arrival from ecp.

[BL Bloke]

Great news on the MOT pass. 

[plasticvandan]

Garage quoted me 320 to fit a cambelt kit and water pump,does that sound reasonable? Though I could probably do it myself it's not really something I want to tackle and would take me far longer than the time they've quoted for! They were quite complimentary on the car and were of the opinion that it wasn't worth doing the head gasket unless it started to play up,and they've known them run to 70k plus before any signs.

[BL Bloke]

I paid £270 to have them done on my Rover 45 last year so it doesn't sound too bad IMHO. 

[Cookiesouwest]

Yes 320 is not bad. Depends on hourly rate they charge.

[plasticvandan]

Think it was 40 an hour,three hours,I know for a fact it would take me much longer!

[plasticvandan]

This has been surprisingly rewarding to work on,the advisory for rust on inspection was nothing more than a blister under the underseal and a bit if light surface rust,I peeled it back,wire brushed and rust killed and now has a coat of zinc primer.habent worked out what rubbery spray to use yet.if that's all he found we are in good shape.Front towing eyes were a bit scabby,again a wire brush and they are very solid,so they have had the same treatment. Changed the oil and filter as it was in definite need of a change,new air filter,and replaced the pollen filter which was the original and disgusting!

Haven't driven it yet as haven't changed the tax class,plus at the moment im not going anywhere do didn't see the need,though I would like to drive it a bit to get a bond going.overall so far it's proving to be worthwhile of s bit if effort and hopefully will give me a few years motoring 

[Angrydicky]

It would be well worth you removing the sill covers and treating/painting any surface rust under there. Mine had started to go at the front on both sides but I just caught it in time before it needed welding. There was a lot of mud packed in there too.

[plasticvandan]

Have also been reading up more on the cambelt change,aside from a few awkward bits like removing the crank pulley it is certainly within my abilities,just not my comfort zone.would certainly save a fair wedge if I did it myself.

[Tickman]

If you have the time it is probably well worth you having a go at it.

You have proved that you are more than capable of series jobs but I understand the comfort zone feeling.

[lisbon_road]

I remember being apprehensive of doing a cambelt change.  Done countless since, go for it, loads on here to help if you need it.

[plasticvandan]

Bonus dealer evidence

[Asimo]

SWMBO bought one new. The only troubles of note were a water leak behind the cylinder head - just an O ring, a holed radiator and fatigue-failiure of the bracket that holds the clutch slave cylinder.

When she had the Rover, I bought a new Golf*.  The Rover was a much better car in every  possible way. Poor Rover died of engine abuse on the M4 one night, at about 150,000 miles because she ignored the rattling and oil warning light ("because I was in a hurry").

**Twat