Rover 75

[myglaren]

Wise ones,

My youngest daughter has a SAAB 900 2.3 cabriolet that looks like needing quite a bit of money throwing at it fairly soon.

The top needs new cables and possibly motors but she could live with that, more seriously it looks like a bit of major tinkering with the engine - new valves/springs seals and the rest of it for it to pass the emissions tests.

It only just scraped through last time.

She's spent quite a bit on the car as she likes it a lot - so do I as it drives well, is very comfortable and has some hooligan characteristics when the mood takes.

She does accept that there is a cutoff point as she isn't motivated to mess with the oily bits herself and I am getting to a stage where I find it more of a challenge and struggle to find the time.

 

So she is looking for a replacement.

Initially she wanted a similar one - an earlier black one, full leather, not necessarily a cabriolet.

The one she has is the very last 900, 9-3 came in the month hers was registered (there are three near here- identical to hers except the boot lid)

 

Anyway, yesterday she dragged me out of work to look at a Rover 75 V6.

She had got some info mixed up and we actually went to see an M reg XJ6, all very nice but I don't think it was quite what she wanted.

The Rover had already been sold.

 

She has just sent me a link for another Rover 75 at a seemingly suspect price but on paper it all appears to be good.

A BMW engine is claimed but I have seen, mainly on this forum, that everyone claims it is a BMW engine when that is more fiction than fact.

 

I haven't paid sufficient attention to Rovers to be able to offer much advice but I'm well aware that there are those here who know far more than is good for anyone about them. I have taken notice of the K-series engines and their problems but I don't think this will be one of those - you may know better.

 

If you wouldn't mind having a quick look at the blurb and offering your opinions, which will be highly valued, to help decide if this is a suitable investment for her.

 

Gumtree advert

[Station]

The engine is indeed the BMW engine if it's a 2.0.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M47

 

I can't see any problem with that at all, it sounds great!

[myglaren]

Thanks Station

I've just phoned him as she is at work and arranged to look at is on Sunday night - we are away all day tomorrow and he is at work all weekend - about three miles from where she lives.

Pleased - I think - that it is indeed the BMW engine.

Looks a lot of car for the cash.

[cort16]

It's only the dizzlers that are BMW engined the petrol ones are Rover home grown. The four pot 1.8's are the k series ones prone to HG failure, the v6's (2.0 and 2.5) are KV6's that do have HG failure but I don't think it's as bad as the 1.8's. Watch out for newish 2.5's as they've got mega C02, which may make for expensive road tax.

[rml2345]

Disiesel is indeed a BMW unit and pulls really rather well, they are a comfortable drive IMHO but perhaps not the sportiest of things. Mine however had massive clutch cylinder failure, and it's apparently an absolute pig of a job so look for fluid in the drivers footwell if its leaking.

[myglaren]

Thanks guys, all excellent points to have in mind when inspecting it.

[Cavcraft]

Some dickhead was trying to offload a KV6 motored 75 the other night and described it as having the ' legendary BMW V6 engine'.

[Pete-M]

IF you were a bit nearer, I know someone flogging a 2004 one for not much more than that. Nice one too.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Some dickhead was trying to offload a KV6 motored 75 the other night and described it as having the ' legendary BMW V6 engine'.

 

You should've told him that the BMW V6 is well-known for head gasket failure!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

ITS A HONDA ENGINE IN THESE INNIT, GO ON 4 EVA

[dollywobbler]

Think the only weakness on the diesels is fuel pumps, but they just fail - not like you can check them on a test drive. There are two I believe.

 

KV6 isn't as bad as people claim (well, ok, the 2-litre seems to be worse than the 2.5 for kettle-syndrome) but as witnessed on this very forum, changing cambelts on these engines is not for the faint-hearted. Pre-2004 is best, as they ramped quality and kit down after this as the Phoenix lot attempted to make some money.

[myglaren]

IF you were a bit nearer, I know someone flogging a 2004 one for not much more than that. Nice one too.

 

She may still be interested depending on spec/price and outcome of the OP one. We don't mind traveling a bit.

As long as it isn't in Czechoslovakia, that might be a bit far. She isn't in any hurry, SAAB is OK until next year.

 

Some details would be good before Sunday if you have them easily to hand. If it is a better deal then it could influence her decision.

[myglaren]

ITS A HONDA ENGINE IN THESE INNIT, GO ON 4 EVA

 

If only

 

My brother was a Rover fan and they all dumped him in the shit at one stage or another. Bemoans that he didn't have the Honda engined ones.

He has a BMW now that gobbles money up.

[Guest Len H]

What Rovers did he have?

If they're reliable, owners reckon they have Honda/BMW engines, if they're unreliable it's the Rover engine.

[myglaren]

What Rovers did he have?

If they're reliable, owners reckon they have Honda/BMW engines, if they're unreliable it's the Rover engine.

 

He had a few, last two were a 216 Vanden Plas that he said he would have preferred the Honda 1.4. in.

Used to turn the oil into custard regularly and burn out ECUs. (his Ford thingy - Escort with a boot - did exactly the same).

They could never find a HG fault with either.

Replaced that with an MG ZS that turned int an electronic nightmare. For months he was regularly driving around at 10mph in limp home mode. As he regularly drove from Whitby to High Wycombe it was a complete downer. When it did go it flew. Mostly it didn't though.

They changed ECUs, fuel pumps, sensors and god knows what but it was never fixed, px'd it for the BM.

He had to buy a second warranty on it as Rover had gone down the drain and his original warranty useless.

[Rod/b]

The 75 diesels can be made to fly with a Rover Ron tuning box. Clutch slave cylinder is inside the bellhousing and a right pain in the arse to mend. I find them very colour sensitive cars - they look completely shit in some colours and not bad in others. Weird. Not a big fan to be honest, and I do like my Rovers.

[Pete-M]

IF you were a bit nearer, I know someone flogging a 2004 one for not much more than that. Nice one too.

 

She may still be interested depending on spec/price and outcome of the OP one. We don't mind traveling a bit.

As long as it isn't in Czechoslovakia, that might be a bit far. She isn't in any hurry, SAAB is OK until next year.

 

Some details would be good before Sunday if you have them easily to hand. If it is a better deal then it could influence her decision.

 

It's just outside Liverpool. Unfortunately, I've just spotted this post and the chap with the 75 is away for the weekend. I'll know on Monday. I'm pretty sure it's a low mileage, good spec one. About 70k on it if my memory isn't playing its usual tricks.

[myglaren]

IF you were a bit nearer, I know someone flogging a 2004 one for not much more than that. Nice one too.

 

She may still be interested depending on spec/price and outcome of the OP one. We don't mind traveling a bit.

As long as it isn't in Czechoslovakia, that might be a bit far. She isn't in any hurry, SAAB is OK until next year.

 

Some details would be good before Sunday if you have them easily to hand. If it is a better deal then it could influence her decision.

 

It's just outside Liverpool. Unfortunately, I've just spotted this post and the chap with the 75 is away for the weekend. I'll know on Monday. I'm pretty sure it's a low mileage, good spec one. About 70k on it if my memory isn't playing its usual tricks.

 

Thanks Pete.

We will be going to see the one in Newcastle this evening and dragging along the guy who will be dealing with the headaches when things go wrong - actually he volunteered

 

Depending on how that goes we may want to have a look at the Liverpool one. As I mentioned previously she isn't in any real hurry but doesn't want to miss what may be a pearl.

 

She's seen a black one in Washington but has some reservations about it although black would be appropriate, her being in the funeral industry. A black stretch would be even more appropriate, could use it for work and pleasure

[scaryoldcortina]

Well, if you are already looking in the north east, this one

is about halfway along Thornaby road (in Thornaby)... this drivepast photo is all I have, but I'm visiting my gran this afternoon so I could stop and see if the notice in the side window contains more details...

[myglaren]

Thanks SOC, typically we were all within spitting distance of that yesterday - birthday celebrations in Long Newton.

She does seem fairly excited by the one she spotted first so we'll see how that one turns out.

 

She will be tied up with work for most of the week so will have difficulty viewing much else until next weekend. I have an idea I'm away next weekend too.

[scaryoldcortina]

Fairy nuff... I suppose I should have posted the photo on friday when I took it then

[myglaren]

Not to worry, we'll keep that one in reserve and she is fairly often down that way at her sister's place.

 

If you have the time when you pass then any details would be appreciated.

[scaryoldcortina]

No problem, if it's still in the same place this afternoon I'll try and get the contact details.

[myglaren]

Thanks again SOC, please don't put yourself out though.

[myglaren]

She bought it. Collecting it tomorrow and SAAB going on Ebay.

New fuel pump, clutch & DMF.

 

She loves it, finds it easy enough to drive and very comfortable and luxurious.

Lenny, her six year old son, wasn't happy at losing what he calls the Bananmobile but likes the Rover now he has been out in it, loves the motorised seats.

 

Thanks for all your input guys, much appreciated.

 

It was only three miles away from me.

Richard the mechanic ran diagnostics on it and found low fuel pressure and a couple of othe codes stored but when he was told the pump had been changed he reset the codes and after the test drive it was fine.

Needs a glow plug and a pair of front disks, price adjusted to take that into account.

[ProgRocker]

Nice one!

[scaryoldcortina]

good one. I drove down thornaby road, it's gone now anyway. There is a Disco 1 for sale in the same spot instead (£1495)

[myglaren]

Thanks for looking SOC

[gtd2000]

ITS A HONDA ENGINE IN THESE INNIT, GO ON 4 EVA

 

It's a crying shame they didn't continue with the Honda partnership - always liked the look of the Rover 75 but not for me without the Japanese bits

[Pete-M]

ITS A HONDA ENGINE IN THESE INNIT, GO ON 4 EVA

 

It's a crying shame they didn't continue with the Honda partnership - always liked the look of the Rover 75 but not for me without the Japanese bits

 

S'funny that, I think they were one hell of a lot better without the Jap bits. Shame about the kettle series, but they were finally beginning to drive well and then they died. The 75 even has working suspension, something Rover hadn't got right since the P6.