FAO steve in leo

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi steve.
I understand from previous posts you now run a rover 75 as a tow car. is there any infomation you could share as to the running of this model ie cost of parts, reliability, running costs ect, it would be interesting also to learn how much room there is with the seats down (assuming the seats do of course) as the rod bag is 6ft 6 long.
the reason I ask is because I have the oppertuiny to purchase very cheap a 53 CDTI model that has just failed its MOT for an exhaust and wheelbearing/drive shaft problem. the owner has been quoted over £1000 for the repairs and is unwilling to spend a wad of cash on it as he reckons it is only worth about £1600 anyway shame really as it looks brand new and has done only 60k.
thanks in advance for any info you can give and to anybody else who whishes to make a comment.

colin

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi steve
just an update if you get round to reading this post any time soon mate it does not matter now, he sold it this afternoon without MOT for £750 incidentaly while I was making enquiries about a s/steel exhaust and tow bar. ar well there you go.
colin

 

[NigelHutson]

Hi Colin,
I had two 75's. The first was a 1999 CDT saloon, and the second was a 2004 CDTi Tourer. Both were generally excellent, but the Tourer was brilliant. I only changed it last year (and to a point have regretted it ever since). I'd owned it from it being only a few months old (replacing the 1999 saloon). The only issues that I had were MAF's and alternators. The Tourer needed new ones of both at about 20,000, but then went on without problems afterwards. I replaced the useless Bosch MAF with a Pierburgh and a Roverron Synergy 2 (if you search Rover Ron, you'll find the site). Average fuel consumption was 42-45 mpg, dropping to 26-28 towing a 1400 kg caravan. Mine was loaded (DVD sat-nav rather than CD, with TV etc, etc), and if you can find a Tourer with self-levelling rear, it's well worth having as the car sits nice and level when towing. The only reason I got rid was because we needed something a bit heavier for our current caravan.
I understand that clutches (with DMF) can be an issue, but I never had a problem. As with many diesels, hill starts when towing needed careful clutch/throttle balance, but other than that, they were very stable and a lovely drive, both solo and towing.
Would I have another. You bet I would.
Hope that helps.
Nigel.

 

[Steve L]

Hi Colin & Nigel.
Wheel bearings(rear) complete with hub ready to fit are going on E for £55 incl post and they are OEM approoved. So far I haven't had cause to worry about availability of parts.
I have modified my supposed sealed unit, clutch hydraulic system as mine has a small leak at the slave cylinder. At present due to my recent shoulder operation, I can't drop the gearbox out to replace the slave cylinder and I would replace the clutch if it isn't near new. All the parts are freely available on E at very reasonable rates.

So far my 75 has been a joy to drive and fuel economy is superb. I regularly get near 50 Mpg as a weekly average. My car has all the toys and the heated seats were a real treat in the recent cold snap. I also find the electric seat a big bonus helping me to get out of the car desipte a compressed disc in my back much easier.

I never thought I would find a car to match my Renault's, but the Rover has certainly got very close. The back seat on the tourer has a "ski flap" which would allow fishing rods to pass through and still seat 4 adults.

One tip guy's is to look at the car and not the year when buying as an older car well looked after will be just as good. Also they were popular Taxi's so be carefull to check mileage originallity. I did find one with worn to the metal clutch and brake pedal rubbers and a colorless steering wheel with 85K on the clock !!??

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi guys. I am really kicking myself now for not risking it and buying it straight away especialy at that price, instead I tried to get some idea of what was involed in the repair and running of a car I have no experience of.
the car looked brand new on a 53 plate but as it failed its MOT warning bells sounded in my wallet so I hesitated a bit.
as far as I know it needed a full exhaust (inc cat) quoted £800, a tow bar with electrics £160, and with 60k on the clock probably a cam belt before long as well as the loudish droning from the left front wheel that the mot tester said was a front wheel bearing.
I was in the process of obtaining some prices for the required parts as well as others for consumables like cluch parts brakes and tyres all of which I had heard the rover 75 was heavy on when I noticed it had gone from his driveway sold for less money than the price of an exhaust.
I can't see me getting another one anywhere near as cheap as that but you never know,
thanks for the replys anyway guys.
colin

 

[Steve L]

I know the feeling mate.
I looked at 20+ 75 tourer's before finding my 51 plate with 120K and fully checkable history for what I thought was a bargain £1950.
When I checked it out on Glass's guide, it was valued at £3145. No wonder the "private trader" wouldn't budge on price. I reckon he'd done a typo when advertising online and had hit 1 instead of 2.
What I ended up with is a cdti conneseur SE with cream leather and head lining, loaded with electric memory seats and all the extras except power swing mirrors, sunroof and Tv/sat nav. Didn't mind no sat nav as at 8 years out of date, it wouldn't be of much use.
Chuffed to bits with fuel economy I was getting 58mpg at 55Mph yesterday on the A456 from Kidderminster to Leominster.
Keep looking Colin and you'll find a good one. Service history and condition of steering wheel, pedals and seats tell the story of easy or hard life. Mine has one thumb size rub on the steering wheel where it was held while cruising motorways for most of it's life.
Good luck.

 

[NigelHutson]

Colin,
You'll be pleased to know that the diesel version of the 75 has a chain, not a cam belt. On the subject of sat nav, I had a BMW dvd (plug and play) version as the cd version was a pain when abroad, as I kept having to change discs at the borders, and with a boot full of holiday kit......... You can still get current versions of the disc (Navteq), and the system worked much better than the Land Rover version I have now (in fact, everything on the 75 worked better than the Land Rover does now!).
Good luck with your hunting.
Nigel.

 

[Steve L]

The timing chain is a duplex type and BMW reckon 300K before needing surgery is common place. I treated my car to a full service and the parts came to about £150 and the work was dead easy except for the oil filter housing which needs a single hexagon 36mm socket to undo it as no ordinary filter strap will do it. Well worth £11-95 from my local motor factor shop. The air filter box is tricky to put back as there are a couple of awkward bolts to fit. Even my Bro in law who is a BMW top tec curses the naff design. But every car has an achilles heel.
I've found supplies of the door panel clips and door treadplate fir tree clips on Ebay for pence each the factory ones break as they are single use items.

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi guys.
I did not know about the timing chain thats good news as any one will tell you that has had a belt break. I will keep looking for another one but the ones I have seen seem to be either very expensive or have starship miles on the clock and of course there are plenty of petrols about that I am not too keen on.
I have allways liked the 75 ever since they were launched suppose it was because it reminded me of the 4.2 daimler I had before the strike. and of course I like boys toys and the 75 is full of them.
for now though its look and wait for the right car at the right price, If I find one ??? I will let you know I still have about a thousand questions to ask but for now it's a bit acedemic.
thanks again
colin

 

[Steve L]

Hi Colin.
I wouldn't touch a petrol with abarge pole mate, they are prone to head gasket failure especially towing and also thirsty.
Good luck with your search.

Atb Steve