Rover 75 TD - a decent car ?

[DIYspanner]

My 45 TD has come to the end of its 12 years service with me.

I've come across what look to be decent 75 series diesels local on ebay.

What's the general opinion on them?

 

[Burnerman]

Hasn't this one got the BMW engine?
John

 

[DIYspanner]

Apart from the fact that I've always liked the look of the 75 series, I don't know anything.

I presume an engine from BMW is a + for the car.

 

[Burnerman]

So long as you buy cheaply and try to keep your running costs minimal these cars should be a good buy.....but of course their value is minimal too. The Beemer engine has to be a plus.
John

 

[JohnD]

When it was being developed, BMW wanted to recreate a modern equivalent to the Rover P5 of the 1960's - leather, walnut, upmarket substantial traditional English style. They bought a number of the originals, and had Rover apprentices restore them, and used them as an executive fleet to ferry BMW execs around.

It was a very good car of its type.

Sadly the car buying public didn't want that type.

Used, they are terrific value.

Rover P5

 

[DaveHerns]

The P5 certainly is a beautiful car. Not sure if I prefer the saloon or the coupe.
Early Rover 75s were the best IMO. The last ones were built with drastic cost cutting.

 

[baldykev]

Has the BMW diesels lump.When first came out had problems with the diesel common rail being torn from the head through injection pressure and of course bad design.
New heads where fitted when this fault happened.
Also had loads of problems with Map and Mass sensors on higher mileage cars due to road and traffic film adhering to them over period of time.Which can be cleaned if not too bad or new ones fitted.
Also had quite few electrical problems with them.

 

[JohnD]

I don't like diesels. What's the petrol engine like?

 

[baldykev]

The v6 0r known as the kv6 had a lot of head gasket problems.The other engines all made by rover are not, bad slight oil leak from right front hand side of head gasket, external been like that for years on the 2.0L but lasts forever like that.
Manley all electrical faults as the car has a few ECUs ,engine,abs,windows,battery volts,alarm.

 

[DIYspanner]

Many thanks for the comments Gents.

There was a 75 Rover about 10 miles ways but it was sold when I called about it. I've always liked the body shape of the 75 but considered it too big a car for my needs. I decided to look at 75s this time to keep with a Rover but have picked up a clean and tidy Bora TDI this weekend.


On the subject of vintage cars, I've seen some restored mk1 Escorts selling for £30k on ebay. The mk2 RS2000 with its twin headlights was my favorite in the day.

For anyone interested, there's a vintage cars exhibition at Kircudbright, Scotland every year in tattoo week. The cars park up in the town car park.

 

[Burnerman]

The RS 2000 was a gorgeous motor.....unfortunately it had the SOHC Pinto motor unlike the RS 1600 - the original Ford BDA. Serious bit of kit that! RIP Roger Clark
John

 

[DaveHerns]

Nothing wrong with the Pinto engine if you changed the oil regularly and the cam belt nearly as regularly. The dreaded cam knock was caused mostly by neglect and changing a cam wasn't that bad a job

 

[Burnerman]

Sure, most problems were caused by the oil spray bar covering the cam becoming blocked, and some people reckoned you could replace the cam leaving the head in place.....nonsense.
The Pinto was no match for the BDA though!
John

 

[Peter.N.]

I did consider a Rover 75 a few years ago when the supply of XM's dried up, I tried one and was very impressed with it, the only thing I didn't like was the engine access, a bit cramped in there. The BMW diesel is a pretty good engine and I do like the internal comfort. I went for Peugeot 406's eventually and although not as sumptuous they are very reliable, probably the best common rail diesel ever made.

Peter

 

[DIYspanner]

I've come across a listing for a 75 CDTi Connoisseur SE Turbo Diesel on ebay this morning.

140k with one previous owner. Lots of recent servicing with new tyres and new suspension parts.

Its only 30 miles away and had I not got the Bora at the weekend, I would maybe gone and looked at it.

Having said that, the BMW engine is 130bhp where as the Bora is 90bhp so I'd be wasting money on power I don't need.