ROVER or OVER

[DIYIdoit]

Hi All,

What's the score with sourcing rover parts?

We have 2 cars - a knackered Fiesta which needs replacing and a good A class.
I could sell them both and get a nice Rover 25 for her and a nice 45 for me for the same money.
Both would be 2003/2004 and 20-40k miles which would mean we both had good (functionally) cars.

The problem is, as they get older am I going to have trouble maintaining them?

 

[Burnerman]

No problem at all so long as you need items such as are stocked by motor factors.....filters, springs, body panels etc are ok.
If you need specialist bits like engine internals you come unstuck then.
So - its a bit of a gamble for you.....which is why they are so cheap.
John

 

[DIYIdoit]

Thanks Burnerman,

So basically I can get the usual things, exhausts etc.. and as long as the pistons, valves and stuff hold together I'm OK?

I have to convince the misses, I'm sick of driving around in that fiesta, HER fiesta I might add!

 

[Burnerman]

Hello - yes you'll be able to get all items such as those.
If you need obscure engine and transmission parts there will be complete units in the breakers yards too.
You will come unstuck with obscure body bits though - if you have a crash the insurers will have difficulty obtaining genuine bits, and they may object to pattern ones being fitted.
John

 

[Donkmeister]

My experience of finding MG Rover parts has been pretty good. I drive a TF and have found various sources:

www.xpart.com (who I think were a division of MG Rover)
ebay, especially for body panels
Specialist MG-Rover dealers
Specialist MG-Rover parts websites (such as Mike Satur)

Engine parts are easy to find as the K-series was a popular engine (Metro, Streetwise, 100-series, 200-series, 400-series, 600-series, R25, R45, some R75, ZR, ZS, some ZT, MGF, MG TF, Landrover Freelander, Lotus Elise, Lotus Exige). So there are a LOT of them on the road.

There is a reputation for head gasket failure in the 4-cylinder K-series built before 2004, but in my experience it is no more prone than other engines of the same age and mileage. Cars of 2004-onwards are sorted (or so I'm told by an MG-Rover mechanic), so try to get a 2004 if you can.

Standard stuff like fluids and brakepads is all Halfords-fare if you like shopping there.

You find plenty of enthusiasts' forums and shops about the place, so it's easy to get advice on DIYing the car too.

 

[DIYIdoit]

Thankyou Donkmeister,

That looks like a handy site to know about, the Rover route is looking more and more encouraging. I'll make sure I go for a 2004+ model, I think they had a face lift in 2005 so maybe look out for one of those.

Burnerman, if the insurers would rather write it off after a crash then there's plenty out there to get a new one, or I'll buy the write off and get 3rd party parts - hope I don't crash though

Thanks for your advise guys, appreciated.

 

[Donkmeister]

My TF appears to be worth about 50p nowadays (might stretch to 60p ), so you could always buy a TF for fun and a 45 for when you need to carry kids/shopping/DIY materials.

 

[Colin Brenton]

Have to agree with earlier comment on the K series head gasket. My '03 25 had it go at around 55k - not pleased....

Other wise, it's a nice (enough) car, but if you're looking to buy, I honestly suggest choosing something else, with out a known, serious (in relation to the cars value) problem.

FWIW,

Colin

 

[DIYIdoit]

I found a cracking 03 1.4 25 with only 13k (it had only 1 owner and she was disabled). It's got great bodywork as well. I'm glad I went for one of these instead of a similarly priced plasticy corsa or citroen. Part exed the Fiesta and kept the A class. I'm about 2k down but with luck the car should last years.

 

[Mickymoody]

Rover = unreliable..

 

[lasors]

Rover = unreliable..

I've driven Rovers for years. Look after them properly, like you should with any car, and they're fine. Mine never missed a beat.

Although the thread is months old, I will add that the 75, or of course the MG ZT, is worth considering for anyone in the market. It was designed and built when BMW owned Rover and as such he quality is much higher than the 25 and 45 which are merely facelifted 200 and 400. The diesel unit is the BMW 2litre which is excellent. It's a lot of car for less money than most competition.

The K series has known issues, but most damage is caused when they lose the little coolant they have and overheat before people realise what has happened. Fit a coolant level alarm (easy) and replace the plastic t-piece (Google it) and it's much safer.

 

[Mickymoody]

Rover = unreliable..

I've driven Rovers for years. Look after them properly, like you should with any car, and they're fine. Mine never missed a beat.

Although the thread is months old, I will add that the 75, or of course the MG ZT, is worth considering for anyone in the market. It was designed and built when BMW owned Rover and as such he quality is much higher than the 25 and 45 which are merely facelifted 200 and 400. The diesel unit is the BMW 2litre which is excellent. It's a lot of car for less money than most competition.

The K series has known issues, but most damage is caused when they lose the little coolant they have and overheat before people realise what has happened. Fit a coolant level alarm (easy) and replace the plastic t-piece (Google it) and it's much safer.

Any vehicle when looked after is good, but when there are design issues, that the owner has to rectify themselves to prevent total failure, then there are problems, as let's be honest, are most vehicles looked after and serviced by the book?

Not dissing Rover in general, but there are known design issues, as Toyota have recently experienced, my drive of choice.But my car was built when Toyota were in the height of cheating in motorsport rallying, and as mine is an ex rally car, the creme de la creme of what they could build. (extra air intakes to the turbo, operated by a hidden flap by the driver - banned from motorsport 3 years iirc)..disabled on roadcars.

 

[DIYIdoit]

Thanks lasors, that's interesting.
A work colleague had his 02 25 head gasket go last week at 60k and I was wondering if there was anything I could do to rectify the issue before the (apparent) imminent failure of mine. Failing that fore warning would be good too.
How would I fit a level alarm, could\would a garage do this? And why change the t-piece, is there a design fault?
Would checking the coolant level on a weekly basis be sufficient or when it goes will it go that quickly?

On the 75 issue, my mum has one and I agree it's a really nice car. Unfortunately she bought hers new before Rovers collapse so she would be massively out of pocket if she sold it.

On the whole it's a shame they couldn't price their vehicles more appropriately when they were in business, they're nice cars and it's a shame they went under.

 

[PJF220]

The K series had problems because when the engine was designed, the designer pointed out that it would fail but Rover went donwn the cheap route and fitted plastic dowels in the head. In 2000, Rover approached the designer (friend of my family) and asked them to rectify the problem. Metal dowels replaced the plastic ones and magically the problem reduced dramatically. I ran the Rover Coupe owners club for a few years and we had weekly postings of head failures, but by 2004 these were monthly or bi monthly as the issue was no more. Parts for Rovers are prety easy to get, some names have been mentioned above and there is always the breaker yards for rarer items, such at trim for the City Rover. Lets face it, if I can still get hold of parts easily for my 43 year old Hillman, it's not hard to get bits for a Rover 25/45.