Saving my Dad's Rover 75
Discussion
Following on from my posts in the "Classics Left to Die/Rotting Pics" I recently tracked down my late father's beloved Rover 75 loitering around in Skegness. It has been off the road for a couple of years and has been left standing - originally due to a failed clutch and then MOT expired, then lockdown and now looking very sorry for itself.
A short negotiation later, which involved me paying precisely £0 for it, and the car is now mine and is back at my house, waiting for me to work my magic on it.
And it will be waiting.... I have a number of other projects on the go (my garage build - I will start a separate thread on that, my Mini Cooper S, my friend's father's Jag, My Surf with a cracked head, and my old x-type with a knackered engine).... so this may be slow going, but I will keep the thread up to date as I do stuff on the car (might even start threads on the others too....) and take plenty of pictures.
It's not an ideal time for me to add another car to the collection (See above), but as the owners were considering scrapping it, I had to basically go and get it now. So on Sunday, I collected it and brought it home.
Some pics from collection:
Loitering in Skegness. Hasn't moved for just over 2 years.
Tried to start it to make loading it easier. Battery flat, opened the door with the key, turned the ignition on, nothing - completely dead. It did not help that the bonnet cable had become detached at the connection block inside the engine bay, so the bonnet release did not work. Fortunately I have played with enough 75's to know how to get round this and managed to get the bonnet open after about 10 minutes of fiddling and swearing.
Tried jump starting it, which at least gave enough power to the car to open the other doors and the boot.
No joy. When the jump leads were disconnected, the battery actually registered 0.0v on my multimeter. I have never seen one register nothing at all, especially after having been jumped.
Took my brother with me to help, and for road-trip company, and the two of us tried to push it. Nope. Wouldn't budge.
It's is at times like this, I am so glad I fitted an electric winch to my trailer. Now admittedly I could have hooked a rope to the back of the Cayenne and dragged it out, but winching is so much more fun.
It did not want to come, but 2 tonne of Cayenne, 750KG of trailer and one of Rhino's finest were too much for it, and after making some very worrying noises, it was unceremoniously hauled out into the road for the first time in 2 years (the winch cable is just about visible in the above photo).
I was then able to line up the trailer and pull the Rover up using the winch.
and the mess it left behind - fortunately I don't have to clean that up.
Got it all loaded up, and when putting the wheel straps on, discovered the first problem - N/S/F coil spring snapped and pushed hard against the tyre, making it difficult to put the strap over the wheel, so had to feed it through. Fortunately it was the circular side of the spring against the tyre, rather than the sharp, broken bit puncturing the tyre as these have a habit of doing. This would also explain some of the noises it was making as it was dragged into the road.
Ready to roll.....
As an aside, every time I move a car on the trailer it reminds me what a great (albeit very thirsty) towcar the Cayenne is.
Note: I have blanked the number plates out as I do not like publishing my reg numbers on the internet. If this offends you in any way, or you think it is silly, please feel free to keep it to yourself...... (in reference to some of the comments on the classics left to die thread!)
A short negotiation later, which involved me paying precisely £0 for it, and the car is now mine and is back at my house, waiting for me to work my magic on it.
And it will be waiting.... I have a number of other projects on the go (my garage build - I will start a separate thread on that, my Mini Cooper S, my friend's father's Jag, My Surf with a cracked head, and my old x-type with a knackered engine).... so this may be slow going, but I will keep the thread up to date as I do stuff on the car (might even start threads on the others too....) and take plenty of pictures.
It's not an ideal time for me to add another car to the collection (See above), but as the owners were considering scrapping it, I had to basically go and get it now. So on Sunday, I collected it and brought it home.
Some pics from collection:
Loitering in Skegness. Hasn't moved for just over 2 years.
Tried to start it to make loading it easier. Battery flat, opened the door with the key, turned the ignition on, nothing - completely dead. It did not help that the bonnet cable had become detached at the connection block inside the engine bay, so the bonnet release did not work. Fortunately I have played with enough 75's to know how to get round this and managed to get the bonnet open after about 10 minutes of fiddling and swearing.
Tried jump starting it, which at least gave enough power to the car to open the other doors and the boot.
No joy. When the jump leads were disconnected, the battery actually registered 0.0v on my multimeter. I have never seen one register nothing at all, especially after having been jumped.
Took my brother with me to help, and for road-trip company, and the two of us tried to push it. Nope. Wouldn't budge.
It's is at times like this, I am so glad I fitted an electric winch to my trailer. Now admittedly I could have hooked a rope to the back of the Cayenne and dragged it out, but winching is so much more fun.
It did not want to come, but 2 tonne of Cayenne, 750KG of trailer and one of Rhino's finest were too much for it, and after making some very worrying noises, it was unceremoniously hauled out into the road for the first time in 2 years (the winch cable is just about visible in the above photo).
I was then able to line up the trailer and pull the Rover up using the winch.
and the mess it left behind - fortunately I don't have to clean that up.
Got it all loaded up, and when putting the wheel straps on, discovered the first problem - N/S/F coil spring snapped and pushed hard against the tyre, making it difficult to put the strap over the wheel, so had to feed it through. Fortunately it was the circular side of the spring against the tyre, rather than the sharp, broken bit puncturing the tyre as these have a habit of doing. This would also explain some of the noises it was making as it was dragged into the road.
Ready to roll.....
As an aside, every time I move a car on the trailer it reminds me what a great (albeit very thirsty) towcar the Cayenne is.
Note: I have blanked the number plates out as I do not like publishing my reg numbers on the internet. If this offends you in any way, or you think it is silly, please feel free to keep it to yourself...... (in reference to some of the comments on the classics left to die thread!)
Edited by TriumphStag3.0V8 on Sunday 10th July 20:17
Got home very late last night, so straight to bed.
This morning, in between meetings, went out and put the battery off the Surf on the Rover to see what happened. Quick check of the oil and coolant, let the pump do its thing for 30 seconds before trying to start the car...and, with 2+ year old diesel in the tank, it turned over 3 times and burst into life. No smoke, no hesitation and no lumpiness. Ran nice and smooth. Left it idling for 10 mins whilst I had a good look round it.
It's very rusty underneath.
very rusty.
But salvageable. The sea air has not treated it well. It will need some welding and quite a few parts throwing at it.
Ultimately though, If it comes to it, I am happy to pay more than the car is worth to get it on the road - but I can weld and am a competent DIY mechanic so it shouldn't come to that.
So far, I am aware of the following work needed:
Clutch (not sure if it is worn out, hydraulic failure or what yet)
NSF Spring
NSF Wheel speed sensor (been mullered by the spring)
Some welding
Probably some more welding
And some more welding.
Brakes all round, plus fluid change
Battery
Damned good clean inside and out
Replace or refurb the headlights (they are very milky)
Oil and filters service
I'm sure I will find more as time goes on.
So - I am planning to leave it on the trailer at the moment and replace that spring before trying to move it. First parts order has gone in:
Front springs and shocks for both sides
Pair of top mounts
Pair of drop links
Disks and pads
Brake backplates
Flexis for both sides
Battery
Calliper rebuild kit
New gear knob (the one in there was rank)
Lots of boxes will be turning up in the next few days. Hopefully will be able to change the spring this weekend if everything arrives.
This morning, in between meetings, went out and put the battery off the Surf on the Rover to see what happened. Quick check of the oil and coolant, let the pump do its thing for 30 seconds before trying to start the car...and, with 2+ year old diesel in the tank, it turned over 3 times and burst into life. No smoke, no hesitation and no lumpiness. Ran nice and smooth. Left it idling for 10 mins whilst I had a good look round it.
It's very rusty underneath.
very rusty.
But salvageable. The sea air has not treated it well. It will need some welding and quite a few parts throwing at it.
Ultimately though, If it comes to it, I am happy to pay more than the car is worth to get it on the road - but I can weld and am a competent DIY mechanic so it shouldn't come to that.
So far, I am aware of the following work needed:
Clutch (not sure if it is worn out, hydraulic failure or what yet)
NSF Spring
NSF Wheel speed sensor (been mullered by the spring)
Some welding
Probably some more welding
And some more welding.
Brakes all round, plus fluid change
Battery
Damned good clean inside and out
Replace or refurb the headlights (they are very milky)
Oil and filters service
I'm sure I will find more as time goes on.
So - I am planning to leave it on the trailer at the moment and replace that spring before trying to move it. First parts order has gone in:
Front springs and shocks for both sides
Pair of top mounts
Pair of drop links
Disks and pads
Brake backplates
Flexis for both sides
Battery
Calliper rebuild kit
New gear knob (the one in there was rank)
Lots of boxes will be turning up in the next few days. Hopefully will be able to change the spring this weekend if everything arrives.
I had a manual CDTi which needed, I thought, a new master cylinder but after a lot of swearing (it's impossible to get at) it turned out the slave cylinder was fubarred and that would mean clutch and DM flywheel (££££). At least that's what I deduced, I got rid of it after that, probably should have kept it but it caused me anxiety...
It was easily the most comfortable car on the road that I have ever driven. Amazing ride.
It was easily the most comfortable car on the road that I have ever driven. Amazing ride.
Oilchange said:
I had a manual CDTi which needed, I thought, a new master cylinder but after a lot of swearing (it's impossible to get at) it turned out the slave cylinder was fubarred and that would mean clutch and DM flywheel (££££). At least that's what I deduced, I got rid of it after that, probably should have kept it but it caused me anxiety...
It was easily the most comfortable car on the road that I have ever driven. Amazing ride.
Yes, the master cylinder is a bIt was easily the most comfortable car on the road that I have ever driven. Amazing ride.
h to get at. Whoever designed that should be shot. Twice. I originally sourced the car for him back in 2013 and it needed a new clutch then - it was actually worn out rather than hydraulics, but had a new slave cylinder as well. At the time the garage that did it (£400) told me that the DMF was borderline (another £400), so I am planning for clutch kit, bearing, slave and master cylinders as part of this. Once I get it mobile I can do a bit more diagnostics on the clutch - at the moment it is difficult to tell as I have not been able to drive it.
uk66fastback said:
I can’t remember the last time I saw an estate! Well done for saving it. How did you track it down?
Basically in my dad's old paperwork, there was a receipt for the sale - which had the purchasers address on it, so I wrote to them asking if they would call me, they kindly did and said they had sold it, but to a friend who they put me in touch with, he explained that the situation with the clutch going (he couldn't remember the actual symptoms), then the battery went flat, then the MOT ran out, then the bonnet could not be opened, so he had given up on it, having only paid a couple of hundred for it. He was a nice old chap, happy to see it gone really - meaning he can now clean his garage door and indeed, access the garage.Very nice. My dad used to have a 5 series estate in a rare colour and manual box. I remember going with him to buy it when I was small. He gave it to me when he changed cars years later and I used it for a couple of years before it started to cost more than a student could afford, I used it as a trade in for something my gf at the time could learn to drive in. I had done many road trips and had some great memories in it.
I saw it a few years later looking quite sad and rough. I'd thought about leaving a note to rebuy it but never got round to it. About a month later it was gone. It has always been a car I regretted selling and my inaction at its demise. RKZ8185 no MOT since 2017
I'm glad you caught this one!
I saw it a few years later looking quite sad and rough. I'd thought about leaving a note to rebuy it but never got round to it. About a month later it was gone. It has always been a car I regretted selling and my inaction at its demise. RKZ8185 no MOT since 2017
I'm glad you caught this one!
Edited by Funky Squirrel on Tuesday 14th June 20:40
Bit more info on the car,
It is a 2003 (53 plate) 2.0 CDTi tourer, currently on 151,000 miles or thereabouts.
Spec is full leather, electric/heated/memory front seats, cruise control, dual zone climate control, wood steering wheel, nasty aftermarket stereo, auto lights, auto wipers, chrome mirror caps, fuel burning heater, IPK dash (with the obligatory lines).
The wheels are one of the nicer 16" sets, reasonable condition but in need of a refurb, and sporting a variety of ditchfinders.
And herewith the obligatory MOT history.... It has a colourful past!
It is a 2003 (53 plate) 2.0 CDTi tourer, currently on 151,000 miles or thereabouts.
Spec is full leather, electric/heated/memory front seats, cruise control, dual zone climate control, wood steering wheel, nasty aftermarket stereo, auto lights, auto wipers, chrome mirror caps, fuel burning heater, IPK dash (with the obligatory lines).
The wheels are one of the nicer 16" sets, reasonable condition but in need of a refurb, and sporting a variety of ditchfinders.
And herewith the obligatory MOT history.... It has a colourful past!
Funky Squirrel said:
Very nice. My dad used to have a 5 series estate in a rare colour and manual box. I remember going with him to buy it when I was small. He gave it to me when he changed cars years later and I used it for a couple of years before it started to cost more than a student could afford, I used it as a trade in for something my gf at the time could learn to drive in. I had done many road trips and had some great memories in it.
I saw it a few years later looking quite sad and rough. I'd thought about leaving a note to rebuy it but never got round to it. About a month later it was gone. It has always been a car I regretted selling and my inaction at its demise. RKZ8185 no MOT since 2017
I'm glad you caught this one!
Sorry to hear that, as you say strike while you can!I saw it a few years later looking quite sad and rough. I'd thought about leaving a note to rebuy it but never got round to it. About a month later it was gone. It has always been a car I regretted selling and my inaction at its demise. RKZ8185 no MOT since 2017
I'm glad you caught this one!
Edited by Funky Squirrel on Tuesday 14th June 20:40
I worked for Rover back in the day and was on the 75 launch team - I did a few hundred miles in the development cars and I really liked them. The ride and refinement were amazing and far better than the stiff Germans everybody was buying in droves and the cabin was like an old school Jag. I think the 75 was the car exec buyers needed (well appointed, effortless on the motorway, refined, looked good, would impress the neighbours) rather than the pov spec 3 series that they actually bought.
The estates are handsome - is yours the fancy pants Connoisseur SE? There is a guy near me with an immaculate V8 Estate.
The estates are handsome - is yours the fancy pants Connoisseur SE? There is a guy near me with an immaculate V8 Estate.
Dapster said:
I worked for Rover back in the day and was on the 75 launch team - I did a few hundred miles in the development cars and I really liked them. The ride and refinement were amazing and far better than the stiff Germans everybody was buying in droves and the cabin was like an old school Jag. I think the 75 was the car exec buyers needed (well appointed, effortless on the motorway, refined, looked good, would impress the neighbours) rather than the pov spec 3 series that they actually bought.
The estates are handsome - is yours the fancy pants Connoisseur SE? There is a guy near me with an immaculate V8 Estate.
I've owned and driven Rover 75 Connoisseur and anything pre 2001 is special, the interior just oozes quality, the leather, real wood dash there are questionable plastics in the centre console but it's acceptable. Anything after late 2001 just doesn't feel the same. Project drive just ruined and cheapened what was a great car and I don't just mean the bits of trim removed or tweaked it. I owned a 2002 and 2004 Mk1 and they were great cars but anytime I drove an early car it was just a different experience. The 2004 I drove for two years as a second car was £650 so can't be too hard on it.The estates are handsome - is yours the fancy pants Connoisseur SE? There is a guy near me with an immaculate V8 Estate.
Also had two Jaguar X-Types and the later 75 models were a bit like them, they looked good and the V6 was smooth but bar the leather seats the interior quality was poor
Edited by sutoka on Wednesday 15th June 03:30
Dapster said:
I worked for Rover back in the day and was on the 75 launch team - I did a few hundred miles in the development cars and I really liked them. The ride and refinement were amazing and far better than the stiff Germans everybody was buying in droves and the cabin was like an old school Jag. I think the 75 was the car exec buyers needed (well appointed, effortless on the motorway, refined, looked good, would impress the neighbours) rather than the pov spec 3 series that they actually bought.
The estates are handsome - is yours the fancy pants Connoisseur SE? There is a guy near me with an immaculate V8 Estate.
I'll be honest - I am not sure. I think it is a Connie rather than an SE, but once I get the logbook, I will be able to check (could not be found, sadly - going to give him a week to see if he can find it, then will just apply for one). The estates are handsome - is yours the fancy pants Connoisseur SE? There is a guy near me with an immaculate V8 Estate.
Would love one of the V8's, but they are serious money. The V8 grille really transforms the look of the car.
I agree that the 75 was a much underrated car. Was comparing it to a friend's 2011 3-Series, and frankly, the 53 plate Rover is a nicer place to be!
Anyway - very minor update for today - after work this evening, had a bit more of a look round, checked the lights, and every single bulb on the car works! every single one!
Thanks, am OK for parts at the moment. Just uncovering the horrors that lurk underneath. Thought I would start with a quick look at the broken spring....
I am thinking that I will drop the subframe out to do the clutch anyway, so will take the opportunity to clean it all up then.
Have left everything soaking in lots of PlusGas for now.
Fortunately am not going to need the trailer for a while, so will leave the car on it, have put all 4 legs down so is nice and stable and will work on it on there so I can still move it around as needed.
I am thinking that I will drop the subframe out to do the clutch anyway, so will take the opportunity to clean it all up then.
Have left everything soaking in lots of PlusGas for now.
Fortunately am not going to need the trailer for a while, so will leave the car on it, have put all 4 legs down so is nice and stable and will work on it on there so I can still move it around as needed.
Admirable save, for so many reasons, but my goodness this is going to be a lot of work!
It sounds like you are well versed in all things 75, so I won't go on about the front scuttle plenum and all that, but have you considered getting a CDTI that's cosmetically written off but 'garaged with low mileage' as a donor? Its just... the rust... it will need rear suspension mounts, fuel strap etc... it'll add up to a pretty penny in parts...
Clutch will be everything I'm guessing - if you replace one part the next one down the chain will be annoyed at the distrubance and fail, then the next!
GOod luck & safe prodding.
PS. for your original list you may wish to add 'rust'.
It sounds like you are well versed in all things 75, so I won't go on about the front scuttle plenum and all that, but have you considered getting a CDTI that's cosmetically written off but 'garaged with low mileage' as a donor? Its just... the rust... it will need rear suspension mounts, fuel strap etc... it'll add up to a pretty penny in parts...
Clutch will be everything I'm guessing - if you replace one part the next one down the chain will be annoyed at the distrubance and fail, then the next!
GOod luck & safe prodding.
PS. for your original list you may wish to add 'rust'.
Spinakerr said:
Admirable save, for so many reasons, but my goodness this is going to be a lot of work!
It sounds like you are well versed in all things 75, so I won't go on about the front scuttle plenum and all that, but have you considered getting a CDTI that's cosmetically written off but 'garaged with low mileage' as a donor? Its just... the rust... it will need rear suspension mounts, fuel strap etc... it'll add up to a pretty penny in parts...
Clutch will be everything I'm guessing - if you replace one part the next one down the chain will be annoyed at the disturbance and fail, then the next!
Good luck & safe prodding.
PS. for your original list you may wish to add 'rust'.
Indeed, have tinkered with a few 75's in my time. I originally got this car for him years ago. At the time it needed a new clutch - which I had done with a new slave cylinder as well at a place in Birmingham - they said at the time that the DMF was "borderline" so I have assumed the worst and have bought a new DMF (Valeo), a Borg and Beck 3 piece kit with a LUK slave cylinder and a new master cylinder. Hopefully that should sort it out for another 100K miles! It sounds like you are well versed in all things 75, so I won't go on about the front scuttle plenum and all that, but have you considered getting a CDTI that's cosmetically written off but 'garaged with low mileage' as a donor? Its just... the rust... it will need rear suspension mounts, fuel strap etc... it'll add up to a pretty penny in parts...
Clutch will be everything I'm guessing - if you replace one part the next one down the chain will be annoyed at the disturbance and fail, then the next!
Good luck & safe prodding.
PS. for your original list you may wish to add 'rust'.
I thought about a doner car - but I think Mrs Stag has her limits as to how many non-functional cars I can have around at any one time (currently have a friends dad's Jad, my brother's x-Type, My Mini and my Surf non-functional). This has jumped the queue.
Yes, there is a lot of rust - but after some prodding over the last couple of days it mostly seems to be surface rust - for the most part it is solid. Lots of the bolt-on bolt off pics like above are bad - but the Chassis - remarkably - seems OK. Looks like I may have rescued it in the nick of time.
Edited by TriumphStag3.0V8 on Saturday 25th June 11:58
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