Rover 75 CDTi Tourer
Discussion
MOT time for the 75 - I had noticed the drop links has started to wither and die, a very common ailment for the Rover so I ordered some top notch replacements from Meyle on the sage advice of key Rover sorcerer Jules Anderson.
First step: jack up your car.
Actually the first step is loosen the wheel nuts on the floor, but I had to get that reference in.
All four split boots. Yay. Also a mismatched pair, absolutely filthy and ingrained with rust. Double yay.
The left hand bottom bolt shearing was a portent of the procedure to come. Access is bad, and I spent a good hour alternating sides with various spanners - ring, thin, stubby, ratchet - you name it!
It was a bout 5pm yesterday, and I was really past it, having spent the morning reassembling the Saab (see separate thread) since early doors.
As my swearing got louder and my patience shorter it seemed every neighbour wanted to stop for a chat. One of my first jobs was valeting cars, so I have a bad reaction to the drones that squawk "You can do mine when you're finished!" when you're cleaning a car. Somehow worse is the not-even-vaguely interested "How have you been?" when you're visibly shaking from exertion and leaning full weight on a spanner in the nether recesses of a car, slathered in rust, old grease and bloodied fingertips.
The right hand side, a more recent replacement with 15mm nuts, eventually gave out, and the left side I coaxed off with my narcoleptic Dremel after loosening it enough for access.
With those two old items out I uttered a quick epitaph while my wife happily guided me indoors for some supper as the light faded.
Recuperation essentials.
Some rest of course was the requirement - this morning the new items went on in 20 minutes with some careful spannering. These units are far superior.
Ready for the MOT next Saturday. Phew.
First step: jack up your car.
Actually the first step is loosen the wheel nuts on the floor, but I had to get that reference in.
All four split boots. Yay. Also a mismatched pair, absolutely filthy and ingrained with rust. Double yay.
The left hand bottom bolt shearing was a portent of the procedure to come. Access is bad, and I spent a good hour alternating sides with various spanners - ring, thin, stubby, ratchet - you name it!
It was a bout 5pm yesterday, and I was really past it, having spent the morning reassembling the Saab (see separate thread) since early doors.
As my swearing got louder and my patience shorter it seemed every neighbour wanted to stop for a chat. One of my first jobs was valeting cars, so I have a bad reaction to the drones that squawk "You can do mine when you're finished!" when you're cleaning a car. Somehow worse is the not-even-vaguely interested "How have you been?" when you're visibly shaking from exertion and leaning full weight on a spanner in the nether recesses of a car, slathered in rust, old grease and bloodied fingertips.
The right hand side, a more recent replacement with 15mm nuts, eventually gave out, and the left side I coaxed off with my narcoleptic Dremel after loosening it enough for access.
With those two old items out I uttered a quick epitaph while my wife happily guided me indoors for some supper as the light faded.
Recuperation essentials.
Some rest of course was the requirement - this morning the new items went on in 20 minutes with some careful spannering. These units are far superior.
Ready for the MOT next Saturday. Phew.
NGRhodes said:
Good work, are you still planning on replacing your 75 ?
I have a shortlist, but zero motivation to move this car on when its running so well... at least one more summer and a good few road trips I think before a replacement has to be found.The most annoying item is that the house I'm in isnt within the ULEZ (yet), but that the dump, to which this car has a season ticket, is.
Bah.
Spinakerr said:
NGRhodes said:
Good work, are you still planning on replacing your 75 ?
I have a shortlist, but zero motivation to move this car on when its running so well... at least one more summer and a good few road trips I think before a replacement has to be found.The most annoying item is that the house I'm in isnt within the ULEZ (yet), but that the dump, to which this car has a season ticket, is.
Bah.
mercedeslimos said:
The solution to this is to see if Jules comes across a nice 2.5 V6 in a similar spec and condition. Surely he'd take a part-ex and you'd be sitting pretty
Maybe, although I'm keen on two extra cylinders...PrinceRupert said:
Did you struggle to get the top nuts tight?
I found a total ballache to get a spanner in there, cut my spanner down with an angle grinder to help, and they still knocked a week later as I hadn't got them tight enough
It was one of the struggles in this operation. I managed to find very 'thin pronged' spanner (from a set my wife had, actually) as none of my favourite would fit. I'll be taking it on a test drive to ensure everything's tight and perhaps check them again in a month. What a chore!I found a total ballache to get a spanner in there, cut my spanner down with an angle grinder to help, and they still knocked a week later as I hadn't got them tight enough
Cambs_Stuart said:
I always use Meyle HD part if they're available. Always seem to be good quality.
My Neighbour also likes a chat when I'm covered with sweat, blood, tears and dripping with swear words. I need my own garage, preferably with a lift.
I'm currently aiming for planning permission, as the existing garage fits a GT6 and not a whisker of anything else around it. The 'conversations' on Sunday have somewhat increased my motivation.My Neighbour also likes a chat when I'm covered with sweat, blood, tears and dripping with swear words. I need my own garage, preferably with a lift.
PrinceRupert said:
Did you struggle to get the top nuts tight?
I found a total ballache to get a spanner in there, cut my spanner down with an angle grinder to help, and they still knocked a week later as I hadn't got them tight enough
Forgot to say it earlier, most chop about 1/2" off the top of the threads, and that way you can just use a normal spanner. Our one has had three sets of links in 4 years, blame the crap roads!I found a total ballache to get a spanner in there, cut my spanner down with an angle grinder to help, and they still knocked a week later as I hadn't got them tight enough
Lovely colour and car, had 5 of them, all but one 2.5 v6's.
But I wouldn't recommend the V6 now - timing belts and waterpump expensive, and getting good replacement inlet manifolds is very difficult now, and expensive if you can find one. The engine won't run correctly if it's faulty.
With the diesels falling out of favour now, the 75 is really more of an enthusiasts car rather than a reliable daily.
But I wouldn't recommend the V6 now - timing belts and waterpump expensive, and getting good replacement inlet manifolds is very difficult now, and expensive if you can find one. The engine won't run correctly if it's faulty.
With the diesels falling out of favour now, the 75 is really more of an enthusiasts car rather than a reliable daily.
SirGriffin said:
Lovely colour and car, had 5 of them, all but one 2.5 v6's.
But I wouldn't recommend the V6 now - timing belts and waterpump expensive, and getting good replacement inlet manifolds is very difficult now, and expensive if you can find one. The engine won't run correctly if it's faulty.
With the diesels falling out of favour now, the 75 is really more of an enthusiasts car rather than a reliable daily.
I think it depends on your situation. Despite public opinions (or should that be government direction...) no longer favouring diesels, objectively as cars they’re still viable daily drivers. Of course, if you live in or on the edge of a ULEZ it’s increasingly difficult, but if you live away from big cities and spend a lot of time on the motorway, they’re ideal; frugal and relatively bulletproof, if a little agricultural. But I wouldn't recommend the V6 now - timing belts and waterpump expensive, and getting good replacement inlet manifolds is very difficult now, and expensive if you can find one. The engine won't run correctly if it's faulty.
With the diesels falling out of favour now, the 75 is really more of an enthusiasts car rather than a reliable daily.
Muddle238 said:
I think it depends on your situation. Despite public opinions (or should that be government direction...) no longer favouring diesels, objectively as cars they’re still viable daily drivers. Of course, if you live in or on the edge of a ULEZ it’s increasingly difficult, but if you live away from big cities and spend a lot of time on the motorway, they’re ideal; frugal and relatively bulletproof, if a little agricultural.
This is the debate we're having - if we only use this for outbound journeys, its just ideal. I've spent so much time and money getting to know it and its so each to maintain, really, plus cheap parts, this could trudge on forever. The issue is we regularly want to nosy into town and liberate large items from their owners. In 5 years the Saab will be 'exempt', but as the government is insistent on always moving the goalposts for 'green' and changing their mind on incentives, I think classics will be quietly removed from the list before then.If the zone expands, there aren't many cars on my street, let alone my driveway, that would be eligible - that may prompt my emigration!
MOT on Saturday for the 75, if it passes I'll give it a good clean.
Spinakerr said:
This is the debate we're having - if we only use this for outbound journeys, its just ideal. I've spent so much time and money getting to know it and its so each to maintain, really, plus cheap parts, this could trudge on forever. The issue is we regularly want to nosy into town and liberate large items from their owners. In 5 years the Saab will be 'exempt', but as the government is insistent on always moving the goalposts for 'green' and changing their mind on incentives, I think classics will be quietly removed from the list before then.
If the zone expands, there aren't many cars on my street, let alone my driveway, that would be eligible - that may prompt my emigration!
MOT on Saturday for the 75, if it passes I'll give it a good clean.
It’s a difficult one. Perhaps better the devil you know... even if that involves the odd ULEZ fee? It’s all very easy for me to hypothesise, living nowhere near any ULEZ places, appreciate it’s more tricky when it’s on your doorstep.If the zone expands, there aren't many cars on my street, let alone my driveway, that would be eligible - that may prompt my emigration!
MOT on Saturday for the 75, if it passes I'll give it a good clean.
Good luck with the MOT. Mine broke a front spring last night, made one hell of a bang. Now stuck in situ for a few days...
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