Rover 75 CDTi Tourer
Discussion
I'm very lucky where I live. City of 120,000 people is 45 mins away, and they have only just banned smokeless fuels for houses, I think a LEZ is decades away. Battery electric cars are still a pipe dream for the commutes of anyone who lives outside the major urban centres - no need for a car in Dublin, but where I live a diesel is the only prospect. The only place I go with any regularity that has a low emission zone is Stuttgart, and I fly and rent as it's easier (and get to experience a raft of different rental cars, always important when scouting for potential vehicle purchase in 5-10 years time!)
MOT achieved today for the 75, though not without incident!
The place I use is 'No Bookings, First Come First Served', so I set my alarm for a bleary 7am this morning and shovelled myself into the 75 in order to secure the first slot.
Usual practise is to leave the car unlocked, keys in the ignition for the team to drive it onto the ramps. I got out, slammed the door and heard a disconcerting half-click. The door locked itself! Not a full lock mind, but enough to prevent ingress.
After the members of the garage had stopped laughing and dried their eyes, I examined options:
1) Call Jules the Rover Whisperer
2) Call my asleep wife to bring the spare key
Jules answered. I gave him a minute to stop laughing, and sadly there's no mystical Longbridge spell that can be cast - I thought I might be able to recite a curse of the Phoenix Group, throw a drop link over a shoulder and face Cowley. Sadly not.
As I calculated the time-honoured equation for matrimonial help, one of the mechanics came over with a 'set of keys'...
Inner handle would not budge, and the key... let's just say we were close!
Fortunately a nearby piece of scrap metal allowed us to tap the locking button by the handbrake.
MOT gained, karma smiled on me once again as I spotted a house clearance in motion on the way home.
I always, always stop for skips and house clearances. This time the prize was four 1960s Eero Saarinen Tulip chairs - though I think they may be period copies as they're full fibreglass but unsigned.
Further proof that I will always need an estate car.
The place I use is 'No Bookings, First Come First Served', so I set my alarm for a bleary 7am this morning and shovelled myself into the 75 in order to secure the first slot.
Usual practise is to leave the car unlocked, keys in the ignition for the team to drive it onto the ramps. I got out, slammed the door and heard a disconcerting half-click. The door locked itself! Not a full lock mind, but enough to prevent ingress.
After the members of the garage had stopped laughing and dried their eyes, I examined options:
1) Call Jules the Rover Whisperer
2) Call my asleep wife to bring the spare key
Jules answered. I gave him a minute to stop laughing, and sadly there's no mystical Longbridge spell that can be cast - I thought I might be able to recite a curse of the Phoenix Group, throw a drop link over a shoulder and face Cowley. Sadly not.
As I calculated the time-honoured equation for matrimonial help, one of the mechanics came over with a 'set of keys'...
Inner handle would not budge, and the key... let's just say we were close!
Fortunately a nearby piece of scrap metal allowed us to tap the locking button by the handbrake.
MOT gained, karma smiled on me once again as I spotted a house clearance in motion on the way home.
I always, always stop for skips and house clearances. This time the prize was four 1960s Eero Saarinen Tulip chairs - though I think they may be period copies as they're full fibreglass but unsigned.
Further proof that I will always need an estate car.
NGRhodes said:
I presume that its not normal for your car to lock itself when the keys are in !
So does you wife know the story yet ?
Not normal, never happened before! The only think I can see is the trim of the door card being loose - it may have wobbled enough to bat the lock up a tad when slammed. One to keep an eye on...So does you wife know the story yet ?
Wife has double check location of spare key, and was most interested in how to break into cars...
Odd for it to self lock, had the same thing happen on a Kia Sedona in the middle of Shetland circa 2006. I also had a Peugeot self lock with the keys in the ignition in Oxford about six years later. Ever since I’ve been sceptical of all cars self locking, I always drop the window if I’m leaving keys in for whatever reason.
Could it have been a case of your elbow inadvertently pushing the little locking tab down on the door before you got out?
Could it have been a case of your elbow inadvertently pushing the little locking tab down on the door before you got out?
Thinking back to my barely-awake state (easy to do when the clocks change) - I had given the interior a wipe down for the MOT team, including handles and door tops, so could easy have half-hit the centre console lock button or the to of the door.
Its never happened before, and until it happens again I'm not going to worry about it!
As the car passed its MOT, I kept up my side of the bargain by giving it a good wash. Properly this time - not just a pressure washer to take off salt and loose particles. Obligatory snow foam/clean/polish shots.
My reference point is always the photos I took when we bought the car, as the seller had completed a good polish and wax when we bought it.
Other than the tuning fork alloys flaking quite a bit more, and a good few additional swirl marks to cover up with SRP its held up pretty well. A layer of wax added today to seal it a bit won't go amiss, and I'll also wave the hoover at the interior and give the leather a clean.
Ready for post lockdown hauling.
Its never happened before, and until it happens again I'm not going to worry about it!
As the car passed its MOT, I kept up my side of the bargain by giving it a good wash. Properly this time - not just a pressure washer to take off salt and loose particles. Obligatory snow foam/clean/polish shots.
My reference point is always the photos I took when we bought the car, as the seller had completed a good polish and wax when we bought it.
Other than the tuning fork alloys flaking quite a bit more, and a good few additional swirl marks to cover up with SRP its held up pretty well. A layer of wax added today to seal it a bit won't go amiss, and I'll also wave the hoover at the interior and give the leather a clean.
Ready for post lockdown hauling.
Nice to see an update on the Rover, glad it got an MOT, even if there was the slight hiccup of having to break into it. You should have brought it to York 
The in-laws had a 75 estate (until the K-series failed spectacularly). It was a lovely place to be, and seeing yours (which is in MUCH) better condition) does make me want another estate car....
The in-laws had a 75 estate (until the K-series failed spectacularly). It was a lovely place to be, and seeing yours (which is in MUCH) better condition) does make me want another estate car....
darkyoung1000 said:
Nice to see an update on the Rover, glad it got an MOT, even if there was the slight hiccup of having to break into it. You should have brought it to York
If I spot a perfect AX engine here and a few G60 parts I would be up to York in no time! Touch wood nothing untoward against the fleet like you experienced. Trust all's well.Yes a few interesting cars on the street - actually 3 air cooled Beetles, an XK8, a Smart Roadster, Volvo 244GL, Aston DB9 - of course outnumbered by Golfs, Quashqays (?), X5s etc. but a nice sprinkling of variety.
GT6 still with me... I'm currently prepping it for sale...
The 75 continues to provide comfortable motoring - as lockdown unwinds its completed several dump runs and also a few trips around the UK seeing friends for a week off. The cruise control and excellent mpg won out over the 164, which has decided to start clonking more urgently from the front suspension and require an occasional starter solenoid tap. Some greenery in Cheltenham:
It just ticked over 170k, which is not a record for a CDTi 75 but I'm happy its now probably in better order all round than it was at purchase of ~110k.
One recent worrying noise turned out to be wheel nuts - I swear I tightened them up correctly during the recent drop link surgery but evidently they needed a further nip after 100 miles. Glad it was this rather than the dreaded dry CV rumble or a bearing!
I decided to sort out a few squeak and rattles last weekend. The driver's door card separated itself when slammed, the interior lock button squeaked, the passenger handle rattled and the driver's chrome trim was broken.
All now fixed with the box of trusty spares from the previous doors, a fancy new 527,998 piece interior trim set from eBay (may not be accurate) and application of various noxious products.
I think this might be the first time that the car has genuinely been squeak free.
On to 200k.. unless I see a perfect replacement of course...!
It just ticked over 170k, which is not a record for a CDTi 75 but I'm happy its now probably in better order all round than it was at purchase of ~110k.
One recent worrying noise turned out to be wheel nuts - I swear I tightened them up correctly during the recent drop link surgery but evidently they needed a further nip after 100 miles. Glad it was this rather than the dreaded dry CV rumble or a bearing!
I decided to sort out a few squeak and rattles last weekend. The driver's door card separated itself when slammed, the interior lock button squeaked, the passenger handle rattled and the driver's chrome trim was broken.
All now fixed with the box of trusty spares from the previous doors, a fancy new 527,998 piece interior trim set from eBay (may not be accurate) and application of various noxious products.
I think this might be the first time that the car has genuinely been squeak free.
On to 200k.. unless I see a perfect replacement of course...!
I have two 75 and they are greta motors, one is 2004 pre facelift which is a decent shed on 116k miles. I have another 2006 registered Connie SE with 44k miles which I'll planning to sell in the next few months.
Prices seem to be all over the place a dealer local has an 2006 with 130k miles for £2850.
Prices seem to be all over the place a dealer local has an 2006 with 130k miles for £2850.
With summer arriving and two years since the last trip to Wales to see Jules, I booked a two day mini-break to Colwyn Bay.
The 75 is due to put on a fair few miles this year for various adventures, and I'll jump on any excuse to go to the Welsh coast for a breath of fresh air.
First up, the schlep up to the Bay itself, which was marred by traffic and crashes on the M6. Fortunately the last remnants of the air con R134 coughed their way through the vents to keep me relatively unfrazzled, and arrived without incident.
A top evening with Jules provided another gorgeous backdrop, and I could already feel the stress levels ebbing in preparation of a long working day. Standard parking arrangement:
First up - a front suspension clonk on the front right turned out to be the wishbone ball joint. As this was replaced on the other side 2 years ago, it was a logical follow up. Again a few bolts fought us, but nothing Jules' experience couldn't see off in short order.
Completely dry end under the dust cover:
New TRW part from the stores, mounted in doublequick time:
Jules also checked my drop link fitment - all ok but a quick nip on the RHS with the spanner - sorted.
Also Jules advised trimming the original drains from their 'tapeform' form to prevent blockages. Which mine had!
A quick check of other corners necessitated a handbrake adjustment but nothing else of note - clean bill of health after only 6 years of maintenance!
Final job was a check of the air con system and a regas. Luckily no leaks and no new fitments or pipes required, so after a brimming of the correct molecules I was back on the road and heading home. Probably one of the shortest visits but the 4 hour incredibly trouble-free trip back was bliss. Not a single clonk from the suspension, ice cold cabin and (as mentioned earlier to the disbelief of all) not a single interior squeak. Factory fresh at 171k.
The 75 is due to put on a fair few miles this year for various adventures, and I'll jump on any excuse to go to the Welsh coast for a breath of fresh air.
First up, the schlep up to the Bay itself, which was marred by traffic and crashes on the M6. Fortunately the last remnants of the air con R134 coughed their way through the vents to keep me relatively unfrazzled, and arrived without incident.
A top evening with Jules provided another gorgeous backdrop, and I could already feel the stress levels ebbing in preparation of a long working day. Standard parking arrangement:
First up - a front suspension clonk on the front right turned out to be the wishbone ball joint. As this was replaced on the other side 2 years ago, it was a logical follow up. Again a few bolts fought us, but nothing Jules' experience couldn't see off in short order.
Completely dry end under the dust cover:
New TRW part from the stores, mounted in doublequick time:
Jules also checked my drop link fitment - all ok but a quick nip on the RHS with the spanner - sorted.
Also Jules advised trimming the original drains from their 'tapeform' form to prevent blockages. Which mine had!
A quick check of other corners necessitated a handbrake adjustment but nothing else of note - clean bill of health after only 6 years of maintenance!
Final job was a check of the air con system and a regas. Luckily no leaks and no new fitments or pipes required, so after a brimming of the correct molecules I was back on the road and heading home. Probably one of the shortest visits but the 4 hour incredibly trouble-free trip back was bliss. Not a single clonk from the suspension, ice cold cabin and (as mentioned earlier to the disbelief of all) not a single interior squeak. Factory fresh at 171k.
dandam said:
This is so true, owning a car that is near the bottom point for depreciation and it running well is motoring smugness
Agreed - while I try not to be smug, I have been reading a lot of threads on PH recently of brand new multi-tonne 'hybrids' getting into the heady heights of 50mpg in between software 'issues'. Big woo. Just get a properly engineered old car that's half the weight and get it running right. Plus I've never had to take it back to the dealer under warranty to have the autobagsuperspongeadaptive suspension re-flashed nor the digital gauges and in-built sat nav reset. All those complications are just distractions and complications in my mind, but I digress.Cascade360 said:
Good update, Jules' place really is in a pleasant part of the world!
It really is - its clear he chose it for very good reasons other than storing a dozen 75s on the lawn!75 just knocked off another 700 miles for a holiday around Devon - down to Mousehole, Minack Theatre, Prussia Cove and the Fowey. No squeaks, no fuss, and it carried all the usual paraphernalia for cold water swimming, hiking and other ventures in cosseting air conditioned loveliness.
I've managed to vacuum out almost all the sand from the interior, now the weather has turned sunny I'll have to wait for a cool shady moment to deal with the exterior. Oh and the lights will need a little polish. And the steering needs a slight alignment I think after all those miles - likely due to our suspension faffage of late.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff