£600 Rover 75 Connoisseur SE, 2.5 v6
Discussion
PrinceRupert said:
Hah, I did wonder if a thread where someone bungles through his first oil change on an old Rover would be interesting as compared to some of the much more talented individuals rebuilding the engine of a unique racing car or whatever, but glad some are enjoying it 
I thoroughly enjoy reading this thread.As I did reading about your purchase.
It’s really great the support being shown from others who are more experienced.
Keep up the good work.
Konrod said:
Yep, this is OK, but you should start from the wheel that is furthest from the master cylinder and work back. So assuming your MC is offside engine bulkhead (ish), do nearside rear, offside rear, nearside front, offside front. Also look carefully, it may be possible to do some of them without taking the wheel off.
Oh, and from experience, get a small syringe as when you've finished with an easibleed your MC reservoir will be full to the brim and you'll need to remove some. if your brakes are part worn, aim for between max and min in the reservoir so that when you do replace pads and push the brake pistons in, it doesn't rise so far it slops over the top of the reservoir - nasty stuff brake fluid.
Great. Just ordered a syringe! On inspection I suspect I might be able to do front wheels without lifting car, just by turning wheels. I have an order in my Haynes manual to follow, thanks for the reminder. Oh, and from experience, get a small syringe as when you've finished with an easibleed your MC reservoir will be full to the brim and you'll need to remove some. if your brakes are part worn, aim for between max and min in the reservoir so that when you do replace pads and push the brake pistons in, it doesn't rise so far it slops over the top of the reservoir - nasty stuff brake fluid.
ian316 said:
Get an pump that gets the oil out of the dip stick tube and straight into a container, the 5ltr one you've just thrown away will be ideal, the pumps aren't expensive and while the oil is coming out you have time to do the air filter
Where's the fun in that when I can spend all afternoon on my back wrestling with broken clips for an undertray and covering my drive in oil Though presumably I still need to get under the car to replace the oil filter, so not much more effort to open the sump plug and drain it that way? I'm still humming and hawwing over the belts. There is a relatively local mg rover specialist mobile mechanic who would do belts and water pump for £560. That's almost the price of the car. And I can't find any evidence on forums of the belts regularly snapping. Lots of stories of people saying to get them changed, but very few of them actually snapping! And who is to say it wasn't changed in the past. Hmm.
So I'm committing to getting the belts done (and waterpump). £560. Going to get the mechanic to fit the spark plugs whilst he is doing it, and have a look at diagnosing the steering squeak.
Justification is the car would still only be due me 1300 quid, I can easily afford it, and the cheapest replacement 2.5l Connoisseur SE on AT is £1500 with no note of belt history. And we have a trip to North Wales at the start of August which I'd rather not spend on the side of the motorway.
Justification is the car would still only be due me 1300 quid, I can easily afford it, and the cheapest replacement 2.5l Connoisseur SE on AT is £1500 with no note of belt history. And we have a trip to North Wales at the start of August which I'd rather not spend on the side of the motorway.
carinaman said:
It wouldn't be a memorable trip if the belts went. £560 isn't too bad. That includes VAT?
I saw a Connie SE with <60K on it on Autotrader that had had the belts done, it was up for around £2K but the cloth was separating from the backing on the A pillar trim and the door cards.
I think there's a lot of 'appreciating classics' chancers with hugely optimistic pricing on AutoTrader - whether they sell is another matter - but I figure it must be worth more than £600 with a receipt for recent belts and service given the low mileage. It obviously isn't flawless cosmetically (especially after my recent encounter with my fence post), but it is in decent nick, and it is generally nice inside as well. Need to try and sort the cruise and get some clips for the rear interior lights, but otherwise everything seems to work. Oh other than the CD changer and the IPK screen with the lines (common fault apparently) ...I saw a Connie SE with <60K on it on Autotrader that had had the belts done, it was up for around £2K but the cloth was separating from the backing on the A pillar trim and the door cards.
Afaik, £560 is the all in price (£495 belts + 65 water pump). I presume belts includes tensioners and pulleys. There are mobile mechanics that do it for £450, but not near London. He comes out and does it on my driveway, which is cool, as I can watch and learn some tricks
I hope the squeaky steering turns out to be an easy fix when he has the engine apart anyway.
EDIT: For example there is surely no way this is worth 4k (mentions belts done 6k miles ago but no mention of when that was)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-Rover-75-2-5-V6-Co...
Or this is worth 4.75k (no mention of belts, though it is a late car):
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rover-75-2-5l-V6-Connoi...
Here is a Club SE (cloth seats...) at £495 with a short MOT but apparently a recent cambelt costing £1700 (what else was done...?)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rover-75-2-5-V6-auto-Cl...
CMAAOSwoTBfA4nREdited by PrinceRupert on Wednesday 8th July 15:41
If you’ve a trip to Wales you could combine it with getting all the work done by this guy, THE 75 guru in the country!!
https://good-garage-guide.honestjohn.co.uk/garages...
https://good-garage-guide.honestjohn.co.uk/garages...
sjc said:
If you’ve a trip to Wales you could combine it with getting all the work done by this guy, THE 75 guru in the country!!
https://good-garage-guide.honestjohn.co.uk/garages...
Our accommodation is 17 minutes away...though knowing my luck the belt would snap on the drive to Wales!https://good-garage-guide.honestjohn.co.uk/garages...
PrinceRupert said:
sjc said:
If you’ve a trip to Wales you could combine it with getting all the work done by this guy, THE 75 guru in the country!!
https://good-garage-guide.honestjohn.co.uk/garages...
Our accommodation is 17 minutes away...though knowing my luck the belt would snap on the drive to Wales!https://good-garage-guide.honestjohn.co.uk/garages...
He’s the guy to go to. He’ll give you a car to drive about in, it will be 100% worth it.
So I gave Jules a call this morning - extremely helpful chap, ran me through the main issues with these cars and things for me to check. He seemed surprised that (a) the car has no history, curious as to its past and (b) that I paid so little for it - he thought on 55k miles it would be closer to 2k (although of course, no history)! His musings was it was probably some old blokes pride and joy, part exchanged to a dealer, shifted through a few hands as people really they are very thirsty and don't keep them long, before it got to me.
On belts, he said he wouldn't be too worried about them - they tend to wear on mileage, not age, and he has replaced plenty of belts that are over on age but under on mileage that are in perfect condition. He said if I take the covers off I can inspect the belts, and if they look in okay condition he wouldn't worry too much. He also said I should be able to see if they are original belts by looking for ROVER stamped on them. So a task for the weekend!
He said the squeaky steering could be a few suspension related things that he could take a look at. So even if I don't get the belts done, I will probably take it along for him to take a look at anyway.
On belts, he said he wouldn't be too worried about them - they tend to wear on mileage, not age, and he has replaced plenty of belts that are over on age but under on mileage that are in perfect condition. He said if I take the covers off I can inspect the belts, and if they look in okay condition he wouldn't worry too much. He also said I should be able to see if they are original belts by looking for ROVER stamped on them. So a task for the weekend!
He said the squeaky steering could be a few suspension related things that he could take a look at. So even if I don't get the belts done, I will probably take it along for him to take a look at anyway.
PrinceRupert said:
So I gave Jules a call this morning - extremely helpful chap, ran me through the main issues with these cars and things for me to check. He seemed surprised that (a) the car has no history, curious as to its past and (b) that I paid so little for it - he thought on 55k miles it would be closer to 2k (although of course, no history)! His musings was it was probably some old blokes pride and joy, part exchanged to a dealer, shifted through a few hands as people really they are very thirsty and don't keep them long, before it got to me.
On belts, he said he wouldn't be too worried about them - they tend to wear on mileage, not age, and he has replaced plenty of belts that are over on age but under on mileage that are in perfect condition. He said if I take the covers off I can inspect the belts, and if they look in okay condition he wouldn't worry too much. He also said I should be able to see if they are original belts by looking for ROVER stamped on them. So a task for the weekend!
He said the squeaky steering could be a few suspension related things that he could take a look at. So even if I don't get the belts done, I will probably take it along for him to take a look at anyway.
That will be the best time/money for longevity you invest in the car PROn belts, he said he wouldn't be too worried about them - they tend to wear on mileage, not age, and he has replaced plenty of belts that are over on age but under on mileage that are in perfect condition. He said if I take the covers off I can inspect the belts, and if they look in okay condition he wouldn't worry too much. He also said I should be able to see if they are original belts by looking for ROVER stamped on them. So a task for the weekend!
He said the squeaky steering could be a few suspension related things that he could take a look at. So even if I don't get the belts done, I will probably take it along for him to take a look at anyway.
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