£600 Rover 75 Connoisseur SE, 2.5 v6
Discussion
I had a peek at the belts following my conversation with Jules. I am no expert, but they certainly don't look particularly worn or tired. I also turned the engine over a few times and inspected each time, and no sign of ROVER stamped on them - which apparently suggests they aren't original belts.
Yes, there are a small band of 75ZT specialists around the country and Jules is one of the best. What he doesn't know about these cars isn't worth knowing. I drove nearly 150 miles last year for a service with him, and having his stamp in the service log has probably doubled the value of the car
JeremyH5 said:
Jules sounds like the right sort of “the man”. Good recommendation. And north Wales is a very nice spot for a short break every year whilst the car is given a look over!
Have you tried this?https://www.zipworld.co.uk/location/penrhyn-quarry
You should!
No - but it looks great fun. Will investigate. Have you tried this?https://www.zipworld.co.uk/location/penrhyn-quarry
You should!
It is such an odd coincidence that we had booked to stay just fifteen minutes down the road from Jules, the UK's pre-eminent 75 specialist, the week I buy an old Rover 75. It's like it was fated.
We are staying here: https://www.cottages.com/cottages/hen-wrych-hall-t...
Doesn't it look cool! It is attached to this castle: https://www.gwrychcastle.co.uk/
Edited by PrinceRupert on Thursday 9th July 21:34
Edited by PrinceRupert on Thursday 9th July 21:34
JeremyH5 said:
Cottage link went wrong but castle works, looks like a nice place.
Great Orme tin mine is an amazingly interesting place and history. And you can go up on the tram and back down in the cable car, or t’other way round, for fun.
Ah, I fixed it. Thanks for the tips, the tin mine looks like somewhere we would really enjoy. I desperately hope COVID-19 and lockdowns don't spoil our holiday and keeps these things open!Great Orme tin mine is an amazingly interesting place and history. And you can go up on the tram and back down in the cable car, or t’other way round, for fun.
I bought a Gunson eezibleed and a bottle of brake fluid to bleed the brakes and sort the soft pedal feel on the Rover. I then decided I couldn't be bothered and don't really have the time before my trip to Wales, so rang up the local garage and asked for a price for them to do it for me. He wouldn't give me a price, says it depends on diagnostics. So dropping the car with them on Wednesday. What's the chances they try and sell me something other than a brake fluid change ... or try and charge me some sort of diagnostic fee?
If he does I might be bleeding them myself after all!
If he does I might be bleeding them myself after all!
PrinceRupert said:
I bought a Gunson eezibleed and a bottle of brake fluid to bleed the brakes and sort the soft pedal feel on the Rover. I then decided I couldn't be bothered and don't really have the time before my trip to Wales, so rang up the local garage and asked for a price for them to do it for me. He wouldn't give me a price, says it depends on diagnostics. So dropping the car with them on Wednesday. What's the chances they try and sell me something other than a brake fluid change ... or try and charge me some sort of diagnostic fee?
If he does I might be bleeding them myself after all!
Jules.. add this to PR’s list please !!If he does I might be bleeding them myself after all!
I can also highly recommend Jules for anything 75-shaped. In six years of ownership I have made the pilgrimage to Colwyn bay every October for any jobs I couldn't handle on the driveway, and have been extremely happy with all the work done. He is extremely knowledgeable and prices are very reasonable. With every visit you're also getting a huge dose of tips, tricks and fixes the Rover/MG community have come up with over 20 years.
See my thread for further details on the more complicated jobs!
See my thread for further details on the more complicated jobs!
sjc said:
PrinceRupert said:
I bought a Gunson eezibleed and a bottle of brake fluid to bleed the brakes and sort the soft pedal feel on the Rover. I then decided I couldn't be bothered and don't really have the time before my trip to Wales, so rang up the local garage and asked for a price for them to do it for me. He wouldn't give me a price, says it depends on diagnostics. So dropping the car with them on Wednesday. What's the chances they try and sell me something other than a brake fluid change ... or try and charge me some sort of diagnostic fee?
If he does I might be bleeding them myself after all!
Jules.. add this to PR’s list please !!If he does I might be bleeding them myself after all!
Car is in with them now. Tiny wee garage, about the size of a postage stamp. In person chap seemed like a nice bloke, said a brake fluid change would be £50 subject to any rusty nipples, and he would take it for a test drive to confirm my diagnosis. Claimed they still look after a couple of 75s, so may take the car back to them in the future if there is ever anything that crops up that I can't do myself.
So I put the Rover in for a brake fluid change this morning. Apparently, there is nowt wrong with the pedal feel - 'they just do that sir' - and the fluid looks like it has been changed in the last couple of years and doesn't need doing. Though he would recommend changing the tyres as one is at the limit. So will do that (well will replace all four). However, he couldn't get the rear locking wheel nut off the car and isn't willing to apply more force as he risks breaking it. Their suggestion was to replace the rear hub. The alternative is to just snap it off and replace. I am sure the latter sounds cheaper than the former ...
I also raised the poor handbrake - that's apparently another 'they just do that sir'. He said he would recommend changing the rear calipers, if I wanted to resolve it. Sounds like another expensive job best avoided for the moment ... do you really need a handbrake on an automatic ... ?
Friendly small local mechanics, didn't charge me a fee even though I offered to pay a diagnostics fee as I felt I had wasted their time a bit. Will use next time I need them.
I also raised the poor handbrake - that's apparently another 'they just do that sir'. He said he would recommend changing the rear calipers, if I wanted to resolve it. Sounds like another expensive job best avoided for the moment ... do you really need a handbrake on an automatic ... ?
Friendly small local mechanics, didn't charge me a fee even though I offered to pay a diagnostics fee as I felt I had wasted their time a bit. Will use next time I need them.
Sounds like your man couldn't be bothered with any of it.
FWIW I'd replace the locking nuts with normal ones from eBay or a scrapper - I've not seen wheel theft that isn't for rubber-band shod wheels for something uncomfortable in at least 10 years. Far more likely that you'll lose the key/it'll break and cause the headache noted.
For the handbrake I'd buy new shoes and springs, then have a go myself - shoe drum handbrakes are often a bit of a problem child, but an easy DIY job. Strip it all out, wire brush the inside of the rear disk to clean it up, then refit with new and adjust away.
£17 for the shoes: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/173062551813
£14 for the spring kit: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/202993806815
NB: I've ordered from both sellers in the past, so they're pre-vetted.
If the pedal feel is really mushy then I'd think about replacing the brake lines - they often have a bit of give with age and can be improved with decent quality replacements. At this age/parts availability it's possibly a braided lines job.
FWIW I'd replace the locking nuts with normal ones from eBay or a scrapper - I've not seen wheel theft that isn't for rubber-band shod wheels for something uncomfortable in at least 10 years. Far more likely that you'll lose the key/it'll break and cause the headache noted.
For the handbrake I'd buy new shoes and springs, then have a go myself - shoe drum handbrakes are often a bit of a problem child, but an easy DIY job. Strip it all out, wire brush the inside of the rear disk to clean it up, then refit with new and adjust away.
£17 for the shoes: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/173062551813
£14 for the spring kit: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/202993806815
NB: I've ordered from both sellers in the past, so they're pre-vetted.
If the pedal feel is really mushy then I'd think about replacing the brake lines - they often have a bit of give with age and can be improved with decent quality replacements. At this age/parts availability it's possibly a braided lines job.
The Rover 75 handbrake is a common ailment - you will need a modified compensator from the Rover community and some expertise (and patience) to swap it in.
Brakes shouldn't be spongy in my experience, but could just be general tiredness rather than anything amiss. Even a year or two can introduce air to the system, especially if there is anything off in the flexible lines or even a bad seal on the reservoir cap (had to do mine).
I would suggest that before purchasing a load of components, though they likely need doing anyway!
Brakes shouldn't be spongy in my experience, but could just be general tiredness rather than anything amiss. Even a year or two can introduce air to the system, especially if there is anything off in the flexible lines or even a bad seal on the reservoir cap (had to do mine).
I would suggest that before purchasing a load of components, though they likely need doing anyway!
PrinceRupert said:
So I put the Rover in for a brake fluid change this morning. Apparently, there is nowt wrong with the pedal feel - 'they just do that sir' - and the fluid looks like it has been changed in the last couple of years and doesn't need doing. Though he would recommend changing the tyres as one is at the limit. So will do that (well will replace all four). However, he couldn't get the rear locking wheel nut off the car and isn't willing to apply more force as he risks breaking it. Their suggestion was to replace the rear hub. The alternative is to just snap it off and replace. I am sure the latter sounds cheaper than the former ...
I also raised the poor handbrake - that's apparently another 'they just do that sir'. He said he would recommend changing the rear calipers, if I wanted to resolve it. Sounds like another expensive job best avoided for the moment ... do you really need a handbrake on an automatic ... ?
Friendly small local mechanics, didn't charge me a fee even though I offered to pay a diagnostics fee as I felt I had wasted their time a bit. Will use next time I need them.
RE: Handbrake, " they all do that sir".. most do I think. There is a handbrake compensator mod (again via Jules) for it.However,2 of mine were Auto's and never needed it, the manual already had the mod done.I also raised the poor handbrake - that's apparently another 'they just do that sir'. He said he would recommend changing the rear calipers, if I wanted to resolve it. Sounds like another expensive job best avoided for the moment ... do you really need a handbrake on an automatic ... ?
Friendly small local mechanics, didn't charge me a fee even though I offered to pay a diagnostics fee as I felt I had wasted their time a bit. Will use next time I need them.
Re:tyres, on the 75's I used Barum Bavuris of whatever version of the tyre was out at the time, theysuit the nature of the car brilliantly and they don't break the bank.
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