'Classic' Motoring: Rover 75 Connoisseur SE
Discussion
I've been driving Rover 75's as my dailies for a few years now, however I needed something more practical (estate) for work, and had been hankering over a Volvo V70 for a while, so my daily 75 diesel was moved on. I think most of my 75s have been detailed on here, and more or less run on a bangernomic strategy. However, in February of 2017 I purchased a one owner Rover 75 Connoisseur SE with the 2.0 KV6 engine to keep as a 'high days and dry days' car.
The car in question appeared on eBay in Fleet, advertised by an old boy who was hanging up his driving gloves. A few emails were exchanged between the son-in-law of said gentleman & myself and a deal agreed. I couldn't collect for a couple of weeks due to work circumstances, but the seller was incredibly accomodating & one wet and drizzly Wednesday afternoon I was making my way from Aylesbury to Fleet in a Vauxhall Meriva. I arrived at the seller's house at 15:32 and the car was waiting on the drive, washed and looking lovely. A quick glance around the car showed that all was exactly as had been advertised. It started and ran sweetly, levels were bob on and there was a massive folder of service history. It had been maintained by a Rover specialist, who originally worked for the Rover dealership where the car was sold new - same mechanic all its life.
After a quick coffee in Fleet I was on my way back home, with a flat mobile battery & the now dark evening was closing in with heavier rain. Apart from obviously knackered top mount bearings, the journey back was uneventful apart from quite appalling traffic between Reading and High Wycombe, and I arrived back in Aylesbury around 9pm:
.
The car was then stashed away in my garage until I had some free time to look at it properly and decide on a plan of action. A couple of weeks later I had it booked in for an MOT, having done absolutely nothing to it, to see what the score was. The answer; it passed with only an advisory for 'Engine Undertrays Fitted'.
The car had now covered a a hundred miles or so in my ownership, and no real issues had arisen as well as the levels staying well put. It was given an oil and filter change, and used for a couple of weekends for a proper shakedown. Nothing to report. As I said earlier, the top mounts clicked and knocked at low speed manoeuvring, but other than that it ran very well indeed.
My main criticism with the car now was bodywork related. The paint was pretty flat, and there are various battle scars on the bumpers, which in fairness, had all been touched up but still very noticeable. Despite not being able to find good bumpers in the same colour, a good detailing brought the car up well and made it more than presentable:
The car was then pressed into service as a 'weekend getaway' car, as per the original intention, conveying me in comfort to various car shows and weekends away I had planned. It was almost as if the car knew exactly what was expected of it, and ate the journeys with a sort of modest smugness (is that a thing?). This gave me the opportunity for some good photos of the car (and also me taking a photo of the car for some reason):
How about a pretend 'press photo':
It even attended the BMC day at Gaydon Motor Museum as part of the 75 line up - it was a fantastic day:
However after around 3000 miles I had started noticing a few niggles. Nothing major, but enough to annoy. The top mounts had not been attended to, and despite only affecting the car at low speeds it was still frustrating, as well as a slight vagueness from the front. The exhaust note had also become slightly louder / raspy which I wasn't too happy about. It was booked into my friendly mechanic for a once over, who diagnosed two top mounts & bearings, a track rod end & a full exhaust needed. Unfortunately I'm not in the least mechanically minded, so this did cost a few quid to get sorted - but it transformed the car. Afterwards it drove so tight & quite frankly, like a new car.
At the back end of 2017 I decided my diesel daily 75 would be sold - but it would be daft not to swap some good bits over to the V6 before its sale. Most notably the driver's seat of the V6 didn't feel quite 'square'. As you raised the height of the seat, it seemed to twist towards the centre of the car. Swapping the driver's seat with the diesel solved this nicely though - while maintaining the electric / heated / memory seat. I also ordered a new steering wheel from SAIC in China with the wooden inserts rather than the beige leather steering wheel fitted to the car. Unfortunately the leather colour didn't match (it is the correct part number - but it just doesn't match). At some point I'll get a good used UK wooden steering wheel, but it'll do for now:
At this point the car was parked up in the garage for winter, as I had the Volvo to play with / get to know. At the back end of February 2018 the Volvo met with an unfortunate pothole incident which meant it needed a couple of days at the specialist. I didn't really want to get the 75 out until the salt on the roads had well and truly disappeared, however needs must. The 75 was pressed back into service for a few days, just before the MOT expired. As expected it did a sterling job in the Volvo's absence & I was very glad to have had it available. Once I had the Volvo back the 75 was booked in for an MOT, which it failed. One lower suspension arm later, and we have an advisory-free MOT! Not bad for a 17 year old car!
It's also had an oil and filter change, but it is due a gearbox oil change & cambelt replacements. I'll get it booked in soon, and hopefully this year it'll have a couple of new bumpers to replace the slightly damaged ones. It'll definitely be going to a few Rover / Leyland apologist shows this year too
The car in question appeared on eBay in Fleet, advertised by an old boy who was hanging up his driving gloves. A few emails were exchanged between the son-in-law of said gentleman & myself and a deal agreed. I couldn't collect for a couple of weeks due to work circumstances, but the seller was incredibly accomodating & one wet and drizzly Wednesday afternoon I was making my way from Aylesbury to Fleet in a Vauxhall Meriva. I arrived at the seller's house at 15:32 and the car was waiting on the drive, washed and looking lovely. A quick glance around the car showed that all was exactly as had been advertised. It started and ran sweetly, levels were bob on and there was a massive folder of service history. It had been maintained by a Rover specialist, who originally worked for the Rover dealership where the car was sold new - same mechanic all its life.
After a quick coffee in Fleet I was on my way back home, with a flat mobile battery & the now dark evening was closing in with heavier rain. Apart from obviously knackered top mount bearings, the journey back was uneventful apart from quite appalling traffic between Reading and High Wycombe, and I arrived back in Aylesbury around 9pm:
.
The car was then stashed away in my garage until I had some free time to look at it properly and decide on a plan of action. A couple of weeks later I had it booked in for an MOT, having done absolutely nothing to it, to see what the score was. The answer; it passed with only an advisory for 'Engine Undertrays Fitted'.
The car had now covered a a hundred miles or so in my ownership, and no real issues had arisen as well as the levels staying well put. It was given an oil and filter change, and used for a couple of weekends for a proper shakedown. Nothing to report. As I said earlier, the top mounts clicked and knocked at low speed manoeuvring, but other than that it ran very well indeed.
My main criticism with the car now was bodywork related. The paint was pretty flat, and there are various battle scars on the bumpers, which in fairness, had all been touched up but still very noticeable. Despite not being able to find good bumpers in the same colour, a good detailing brought the car up well and made it more than presentable:
The car was then pressed into service as a 'weekend getaway' car, as per the original intention, conveying me in comfort to various car shows and weekends away I had planned. It was almost as if the car knew exactly what was expected of it, and ate the journeys with a sort of modest smugness (is that a thing?). This gave me the opportunity for some good photos of the car (and also me taking a photo of the car for some reason):
How about a pretend 'press photo':
It even attended the BMC day at Gaydon Motor Museum as part of the 75 line up - it was a fantastic day:
However after around 3000 miles I had started noticing a few niggles. Nothing major, but enough to annoy. The top mounts had not been attended to, and despite only affecting the car at low speeds it was still frustrating, as well as a slight vagueness from the front. The exhaust note had also become slightly louder / raspy which I wasn't too happy about. It was booked into my friendly mechanic for a once over, who diagnosed two top mounts & bearings, a track rod end & a full exhaust needed. Unfortunately I'm not in the least mechanically minded, so this did cost a few quid to get sorted - but it transformed the car. Afterwards it drove so tight & quite frankly, like a new car.
At the back end of 2017 I decided my diesel daily 75 would be sold - but it would be daft not to swap some good bits over to the V6 before its sale. Most notably the driver's seat of the V6 didn't feel quite 'square'. As you raised the height of the seat, it seemed to twist towards the centre of the car. Swapping the driver's seat with the diesel solved this nicely though - while maintaining the electric / heated / memory seat. I also ordered a new steering wheel from SAIC in China with the wooden inserts rather than the beige leather steering wheel fitted to the car. Unfortunately the leather colour didn't match (it is the correct part number - but it just doesn't match). At some point I'll get a good used UK wooden steering wheel, but it'll do for now:
At this point the car was parked up in the garage for winter, as I had the Volvo to play with / get to know. At the back end of February 2018 the Volvo met with an unfortunate pothole incident which meant it needed a couple of days at the specialist. I didn't really want to get the 75 out until the salt on the roads had well and truly disappeared, however needs must. The 75 was pressed back into service for a few days, just before the MOT expired. As expected it did a sterling job in the Volvo's absence & I was very glad to have had it available. Once I had the Volvo back the 75 was booked in for an MOT, which it failed. One lower suspension arm later, and we have an advisory-free MOT! Not bad for a 17 year old car!
It's also had an oil and filter change, but it is due a gearbox oil change & cambelt replacements. I'll get it booked in soon, and hopefully this year it'll have a couple of new bumpers to replace the slightly damaged ones. It'll definitely be going to a few Rover / Leyland apologist shows this year too
Great car, and I dig the colour. I've always loved the Rover 75! - even if I'm not quite sure why, because it is blatantly a pretentious retro pastiche. But it's a pretentious retro pastiche that somehow works! A design of rare skill. I might almost class it as a work of art.
I always think of the X-Type as aimed at the same market. I'm sure the X-Type is fine to drive - the Mondeo always got good reviews - but, it's such a vile, ugly-looking, misshapen monstrosity. The X-Type can only dream of being even half the car that the Rover 75 is.
(P.S., I also like the interior. I've got a similar Werther's Original + plasticwood look in my car. I'm not sure it's actually possible for humans to be old enough for this colour scheme, but I prefer it to the more common S&M dungeon look.)
I always think of the X-Type as aimed at the same market. I'm sure the X-Type is fine to drive - the Mondeo always got good reviews - but, it's such a vile, ugly-looking, misshapen monstrosity. The X-Type can only dream of being even half the car that the Rover 75 is.
(P.S., I also like the interior. I've got a similar Werther's Original + plasticwood look in my car. I'm not sure it's actually possible for humans to be old enough for this colour scheme, but I prefer it to the more common S&M dungeon look.)
I think these look just right in Connoisseur spec with these particular wheels.
I also think this version is much nicer looking than the facelifted one.
I actually used to work at a Rover garage when these were new - as an 19 ish year old I wasn't interested in them....but now at 34....I am getting there.......
I also think this version is much nicer looking than the facelifted one.
I actually used to work at a Rover garage when these were new - as an 19 ish year old I wasn't interested in them....but now at 34....I am getting there.......
Very small world! This was owned by the Grandad of one of my closest friends, I remember seeing it in the garage shortly before you would have bought it. I've sent him over the link of your thread, so he can show it to the original owner - good to see it getting the right sort of treatment too. I twigged when you mentioned it was in Fleet, then the car suddenly looked very familiar!
CornedBeef said:
Very small world! This was owned by the Grandad of one of my closest friends, I remember seeing it in the garage shortly before you would have bought it. I've sent him over the link of your thread, so he can show it to the original owner - good to see it getting the right sort of treatment too. I twigged when you mentioned it was in Fleet, then the car suddenly looked very familiar!
Fantastic! I have often thought about sending a text to the son-in-law of the owner (who dealt with the sale) to let him know how it's going - but on balance decided that was probably a bit weird! I think he already thought a then 27 year old buying a Rover 75 was a bit peculiar 
I remember the owner enthusing about the car to me at collection, and it would be lovely for him to know the car is on top form
Thanks for all the comments, chaps
spaceship said:
These have been majorily growing on me since they've started popping up on here recently.
That looks really smart. Are they as quiet and serene and wafty as they look?
Yes - very much so. A good one in 15" wheels will ride as well as a contemporary hydro/airmatic car. Bigger wheels and low profile tyres do kill the ride quality though.That looks really smart. Are they as quiet and serene and wafty as they look?
As for noise - they're very refined. My only critism is around wind noise at motorway speeds - created by the original "bullet" door mirrors.
The 75 feels like it is trying (successfully) to punch above its weight, but that means that it does feel like it should be a little larger. It feels quite a bit narrower than my V70 & rear seat passengers will feel cramped.
SebastienClement said:
spaceship said:
These have been majorily growing on me since they've started popping up on here recently.
That looks really smart. Are they as quiet and serene and wafty as they look?
Yes - very much so. A good one in 15" wheels will ride as well as a contemporary hydro/airmatic car. Bigger wheels and low profile tyres do kill the ride quality though.That looks really smart. Are they as quiet and serene and wafty as they look?
As for noise - they're very refined. My only critism is around wind noise at motorway speeds - created by the original "bullet" door mirrors.
The 75 feels like it is trying (successfully) to punch above its weight, but that means that it does feel like it should be a little larger. It feels quite a bit narrower than my V70 & rear seat passengers will feel cramped.
itcaptainslow said:
To be fair mine on the 17” Serpents rides beautifully-almost as well as on the 15” Crown wheels. There’s not much in it!
Interesting - my diesel was on serpents & low profiles and it was awful. I was convinced it was broken on some way but no one could ever find anything wrong. Perhaps it was broken after all!
Bit of an update, as the car has been in the garage for the past couple of weeks being fettled. The cam belts (3 of them on these) were overdue by two years - however the car had done so little mileage since having them fitted in 2010 I had risked running it as is. This car is definitely a keeper, so it was time to get them done. The trip to the garage this time turned out to be a bit more in depth than I thought it was going to be!
The mechanic had completed the cam belt change (along with water pump, ancillaries & auxiliary belts) and was running it up to temperature when it cut out and would not restart. After plugging it into the diagnostics it was showing a misfire on cylinder 2. Turns out the coil pack on cylinder 2 had failed. Unfortunately on these engines when there is an incomplete circuit to a spark plug it fries the relevant bit of the engine ECU - of course that's what ended up happening here! New ECUs are available from BMW and cost ££££ - the cars won't accept a used ECU. However, a chap that is reasonably local in Milton Keynes - and whom I've had dealings with before - has taken these ECUs apart and knows them inside out and upside down. In fact he's been very much involved with developing the remap for the diesel variants. My mechanic had already been in touch with him, and his solution was to supply a 'virginised' ECU that thinks it's new. Thank goodness these very clever people exist & happy to help out.
So after that I've ended up with the following being done:
Cambelts + ancillaries
Waterpump
Fluid Service
New breather hose (old one was broken - TADTS)
Auxiliary Belt
ECU replacement
Transmission Service.
Should be set up for a while now!
The mechanic had completed the cam belt change (along with water pump, ancillaries & auxiliary belts) and was running it up to temperature when it cut out and would not restart. After plugging it into the diagnostics it was showing a misfire on cylinder 2. Turns out the coil pack on cylinder 2 had failed. Unfortunately on these engines when there is an incomplete circuit to a spark plug it fries the relevant bit of the engine ECU - of course that's what ended up happening here! New ECUs are available from BMW and cost ££££ - the cars won't accept a used ECU. However, a chap that is reasonably local in Milton Keynes - and whom I've had dealings with before - has taken these ECUs apart and knows them inside out and upside down. In fact he's been very much involved with developing the remap for the diesel variants. My mechanic had already been in touch with him, and his solution was to supply a 'virginised' ECU that thinks it's new. Thank goodness these very clever people exist & happy to help out.
So after that I've ended up with the following being done:
Cambelts + ancillaries
Waterpump
Fluid Service
New breather hose (old one was broken - TADTS)
Auxiliary Belt
ECU replacement
Transmission Service.
Should be set up for a while now!
Been putting a few miles on the car now. Quite quickly realised it was losing coolant at a slow but steady rate. Seems to be a reasonably common thing that after the waterpump has been renewed often the thermostat will begin to leak - this is what had happened. New thermostat fitted and now coolant is rock solid.
Took it up the M40 on Sunday to the British Motor Museum at Gaydon for their BMC / Leyland day.
And then a trip to one of my favourite photo locations afterwards:
Took it up the M40 on Sunday to the British Motor Museum at Gaydon for their BMC / Leyland day.
And then a trip to one of my favourite photo locations afterwards:
Well I’ve put 1000 miles on the car since it’s big service. Nothing to report - coolant is rock steady and it hasn’t used any oil. I’m happy that the engine is in rude health.
The only other thing I’ve done is fit two replacement VIS motors. These are little electric motors on the inlet manifold that control a set of plastic flaps within the manifold to regulate airflow. They regularly fail, and are the car feel lethargic. I had a feeling this was a problem on mine, as even though the 2.0v6 isn’t quick anyway, it seemed particularly flat under 3000rpm. The new VIS motors have perked it up well though, and has even perked the fuel economy up a bit. It’s averaging 32mpg over the last couple of tankfulls.
I am inflicted with a disease, where I must always have a project on the go - something to tinker with. Now that this car is running perfectly and there are no outstanding jobs, my fingers got a bit itchy and I ended up buying another one, unseen, from an owners club member.
However, it’s a bit different, as it’s a long wheel base version built by McNellie. These were an official Rover product that McNellie built for them. This car in particular is the vehicle that features in the MK2 Rover 75 LWB brochure.
It’s a whole 8 inches longer that a standard wheel base 75, which puts it at about the same length as an E38 BMW 7 series. So far it drives very nicely, but I’ve got a list of things to do! It needs some attention to the sills (TATDS), and needs a really good service, as well as a few suspension bushes.
Here’s the current fleet:
The red one to the left of the picture is the diesel one that is referenced in the thread earlier. The Volvo I had was written off (hit by a lorry when parked - it opened the side of the car up like a tin opener
) so the diesel was purchased back. It’s a bit redundant at the moment, but in use by my housemate who needed a stopgap car urgently when his Astra died suddenly.
The only other thing I’ve done is fit two replacement VIS motors. These are little electric motors on the inlet manifold that control a set of plastic flaps within the manifold to regulate airflow. They regularly fail, and are the car feel lethargic. I had a feeling this was a problem on mine, as even though the 2.0v6 isn’t quick anyway, it seemed particularly flat under 3000rpm. The new VIS motors have perked it up well though, and has even perked the fuel economy up a bit. It’s averaging 32mpg over the last couple of tankfulls.
I am inflicted with a disease, where I must always have a project on the go - something to tinker with. Now that this car is running perfectly and there are no outstanding jobs, my fingers got a bit itchy and I ended up buying another one, unseen, from an owners club member.
However, it’s a bit different, as it’s a long wheel base version built by McNellie. These were an official Rover product that McNellie built for them. This car in particular is the vehicle that features in the MK2 Rover 75 LWB brochure.
It’s a whole 8 inches longer that a standard wheel base 75, which puts it at about the same length as an E38 BMW 7 series. So far it drives very nicely, but I’ve got a list of things to do! It needs some attention to the sills (TATDS), and needs a really good service, as well as a few suspension bushes.
Here’s the current fleet:
The red one to the left of the picture is the diesel one that is referenced in the thread earlier. The Volvo I had was written off (hit by a lorry when parked - it opened the side of the car up like a tin opener
) so the diesel was purchased back. It’s a bit redundant at the moment, but in use by my housemate who needed a stopgap car urgently when his Astra died suddenly.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff