Rover sheds. Common problems?

[AlphaQuail]

Hello,

Recently looking to down grading and run a shed with a new house on the horizon. A couple of Rovers have come up recently sub £1,000.

Apart from the usual shed checklist which I have, do Rovers have any additional common gremlins? I ask because I've heard head gaskets might be one is this true? Anything else?

I can appreciate at this end of the market anything can go but just want to make sure I get most shed for my money and minimise risk

cheers

[Pinkie15]

K series engine (1.0, 1,1, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 1.8 vvc & 1.8 turbo petrol) - Yes headgasket is a weakness. Various uprated bits available on the market to minimise failure if you need to change one.

KV6 (2.5 L petrol) - Not really related to the K series, time consuming (= expensive) to change the belts

T series (2 L petrol, best with the turbo (197 horses of fun !)), nothing really, but can leak oil a bit.

L series (2 L diesel) - pretty much bulletproof

BMW M47-R (diesel, fitted to R75/MG ZT) - Doesn't have all the stupid bits that break off and destroy the engine in BMWs.


Otherwise you're talking about cars at least 12 years old (apart from some MG TFs), so going to be general wear & tear and rust.

Vehicle specific stuff:

25/ZR - rusty roof around sunroof (if fitted), tailgate electrics can play up due to loom chaffing between body & tailgate, can cause all sorts of electrical weirdness

75/ZT - scuttle drains can block and "drown" the ECU. There's simple mods to overcome this issue all over the internet

600 - weak handbrake & failing electric front windows (both crappy Honda design).

Post 2003 ish (Project Drive) across the range reductions in non-visible/essential bits & pieces (e.g. sound-proofing) as MG-R tried to save money to stay afloat.

Edited by Pinkie15 on Wednesday 16th August 15:04

[ruhall]

AlphaQuail said:

Hello,

Recently looking to down grading and run a shed with a new house on the horizon. A couple of Rovers have come up recently sub £1,000.

Apart from the usual shed checklist which I have, do Rovers have any additional common gremlins?

I can appreciate at this end of the market anything can go but just want to make sure I get most shed for my money

cheers

Must be quite a big garden if your house is going to be on the horizon when you're in your shed. If that's downgrading, how big is the current house?

I think you'll be disappointed if you expect a Rover to be much good as a shed - there isn't miuch room inside any of them and none have standing headroom, so pretty hopeless for working in.

If you really want a Rover 'shed', you're best bet is one of the Honda engined ones, ie 1.6 or earlier 1.3, fairly bullet proof.