what to look for when buying a rover 416
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Soldato
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No service history, cheap, old Rover...that doesn't sound good to me.
InvG
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Don't touch with a barge pole matey, cheap or not.
You will likely end up paying twice what the car is worth in repairs. No service history means it's unlikely that it's known when the cam / timing belt was last changed, if ever, and if that goes then the car isn't worth repairing on a 95 Rover.
You will likely end up paying twice what the car is worth in repairs. No service history means it's unlikely that it's known when the cam / timing belt was last changed, if ever, and if that goes then the car isn't worth repairing on a 95 Rover.
Soldato
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To add to that, it's probably either just blown the HG, or about to, if it's cheap. Being a '95 it'll probably be rather rusty too.
Seriously, don't touch it.
InvG
Soldato
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Rovers were rubbish when the company still existed, now they dont its going to be even more of a nightmare steer well clear!
Soldato
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a 95 rover wouldn't be anymore rusty than any other make.
i had a 92 214 and it had no rust and i didn't have any problems with it in the 35k i did in it(it had no service history).
without a service history its a Gamble, but then so is any make of car
Soldato
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"rover 75 best family car in Auto Trader awards 2007"
beating ford and VW
Family Car
Winner: Rover 75 (Produced 1999-2004)
2nd place: Ford Focus (Produced 1998-2004)
3rd place: Ford Mondeo (Produced 2000-2005)
bet ford/VW etc didn't like getting beaten by a company that no longer exists
Soldato
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A totally different car.
Actually, I'd bet they are laughing all the way to the bank
If only the unions and employees had let BMW modernise the company, it would still be here and be a force in the industry, instead they demanded it be sold to the phoenix consortium...
lol, wp.
How much are we talking here? Check for hgf and assuming it's taxed/tested and is ridiculously cheap, drive it until it breaks/runs out of test/etc.
Look in the coolant expansion tank, the coolant should be quite clear with no "scum" floating on the surface, and level should be correct. Be suspicious of low coolant level!
Check the oil, any hint of emulsification (i.e. looking like mayonaise) is a bad sign. Also open the oil filler and look inside cam cover, a failed head gasket can also cause the mayonaise to build up in here.
Bring a torch to check the front of the engine block behind the exhaust manifold, any wetness and/or rusty looking stains down the block are a bad sign. Also check the road where it is parked for any signs of dropped coolant.
Start the engine, check exhaust for excessive white smoke. Take it for a good run and make sure temperature quickly reaches normal operating point and stays there, any sign of overheating is suspicious, though not necessarily indicative of HGF. If it seems to get too hot check the radiator, the fins on them frequently rot and crumble away.
I've just given away my P reg 416Sli ! Tax'd and MOTd - got one of those scrap collection places to come get it as I don't have it insured.
I thought it was a great car generally - except for the head unit needing replacing which cost me about £800 (the car only cost £800 in the first place!).
I bought it on something like 69,000 miles and added at least 50,000 to that in the 4 years I had it.
Pound per mile that car was a bloomin' bargain.
I thought it was a great car generally - except for the head unit needing replacing which cost me about £800 (the car only cost £800 in the first place!).
I bought it on something like 69,000 miles and added at least 50,000 to that in the 4 years I had it.
Pound per mile that car was a bloomin' bargain.
Exactly.
Just because it's a Rover without any service history doesn't mean it's going to blow up the instant you turn the key.
My second 214 didn't have any service history. It was cheap. I gave it hell for a year and it didn't blow up.
Rover F.T.W! lol
Soldato
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Head Gasket failure is the biggest worry by a mile. Without a service history, I would be concerned. As has been explained, check the expansion tank for levels and scum.
Don't rag the car from cold... that's really all you can do.
HGF is due to a number of reasons, mainly due to the location of the thermostat... so by getting the thermostat to open smoothly as the car warms up gently, you'll reduce the possibility of HGF.
A mate at work has an S reg 414 and he's had it 6 years with no HGF problems, so you might get lucky and not have to worry about it.
HGF is due to a number of reasons, mainly due to the location of the thermostat... so by getting the thermostat to open smoothly as the car warms up gently, you'll reduce the possibility of HGF.
A mate at work has an S reg 414 and he's had it 6 years with no HGF problems, so you might get lucky and not have to worry about it.
Check the coolant level religiously, at least once a week. Let the engine fully warm up before using all of the ~110 bhp.