Rover 25 & Now Skoda Fabia

Wats_in_a_name

I have another thread asking for ideas of what car to buy but since its sidetracked about reg plates I decided it was better to start another.

I have found a 04 Rover 25. Motorcheck tells me its Rover 25 1.4IE 5DR 03MY

Does anyone have any experiences with the Rover 25. Is that the engine that is prone to head gasket failures? If I regularly check the coolant will I be ok?

January

Just don't bother, seriously, it's not worth the hassle... and I'm a girl, who knows nothing about cars, but I owned an 04 Rover 25 and it's just not worth it.

mondeo

Wats_in_a_name wrote: »

I have another thread asking for ideas of what car to buy but since its sidetracked about reg plates I decided it was better to start another.

I have found a 04 Rover 25. Motorcheck tells me its Rover 25 1.4IE 5DR 03MY

Does anyone have any experiences with the Rover 25. Is that the engine that is prone to head gasket failures? If I regularly check the coolant will I be ok?

Ye those cars had head gasket issues, I think from 2003' they were suppose to have resolved the problem with an uprated gasket set. Still I would not trust it even with the revised setup.
I'd be looking for a differant car to be honest...

Alanstrainor

RoverJames reckons that engine is fine once the coolant is checked. But imo, i'd just buy an older fiesta, you'd be able to get a 02/03 one for your money. Much better car imo.

Wats_in_a_name

I was hoping for more detailed reasons as to why I should avoid them. I was told to avoid the 206 and had no issues at all.

Tragedy

Wats_in_a_name wrote: »

I have another thread asking for ideas of what car to buy but since its sidetracked about reg plates I decided it was better to start another.

I have found a 04 Rover 25. Motorcheck tells me its Rover 25 1.4IE 5DR 03MY

Does anyone have any experiences with the Rover 25. Is that the engine that is prone to head gasket failures? If I regularly check the coolant will I be ok?

It's only common mechanical problem is headgasket failure. An 04 one should have been fitted with an uprated gasket/bolts/lower rail, but I'd want an experienced mechanic to find out or proof that it was done.

IE also seems to be the second lowest spec, so I wouldn't bother based on that. You'd have more luck finding an MG ZR to be honest.

January

By any chance, have you a link to the car? I think it's my old one for some weird reason...

Wats_in_a_name

http://www.adverts.ie/car/25/25/rover-25/459897

January

Nah, not my old one, damn close reg though!

andyseadog

the gaskets are a big problem with them, so i'd be looking for one that had proof that the new MLS gasket had been fitted. Any more inferior gaskets, or if its still on its original and you can be reasonably confident it will fail.

However, if you should find one with the upgraded gasket fitted, or (as was said) a 2004 or newer car which had them fitted as standard, they are very capable cars, and the 1.4 is 105bhp, so pokier than the equivelant focus/ golf.

they have a few other niggly faults

leaky sunroof's and rear light seals are common (check for wet headlining and water in the spare wheel well)

tailgate wiring looms can chafe and split (check that ALL the rear lights are working correctly)

heater resistors are another flaw (check the fan works on all 4 speeds)

rust (around the front door sills under the scuff plates, engine bay and around the window seals)

but these are risks you take in used cars, and could go wrong in any car alongside rovers.

the ZR would be a better choice, but the suspension setup is a little on the solid side.

Wats_in_a_name

Is it possible to check if the car has the new MLS gasket fitted?

andyseadog

visually not really, receipts would be the only form of proof i would accept.

Wats_in_a_name

Ok. He has no receipts so Ill have to factor in replacing it.

I heard the part is around €25 but labour is €400-€500 is that right?

andyseadog

last time i bought the full engine gasket kit with new head bolts etc for that engine, it was 210 euro-ish, then theres new oil and filter and coolant, then you may aswell do the timing belt (and water pump as these are a bit fragile on the K-series engine too) while your at it so theres another 100-120.

id be factoring in 500 ish, dependent on who does the work for you.

ARGINITE

Alanstrainor wrote: »

RoverJames reckons that engine is fine once the coolant is checked..

RoverJames is right.
I have owned a Rover 200 1.4 for the last four years (basically the same car) and have covered well over 50000 miles without any issue with the head gasket. If you keep an eye on the coolant the K series is a good engine.

Wats_in_a_name

andyseadog wrote: »

id be factoring in 500 ish, dependent on who does the work for you.

Is that including labour? Not the cheapest then. Could I drive it till the gasket fails and then replace it or would that cause more damage?

andyseadog

Wats_in_a_name wrote: »

Is that including labour? Not the cheapest then. Could I drive it till the gasket fails and then replace it or would that cause more damage?

well, asuming you have a mechanic buddy then yeah. there would be a good days work in it for an independent garage, so its hard to say what they might ask.

you could run the car until the gasket fails, but then you run the risk of overheating the engine, then you will need to get the head skimmed and could cause further internal damage.

if i was to buy another rover (but im over cautious), i would factor it into the cost price and would buy it and just replace the gasket as soon as i could. that way it isin't constantly playing on your mind.

Wats_in_a_name

January wrote: »

Just don't bother, seriously, it's not worth the hassle... and I'm a girl, who knows nothing about cars, but I owned an 04 Rover 25 and it's just not worth it.

What exactly went wrong with your Rover?

VolvoMan

I know head gaskets may be a problem with these, but surely they can't be all be that bad with the amount of them you still see on the road.

Wats_in_a_name

Wats_in_a_name wrote: »

I was hoping for more detailed reasons as to why I should avoid them. I was told to avoid the 206 and had no issues at all.

You won't really get more detailed reasons


If the HG hasn't given trouble on an 04 to date than it may well not do so, if the HG actually fails once you don't drive it with the temp gauge in the red it will be a simple enough repair. Main issue is that an 04 may have had HG failure, bee cooked by a driver who didn't have any mechanical sympathy/knowledge and then repaired by a mechanic who didn't know their beans.

I bought a K series powered car that was after having two headgasket repairs and it was still losing coolant, loose inlet manifold bolt, €0.50 for new bolt (old one threads were gone) and job done (some mechanics should be shot).

Wats_in_a_name

Wats_in_a_name wrote: »

http://www.adverts.ie/car/25/25/rover-25/459897

Unless there are receipts for all the recent service work (belt, pump and brakes) I'd be cautious of that, that's a very good few hundred to invest before selling.

andyseadog

andyseadog wrote: »

However, if you should find one with the upgraded gasket fitted, or (as was said) a 2004 or newer car which had them fitted as standard, they are very capable cars, and the 1.4 is 105bhp, so pokier than the equivelant focus/ golf.

I think there's a bit of confusion about the upgraded gasket

The MLS one (which is an actual upgrade) wasn't installed in any Rover 25s, Land Rover started putting that in 1.8Ks.

The standard SLS gasket was improved around 2004 with a reinforced elastamere bead. That one should be in the Rover 25 the OP has linked to if it's still on it's original head gasket. Considering it's apparently after a timing belt and water pump one would imagine there is no sign of HG trouble with the car.

There was a further improvement on the MLS gasket which came in a kit comprising of the shim bonded to the gasket, uprated oil rail and high tensile bolts. It's quite expensive to buy (over £220 off a crowd called Xpart and the water pump isn't included :eek: ).

Wats_in_a_name

Yup I'm a bit worried about the 25 on adverts seems quite cheap for the year and have been put off buying a 25 and looking at a fabia now from a dealer.

andyseadog

RoverJames wrote: »

I think there's a bit of confusion about the upgraded gasket

The MLS one (which is an actual upgrade) wasn't installed in any Rover 25s, Land Rover started putting that in 1.8Ks.

The standard SLS gasket was improved around 2004 with a reinforced elastamere bead. That one should be in the Rover 25 the OP has linked to if it's still on it's original head gasket. Considering it's apparently after a timing belt and water pump one would imagine there is no sign of HG trouble with the car.

There was a further improvement on the MLS gasket which came in a kit comprising of the shim bonded to the gasket, uprated oil rail and high tensile bolts. It's quite expensive to buy (over £220 off a crowd called Xpart and the water pump isn't included :eek: ).

fixed that for myself :P

andyseadog wrote:

However, if you should find one with the improved better quality factory fitted gasket, or (as was said) a 2004 or newer car which had them fitted as standard, they are very capable cars, and the 1.4 is 105bhp, so pokier than the equivelant focus/ golf.

the kit i got was from an irish rover dealership, with the MLS gasket, head bolts and snazzy oil rail and all the trimmings, trade price i'm very confident was 210 snots.

Wats_in_a_name wrote: »

Yup I'm a bit worried about the 25 on adverts seems quite cheap for the year and have been put off buying a 25 and looking at a fabia now from a dealer.

just looked at the advert and its wearing ZR headlamps (black tinted, the 25 had chrome headlamps) my barge pole and that car would never unite.

andyseadog

andyseadog wrote: »

the kit i got was from an irish rover dealership, with the MLS gasket, head bolts and snazzy oil rail and all the trimmings, trade price i'm very confident was 210 snots.

Trimmings as in water pump too ?

andyseadog

RoverJames wrote: »

Trimmings as in water pump too ?

oh no, sorry should have been more specific.

it was the full engine gasket kit (head, valve cover, inlet mani, some lovely washers and seals, head bolts and oil rail)

had to buy the water pump, t.belt, thermo and the rest as extras.

have the part number for the gasket kit in the garage outside if anyone needs it.

Tragedy

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200409668201&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_2711wt_950
Received a couple of good reports on mg-rover.org

If you want that little bit of added peace of mind, http://www.mgocaccessories.co.uk/acatalog/Z_ENGINE_FUEL.html

eyebrows63

i have a 03 rover 45 with a replaced head gasket. its driving ok but i dont think that i would ever buy another one. head gasket failed at 40,000, rear door handles are hanging off, heater resistors nearly all gone [1 speed left] cig lighter not working, water leaking into boot and air bag light comes on now and again. i bought this car when it was 3 years old. never again:mad:

Wats_in_a_name

Ok thanks for all the opinions. Think I will leave it.

Looking for a car just untill Summer or possible Christmas when i will hopefully have the money to splash out on a 156 with lots spare to cover repairs!

Next Stop Skoda Fabia. Heard its boring & reliable? Dealer selling for €1950. How much should I be looking to get off it?

eyebrows63

eyebrows63 wrote: »

i have a 03 rover 45 with a replaced head gasket. its driving ok but i dont think that i would ever buy another one. head gasket failed at 40,000, rear door handles are hanging off, heater resistors nearly all gone [1 speed left] cig lighter not working, water leaking into boot and air bag light comes on now and again. i bought this car when it was 3 years old. never again:mad:

you'd sort all that in two hours for about 50 euro. In the 5 years you have had it did it ever break down? Have you spent much on it ?

eyebrows63

RoverJames wrote: »

you'd sort all that in two hours for about 50 euro. In the 5 years you have had it did it ever break down? Have you spent much on it ?

i bought 2 second hand rear handels for E50, fixed the airbag light by fiddling with the wires under the drivers seat and it got through the nct 3 weeks ago, last june/ july i got the head gasket , pump and belt done for around e550. if i get another 2 years out of it i,d be happy. i also have a 97 mazda323 with twice the milage[ roughly105000] and have yet to spend money on it except for oil , plugs tyres ect

andyseadog

i'm going to really mess you up now and say that my other halfs sister drives a 1.4 fabia and has went through a water pump and head a=gasket recently

its the chance you take with any car. and them fabias interior... stone the crows... its just :eek:

eyebrows63

eyebrows63 wrote: »

i bought 2 second hand rear handels for E50, fixed the airbag light by fiddling with the wires under the drivers seat and it got through the nct 3 weeks ago, last june/ july i got the head gasket , pump and belt done for around e550. if i get another 2 years out of it i,d be happy. i also have a 97 mazda323 with twice the milage[ roughly105000] and have yet to spend money on it except for oil , plugs tyres ect

you'll get a resistor pack for THe heater for a tenner in a scrap yard

VolvoMan

andyseadog wrote: »

just looked at the advert and its wearing ZR headlamps (black tinted, the 25 had chrome headlamps) my barge pole and that car would never unite.

I wouldn't say there's anything to be worried about here; they all seemed to get them from '03:

andyseadog

still looks out of place on a 25 :P