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The second one is okay as it has air con (was a £1k option when new!), but the silver nose is frowned upon in BRM circles. First one looks okay as well, and it also has air con and an orange nose, but both the BRM front wing badges are missing, and they're around £40 each if and when they come up for sale. Not bad prices, but that Trader probably paid about £500 for it! Can't say whether they're known to any forum members, but a true enthusiast WILL know the build number, which is only available through the forum and is not stamped on the car anywhere. Mine's number 770/795 Kev.
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Last Edit: Dec 7, 2008 21:35:36 GMT by rovamota
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Jem45
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,021
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If I take the plunge Kev, we'll speak again Thanks everyone for chipping in. Nick
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Carbs 'n chrome
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Good luck with the bidding. If you do get one you will find the BRM forum very supportive and helpful.
Kev.
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Last Edit: Dec 7, 2008 21:53:24 GMT by rovamota
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I brought a Rover 216 4 weeks ago, which has the 1.6 K-series engine ... it has been awesome ... untill it went up in a cloud of mist earlier! I dropped it into 4th to overtake someone just before my motorway junction turn off, and it had no power, so braked and pulled off and stopped at the lights in a cloud of mist! The temperature guage was still reading normal, which I thought was weird, so pulled into a hotel and poped the bonnet to find lots and lots of steam lol. I noticed it was infact a radiator pipe that had split, so broken out the duct tape and refilled it with water, hoping it was just a broken pipe, but there was however enough mayo on the water resovior lid to make a few tuna may sandwiches. When I drove off it was ok, then started getting hot, so I stopped, let it cool down, and refilled it with water. I then drove off and it was hot still, then all of a sudden cooled down to its normal opperating temperature and stayed there for the rest of the 10 munite drive home, and felt fine! Tomorrow I have the fun task of refilling it with decent oil and water/anti freeze then ragging it about a bit to see if its ok or needs a new hg ... fun fun fun for me! Good old Rovers!
P.S. the car was £370 complete with chavtastic 17"s (need to flog!) and decent sound system, 70000 miles, 6000 mile engine, new exhaust, decent tyres, no rust! Untill tonight I thought it was a bargain!
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^ The HG has probably gone, TBH Geforce. These engine don't like losing water - it can warp the head - and they don't have much water in there to start with.
The Landrover HG is for the Freelander, and yes it is improved. It also comes with a new bearing ladder (in place of main bearing caps on other engines), steel head dowels (reckoned to be the real cause of the issues) and new stretch bolts.
Whether the L-R gasket is available/suitable for the 1.6 or 1.4 I don't know, but it's really the 1.8 in rear-mounted sitations (MGF, Elise) and in highly-stressed situations (Freelander - it is a little underpowered so gets thrashed from cold).
The other thing to change on pushed engines is the thermostat - it is on the input to the engine from the radiator, and causes temperature cycling and localised overheating. An external thermostat in the top hose (remove the original 'stat) sorts it out though.
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alexg
Part of things
Posts: 550
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Go for it, I don't think they will ever be cheaper then they are now so you won't loose out. They look great and go well. Always fancied buying one but never took the plunge. A modern classic
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1979 'V' Austin Allegro Estate
1990 'G' Rover Metro GTI 1.8 VVC
1985 Sinclair C5
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Jem45
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,021
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Bought! And picking up tomorrow night Not in the habit of buying "unseen" so fingers crossed. Pics and first impressions to follow...
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Carbs 'n chrome
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horney™
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,289
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Good work, I've always been tempted by one of these. Driven a coupl eand they were a hoot.
Nick
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I've got a 216 that may be getting close to a HGF (67000 miles....), but the most important thing on these is to keep an eye on the coolant level, especially in cold weather and short trips. Squeeze the top rad hose (cold) and if you can hear gurgling in the head, top it up instantly! The upper limit of the expansion tank isn't much above the top of the head, so any loss will start hotspots. Also, let the engine warm through properly before giving it beans (and I don't just mean the temp gauge moves.....); it is as close to a motorbike engine in construction as you can get and all of it needs to be thoroughly warmed through. That tip I got from a guy who's company ran three MG ZR rally cars, and after four years of hard thrash none had had an HGF! They just need a bit more TLC than most drivers are prepared to give them. Top choice, though.....
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Rover Metro - The TARDIS - brake problems.....Stored Rover 75 - Barge MGZTT Cdti 160+ - Winter Hack and Audi botherer... MGF - The Golden Shot...Stored Project Minion........ Can you see the theme?
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Excellent choice, the engine and box are basically Lotus Elise S1, 1.8 VVC, close ratio 5 speed box, I bought one for the missus and she loves it, its a bit jiggly around towns, and a bit revvy at motorway speeds, but get it on the twistys and it comes alive. I'm no great fan of moderns, I have a P5B and SD1, but I always enjoy the BRM. Ian Technically, doesn't an S1 Elise have basically a Rover/BRM VVC motor rather than the other way round? With my pedantic head off.... To be honest, that's about the only modern Rover I'd want to own. Not crazy about the orange grille but it's in keeping with the slighty lairy nature of the car.
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Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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I actually really want one of these,and everytime i see or read about them i wanna go out and buy one.headgasket isn't really am issue anymore,we do kits with metal part that apparently sorts it.i'd probably just want a standard one as they're so just cool as standard.how quick are the vi's anyway?didn't know these had slippers??
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I actually really want one of these,and everytime I see or read about them I wanna go out and buy one.headgasket isn't really am issue anymore,we do kits with metal part that apparently sorts it.i'd probably just want a standard one as they're so just cool as standard.how quick are the vi's anyway?didn't know these had slippers?? That's the beauty of cars like the 200BRM. They slip under the radar and so hardly anyone knows or cares what they are as they're too busy telling everyone how great their overrated, default choice Golf's and Saxo's are. 200vi is a bit quicker to 60, but it doesn't handle as well, doesn't have an LSD, and looks like a 214i. Kev.
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Last Edit: Dec 9, 2008 20:17:28 GMT by rovamota
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Jem45
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,021
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Drove it home about 50 miles last night and first impressions are good. It feels very tight on the road and man, it's quick! It also pulls up straight and true. Can't get it in the garage to give it a proper once over because the 127 is cowering in there at the moment but I'm off work thursday afternoon so can have a good poke around then. Think I'm gonna like this car I've forgotten already it's for my other half!
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Carbs 'n chrome
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Congrats on a great buy!
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1987 Maestro 1.6 HL perkins diesel conversion 1986 Audi 100 Avant 1800cc on LPG 1979 Allegro Series 2 special 4 door 1500cc with vynil roof. IN BITS. HERITAGE ISSUES.
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MOGGY
Part of things
Posts: 272
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brm's are quite nice, I like.
well done on getting one, hope its a good one.
I was not aware they had a lsd either. They are reasonably quick and good fun to drive.
The freelander headgasket will fit all the engines and makes a big difference. You are supposed to fit the ladder as well but you can just fit the freelander hg on its own and get away with it. As for bolts, you are supposed to change them if they are over a certain length and I have never met one that has stretched that far yet.
If I buy a k series car I slip a new hg on before it even goes, and then can forget it. Its a really simple job. 4 hours is possible including belt.
Last point though, I do find all the vvc 160 k series's tend to feel like the 160 is a bit of an exaggeration, sometimes its because the vvc bit isn't working properly and needs sorting. It's a very common problem.
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Total classic car pervert
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mym
Part of things
Posts: 443
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Dec 10, 2008 10:30:05 GMT
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brm's and 200 Vi's are 145bhp, not the last 160
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MOGGY
Part of things
Posts: 272
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Dec 10, 2008 10:36:13 GMT
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you know what I mean though. Most vvc's feel like they are no better than a good 130bhp standard
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Total classic car pervert
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