Advice please Mr H - Non Renault

Level 10 User Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 621

Hi Chris, I'm looking at a Rover 214 SEI in Edinburgh, what should I be checking?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4566675624&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1 < The car in question!

I queried what he said about the gearbox and he said it's fine since he had the oil changed!

Site Subscriber Joined: 13 Oct 2004 Posts: 4722

headgaskets like to go bang on these too.

Spammer Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 5717

i had the new shape 214 once ,never recommend it to anyone ,the 1.4 engine is crap ,the cooling system is faulty and the headgasket goes easy as rog mentioned

Level 4 User Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 81

It's misleading to say the engine's crap. That's just not the case. It's actually a great engine, with a reputation for being prone to head gasket failures. Although the reputation may be deserved it is definitely not as common as many people would have you believe. Most of the time when I hear or read of someone saying don't buy Rover because their engines are crap have never actually owned one but instead heard of someone who had HGF.

Look after the K series engine and service it regularly and it'll most likely look after you. It's an engine with a high specific output 105PS (103BHP) from the 1.4 litre 16 valve multipoint injection in the 214SEi, and it is a sweet engine. With the SEi model you also get very nice black half leather seats as standard.

Due to the poor estimation that most people have of these cars, you can often pick up a bargain. You could get a real nice car there that's both economical and quite nippy for the price of a long weekend's boozing money.

Level 4 User Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 81

Having looked at that auction though, I wouldn't buy that car. You can get much better.

Also, I can see it says SEi on the boot lid, but that's not an SEi that I recognise. All SEis that I have seen have colour coded bumpers and half leather seats inside, as well as a boot lip spoiler, 15" Rover alloy wheels, clear rear light clusters (not amber) and electric windows all around.

Either he's changed the badge or everything else.

Level 10 User Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 621

You can get much better, I know, but not for Â£250 with MOT and Tax in Scotland.

Level 4 User Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 81

Well sometimes you need to travel for the right car, this is true, but I am quite confident you can get a much better 214 than that for Â£250.

Click this link for what a standard 214SEi looks like:
http://img47.echo.cx/my.php?image=214sei7tx.jpg

Site Subscriber Joined: 13 Oct 2004 Posts: 4722

dont fancy another 19 then?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

lIndsey its england where cars are dear you can get taxed and tested cars easy for Â£150!

Anyway irishrover summed it up nice, the engines are good, the main issue was the plastic head dowels and the inlet manifold gasket leaking caused headgasket symptoms.

Thats cars a pokey stick effort, when you pull back the stick it'll have shite on it! Laughing

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

i had a friend who exactly that model, was gunna say it was better equiped than that,.

it went real nice tbh,...while it was goin...but then it did develop problems and died miserably after a lot of cash was thrown at it...but he was no diy mechanic so it could have been neglected,

hey we moan all the time about our 19s and cooling and HGs etc...

Level 10 User Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 621

I had a 214 SLi and loved it to bits, it was written off by a taxi driver. There's another one in Aberdeen, but it's only MOT'd til November.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4566396314&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

I have thought about another 19 but can't afford it. I need to get something quick.

I've got my uncle looking too, he's in Redditch.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

lol theres 19's by the bucketload cheap, clios the same but they tend to be about 75 quid dearer than the 19's.

You fall over them here, most end in the scrappies with T&T! Scrappie guys make a mint cashing in the tax discs! lol

Level 4 User Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 81

I will keep a look out for any decent 214s and let you know if I see any for sale.

For anyone that's interested, here's a link to some good articles relating to the K series engine and head gaskets.
http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/common_problems/hgf_pages/HGF_contents.htm

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

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Level 4 User Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 81

Sorry - edited link now.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

just click what is a headgasket, damp liner! lol

Site Subscriber Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 3547

Quote:

If an increase of water temperature or loss of power then...

...stop as soon as is safe and practical. Stop engine, and open the boot. Then as the engine cools

why the boot?

Level 4 User Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 81

Chris H wrote:

just click what is a headgasket, damp liner! lol

Are you making a "woman's things" joke? Smile

I take it he meant bonnet Dan, unless his was rear engined. Very Happy

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

its a wet liner not a damp liner.

Also the main issue is th ecooling system, freelanders etc switched to a conventional stat set up have no issues with headgaskets due to thermal shock.

Level 10 User Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 621

Chris H wrote:

Thats cars a pokey stick effort, when you pull back the stick it'll have shite on it! Laughing

What makes you say that Chris?

Asked the guy to confirm the SEi thing and he said that's what it says on the V5.

Site Subscriber Joined: 13 Oct 2004 Posts: 4722

possibility that some one has brought it and swapped all the good bits for a lesser model, and bunged all the parts off this one onto that,

then and sold it on.

might explain.