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 Advice please Mr H - Non Renault
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Lindsey
Level 10 User

Joined: 22 Mar 2005
Posts: 621

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2005 3:18 pm

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!
Roger Red Hat
Site Subscriber

Joined: 13 Oct 2004
Posts: 4722

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2005 3:46 pm

headgaskets like to go bang on these too.
schakal
Spammer

Joined: 27 Jul 2004
Posts: 5717

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2005 3:50 pm

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
IrishRover
Level 4 User

Joined: 16 Jun 2005
Posts: 81

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2005 5:49 pm

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.
IrishRover
Level 4 User

Joined: 16 Jun 2005
Posts: 81

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2005 5:56 pm

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.
Lindsey
Level 10 User

Joined: 22 Mar 2005
Posts: 621

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2005 6:11 pm

You can get much better, I know, but not for £250 with MOT and Tax in Scotland.
IrishRover
Level 4 User

Joined: 16 Jun 2005
Posts: 81

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2005 6:25 pm

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 £250.

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

Joined: 13 Oct 2004
Posts: 4722

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2005 7:30 pm

dont fancy another 19 then?
Chris H
Forum Moderator

Joined: 02 Mar 2004
Posts: 19978

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 12:44 am

lIndsey its england where cars are dear you can get taxed and tested cars easy for £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
JB
Mr Quoter-vator

Joined: 16 Feb 2004
Posts: 7405

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 1:58 am

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...
Lindsey
Level 10 User

Joined: 22 Mar 2005
Posts: 621

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 2:00 am

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.
Chris H
Forum Moderator

Joined: 02 Mar 2004
Posts: 19978

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 2:02 am

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
IrishRover
Level 4 User

Joined: 16 Jun 2005
Posts: 81

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 3:53 am

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


Last edited by IrishRover on Mon Aug 08, 2005 3:54 am; edited 1 time in total
Chris H
Forum Moderator

Joined: 02 Mar 2004
Posts: 19978

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 3:54 am

The page cannot be found
The page you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please try the following:

If you typed the page address in the Address bar, make sure that it is spelled correctly.

Open the www.mgf.ultimatemg.com home page, and then look for links to the information you want.
Click the Back button to try another link.
Click Search to look for information on the Internet.



HTTP 404 - File not found
Internet Explorer
IrishRover
Level 4 User

Joined: 16 Jun 2005
Posts: 81

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 3:55 am

Sorry - edited link now.
Chris H
Forum Moderator

Joined: 02 Mar 2004
Posts: 19978

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 3:59 am

just click what is a headgasket, damp liner! lol
Dan
Site Subscriber

Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Posts: 3547

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 4:05 am

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?
IrishRover
Level 4 User

Joined: 16 Jun 2005
Posts: 81

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 4:20 am

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
Chris H
Forum Moderator

Joined: 02 Mar 2004
Posts: 19978

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 4:24 am

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.
Lindsey
Level 10 User

Joined: 22 Mar 2005
Posts: 621

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 1:27 pm

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.
Roger Red Hat
Site Subscriber

Joined: 13 Oct 2004
Posts: 4722

Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 1:42 pm

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.
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