Restoration or scrap it

bobco · 3rd March 2024, 07:45

Hello,
I inherited a 2001 Rover 75 2.0 CDTi (manual transmission) with only 30.000 km.

I have to decide if to restore the car, which has been standing still for 14 years in a garage, or scrap it.

Does anyone have an idea of the costs to be incurred for the restoration?

What operations are absolutely necessary before trying to restart the engine to avoid causing damage?

For example replacement of the drive belt, service belts, tank cleaning, etc.

Where could I buy spare parts online?

Thanks in adavance.

planenut · 3rd March 2024, 09:36

Welcome to the Club, and the tasks you have ahead. You will have advice from people who know what they are talking about, and lots of suggestions.

For my bit, I would suggest, don't try to start the engine yet, but check how to rotate it, after putting perhaps an amount of oil in the filler, without the fuse in, check battery and fluids. Also the brakes, pipes and hoses?

If you are considering this project, I suspect you already have a fair amount of knowledge. Good luck with it, and keep us updated.

Yorkshire GOC · 3rd March 2024, 10:09

Hello- welcome to the club. As to parts they are still in the main easily obtainable considering Rover finished trading in 2005 - have a look at these sites below

https://www.dmgrs.co.uk/

https://www.ecarparts.org/

https://rimmerbros.com

daveo138 · 3rd March 2024, 10:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobco

Hello,
I inherited a 2001 Rover 75 2.0 CDTi (manual transmission) with only 30.000 km.

I have to decide if to restore the car, which has been standing still for 14 years in a garage, or scrap it.

Does anyone have an idea of the costs to be incurred for the restoration?

What operations are absolutely necessary before trying to restart the engine to avoid causing damage?

For example replacement of the drive belt, service belts, tank cleaning, etc.

Where could I buy spare parts online?

Thanks in adavance.

Hi Roberto and welcome.

When you say 'drive belt', I assume you mean timing belt.

The good news is that the BMW derived diesel engine has a chain, rather than a belt, so nothing to worry about there.

It would certainly be worth inspecting and possibly replacing the auxiliary belts at some point, but I wouldn't worry too much at this stage.

cgh · 3rd March 2024, 10:53

I have just had a 75 2002 cdt automatic tourer with 106,000 miles restored and it has cost into the 10's of thousands. I was unable to do it myself as I just do not have the facilities.

My main reason for having it done was because I have owned the car since new.

Restoration labour costs are the main problem if you can not do it yourself. The firm I used charge £60/hr for welding work and £50/hr for mechanical work.

I was lucky to have savings that I was prepared to spend and I do now effectively have a brand new car, though I am fully aware that she will never be worth the money spent on her.

My car needed quite a lot of underside body repair which pushed the cost up, as well as a full respray which cost £4500 alone.

Bear in mind that you will always have unseen problems and costs as you go along. However your car does have low mileage which could be in it's favour.

I have found that most parts are still available (as per previous posts ), even though it has been stressful at times tracking down rarer parts.

Good luck with whatever you decide.
Gary

macafee2 · 3rd March 2024, 11:30

can you post some pictures of the body work and the underneath of the car?.
Rust could be the deciding factor if to restore or scrap.
Replacing the oil and filter plus the fuel filter would be a good start before trying to start the car. You may need to drain out any old fuel.
I'm not sure about changing the coolant as well before starting. Battery will probably be scrap but try to borrow a battery.
Things like brakes and belts not to bad to replace.
Air con if fitted may also be knackered.

let has know how you get on if you do try to start the car, good luck.

macafee2

DMGRS · 4th March 2024, 13:41

I'd change the oil, oil filter and fuel filter - then see if it'll start with some fresh fuel in the tank.
Of course after being laid up for so long there'll be a lot of other things to sort (brakes, probably a few suspension bushes etc) but if you need a hand with those drop us an email to [email protected].

We love helping out with restorations etc, and offer custom discounts on larger orders where the aim is to keep a car on the road

3rd March 2024, 07:45	#1
bobco Newbie Rover 75 Join Date: Feb 2024 Location: Pescara Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Restoration or scrap it Hello, I inherited a 2001 Rover 75 2.0 CDTi (manual transmission) with only 30.000 km. I have to decide if to restore the car, which has been standing still for 14 years in a garage, or scrap it. Does anyone have an idea of the costs to be incurred for the restoration? What operations are absolutely necessary before trying to restart the engine to avoid causing damage? For example replacement of the drive belt, service belts, tank cleaning, etc. Where could I buy spare parts online? Thanks in adavance. Last edited by bobco; 3rd March 2024 at 07:52..

3rd March 2024, 10:09	#3
Yorkshire GOC I really should get out more....... Rover 75 connoisseur se v6 auto Join Date: May 2014 Location: Hull Posts: 2,080 Thanks: 1,842 Thanked 623 Times in 469 Posts	Hello- welcome to the club. As to parts they are still in the main easily obtainable considering Rover finished trading in 2005 - have a look at these sites below https://www.dmgrs.co.uk/ https://www.ecarparts.org/ https://rimmerbros.com __________________ She came off the Longbridge Line on 20-05-2003 The Silver Machine was the 13th of 160 Rover 75's to come off the production line that day and is the 100th of 527 Starlight Silver Rover 75 2.5 V6 Connoisseur SE Auto saloons listed in the build records produced world wide.

3rd March 2024, 10:53	#5
cgh Regular poster 2002 Rover 75 Connoisseur SE Tourer 2.0 CDT in Moonstone Green Join Date: Nov 2022 Location: Consett Posts: 42 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I have just had a 75 2002 cdt automatic tourer with 106,000 miles restored and it has cost into the 10's of thousands. I was unable to do it myself as I just do not have the facilities. My main reason for having it done was because I have owned the car since new. Restoration labour costs are the main problem if you can not do it yourself. The firm I used charge £60/hr for welding work and £50/hr for mechanical work. I was lucky to have savings that I was prepared to spend and I do now effectively have a brand new car, though I am fully aware that she will never be worth the money spent on her. My car needed quite a lot of underside body repair which pushed the cost up, as well as a full respray which cost £4500 alone. Bear in mind that you will always have unseen problems and costs as you go along. However your car does have low mileage which could be in it's favour. I have found that most parts are still available (as per previous posts ), even though it has been stressful at times tracking down rarer parts. Good luck with whatever you decide. Gary __________________ 'Astrid' - RJZTHK3D266501 was born at 08:58:01 on the 19-08-2002 and registered on the 30-09-2002. She was the 49th of 197 Rover 75 cars to come off the production line that day at the Longbridge plant. There were at total of 234 Moonstone Green diesel Connoisseur SE spec Rover 75 tourers produced worldwide and she was the 161st of those to be assembled. Of those 234 all were for the UK market and RHD, 100 being Automatic transmission and 134 being manual.

4th March 2024, 13:41	#7
DMGRS Discount MG Rover Spares Rover 75 CDTi, 2x MG ZS180 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Hythe, Southampton Posts: 11,354 Thanks: 456 Thanked 3,377 Times in 2,027 Posts	I'd change the oil, oil filter and fuel filter - then see if it'll start with some fresh fuel in the tank. Of course after being laid up for so long there'll be a lot of other things to sort (brakes, probably a few suspension bushes etc) but if you need a hand with those drop us an email to [email protected]. We love helping out with restorations etc, and offer custom discounts on larger orders where the aim is to keep a car on the road __________________ Your trusted MG Rover specialist! Tel: 02380 001133 / Email: [email protected] We now have a 'chat' function on our site for even quicker replies. Give it a try! Remember - discount code FORUM5 for 5% off

3rd March 2024, 09:36	#2
planenut Regional Secretary Rover 1.8T Tourer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Heathrow Posts: 6,997 Thanks: 1,551 Thanked 2,036 Times in 1,264 Posts	Welcome to the Club, and the tasks you have ahead. You will have advice from people who know what they are talking about, and lots of suggestions. For my bit, I would suggest, don't try to start the engine yet, but check how to rotate it, after putting perhaps an amount of oil in the filler, without the fuse in, check battery and fluids. Also the brakes, pipes and hoses? If you are considering this project, I suspect you already have a fair amount of knowledge. Good luck with it, and keep us updated.

3rd March 2024, 11:30	#6
macafee2 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon & Tourer Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Lincoln Posts: 14,961 Thanks: 1,630 Thanked 3,032 Times in 2,181 Posts	can you post some pictures of the body work and the underneath of the car?. Rust could be the deciding factor if to restore or scrap. Replacing the oil and filter plus the fuel filter would be a good start before trying to start the car. You may need to drain out any old fuel. I'm not sure about changing the coolant as well before starting. Battery will probably be scrap but try to borrow a battery. Things like brakes and belts not to bad to replace. Air con if fitted may also be knackered. let has know how you get on if you do try to start the car, good luck. macafee2