Rover 200 & 400 Owners Club

4V8s wrote: ↑Tue Dec 28, 2021 4:04 pm What's the diagnosis on hgf? Those earlier 1400 k series arent so known for it, could just be lack of use and condensation if its just a little mayo on the oil cap...

That's a fair point, however I've had three N reg SEi's over the years which have all needed head gaskets, including my current 50,000 mile one which was done by Craig (Rover Revival!)

JDrake wrote: ↑Tue Dec 28, 2021 4:54 pm Can't get the oil cap off.. Dip stick is all mayo and white smoke out the back after short while. Oil evident in header tank so yep pretty sure its gone.. Will know more next week when at the garage..

I've had that before with a "stuck" oil cap. If you have a DIY clamp, tighten it onto the cap gently and it will give you enough leverage to get it off.

N1tr0_9 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 27, 2021 5:57 pm That’s lovely. Even has the proper mats. When I first passed my test I really wanted an Sei, but I couldn’t afford one

A proper set of mats finishes these off nicely! I paid £50 for a set for mine a couple of years ago from a car that was being sold and I just wanted the mats. Luckily the guy agreed to sell me just the mats

@JDrake - sent you a PM!

Paul_1978_yorks wrote: ↑Wed Dec 29, 2021 10:08 pm

4V8s wrote: ↑Tue Dec 28, 2021 4:04 pm What's the diagnosis on hgf? Those earlier 1400 k series arent so known for it, could just be lack of use and condensation if its just a little mayo on the oil cap...

That's a fair point, however I've had three N reg SEi's over the years which have all needed head gaskets, including my current 50,000 mile one which was done by Craig (Rover Revival!)

Guess i was lucky. My 1994 214si never had any head gasket issues, even when the water pump started failing and leaking and i had a few overheating issues. I bought it in 1995 when it was 15 months old and already had 59k on the clock! As an 18 yr old at that time i did well paying 5k for it and i used it until 2010 when the clutch needed changing at 115k. I decided to take the engine and gearbox out, which i still have, overhaul the engine bay and suspension, uprate the brakes to zs180 spec, and drop in a 1.6k series from a later r400 but run it off the same original ecu etc. Anyway i digress! Point is, 115k on the original 1400 and no issues ever really

that due to ULEZ and E10 she felt it was the time to move it on.

I'm so curious with all this going on in London at the moment with people facing daily charges for driving their older vehicles. I cant help but think there will be a lot more treasure unearthed for sale over the next few years from household garages and storage units.

Looks like you've found a nice little gem there

I live in London but intend to use My r8 daily, go against the surge

Time for an update, Been waiting on my mate to help deliver this to my friendly Rover specialist. Obviously due to the HGF I didnt want to risk driving it. So I was in the hands of my mate when he was free. Steve at the garage wasnt fussed and just let me drop it off as and when.
So we managed to deliver this last week,it was the strangest delivery I have had for a while !!

Before we go to that I had a package arrive in the New year and it was all the history for the Sei -
Everything is with this - all the history/mot's details of work done, all the original comms with the selling garage, purchase invoice etc etc. One thing I didnt realise is that she opted for Sunroof and Air Bag as optional extras. Cant be many M reg Sei's with an Air Bag fitted or is there? From the paperwork it looked like she was about to spec ABS too - I am sort of glad that one didnt get picked !! shame air con was not an option !!











Anyways with the car dropped off


Its in fine company!!
Instructions are to hopefully investigate and fix the HGF, prep for an MOT and advise (due the end of February) and check cambelt for me (history says it was last changed in 2017 so may be ok for a bit yet - not chancing it though and will take Steves advice)

While there I spotted its twin cabrio version




Didnt think nowt of it andwe got talking to the bodyshop next door, I know him from old and asked for a price on a few bits to be done on the SEi
Anyways we were just getting in the van to head back and I mentioned the cabrio, my mate went - what,lets go look at it.
And yes you guessed it he bought it, story goes that the PO ran it till it got super hot and holed the piston so the engine is scrap.
The PO had signed it over to the garage and he was going to do it up and sell it or more likely break it for spares.

Anyways that ended up getting loaded on the trailer and another R8 saved.. 2for 1 deal.

A quick update on this one - its now back on the road.
Has had a new head gasket/water pump/cambelt/couple of oil seals/Rear axle bushes/new windscreen. Fresh MOT and classic insurance and we are on the road.
Next job is to sort the 3dr out with a view to selling it to raise some funds to sort some of the paint issues this one needs.. More to follow

You may spot a little corrosion on the screen frame, forgot to take pics but that was tidyied up and primed before the screen went back in







Really pleased with how it drives, will be a keeper and will just tinker on it as I go along..

I'm pretty sure ABS wasn't an option on SEi models-I'll have to check the brochure I have to hand. From memory the only options were a sunroof and driver's airbag-my parents' car (M97 TBH-now long gone unfortunately) had both, whereas my current SEi only has the sunroof. Shame, as the airbag steering wheel actually looks pretty decent!

Anyway, I digress-your car looks great, and it's lovely to see another one. They really get under your skin, don't they?