If the heater goes cold then stop straight away
 

Just got the bad news that the head gasket has gone on my Rover 75 diesel after the heater went cold on the motorway then 10 miles later the temp gauge went high and I pulled into the services which was only a mile away. After letting it cool I put 3litres of water in and drove back from Manchester- 200 miles down the motorway without an issue. I noticed a small leak from the thermostat so thought a replacement would fix it. But tbe garage has phoed to say the head gasket has gone. As the car has done over 250, 000 miles it isn't worth fixing. So if any one facies taking it on wants the car for spares it is ypurs for 250. It has lots of good bits including a Longlife stainless steel exhaust, recent alternator, clutch master cyclinder and refurbished starter. It also has recent genuine rover front arms with polyflex bushes fitted.If you are interested send me a message.

If the car has gone the whole way back with no issues, why do they say the gasket is gone??

I would certainly get a third opinion!

What proof have you got that the garage are correct in their diagnosis?

A blown head gasket on an m47r seems most unlikely.... ???

(must type faster) :D
...

I drove my diesel several hundred miles with very low coolant, it was fine.

Get a second opinion.

sounds like an air lock to me

That sounds like the classic garage nonsense. They can't find what's wrong but they see the Rover badge, recall hearing about head gasket failures (not realising that applies only to the 1.8 engine) and jump to an incorrect conclusion.

Pay them off, reclaim your car and take it to one of the club traders who will fix it properly for you. Seancar near Brighton is probably closest to you.

Oh, and by the way Chris, if it's done 250,000 miles then it's a very good car and is worth fixing.

Simon