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12th September 2020, 20:09 | #11 |
Posted a thing or two
Rover 75 Cont SE 1.8T Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Cheshire
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Welcome to the joys of 75 ownership, and to the forum which is wealth of info and support (you'll need it!).
Later 1.8 and diesel 75 saloons were stripped of the rear anti roll bar as a cost saving measure and the suspension retuned (stiffened) to compensate. I have a 2004 1.8T on 17" wheels which rides well enough but isn't a patch on my friend's '02 V6 Tourer.
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Rover 75 1.8T Contemporary SE Auto Starlight Silver MBB |
12th September 2020, 22:10 | #12 |
Newbie
Rover 75 saloon Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: London
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Thanks to you all for your kind welcomes and very helpful technical contributions. Yes, I'm smitten with the car so far, yes, I find it's already getting under my skin, no I don't find the suspension intolerable and I'll live with the firm ride (in exchange for sharp handling) until major surgery is required.
I'm perturbed to hear that correct dampers are no longer available (although springs are). Do we know to what standard the replacement dampers are tuned, e.g. firm for safe towing, or firm like an MG? I can see that when R40 bodies cars need suspension work at independent garages, they either haven't a clue what parts to order, or else someone at Euro Car Spares sends them something that fits, without consideration as to engine, model, age, or whether it's a Rover or MG. There must be some cars out there with some very odd hybrid suspension systems, some parts Rover, some MG, others aftermarket and entirely at odds with the tuning of either car.... |
12th September 2020, 22:17 | #13 |
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Rover 75 saloon Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: London
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I'll take a closer look at the shock absorbers next week as I'm taking it for an oil change and AC top up on Tuesday. The tyres are a bit of a mish mash - 2 Firestone, an Ovation and a Pirelli. Weirdly and disturbingly, the Firestones are down one side of the car, so neither axle has a pair of tyres. I'm checked the tyre pressures and adjusted, as they were very low when I bought the car and they were heavily corrupting the steering.
It's not terribly high mileage - 101k with full history until 95k, so the last owner hasn't had much opportunity to neglect it. |
13th September 2020, 12:05 | #14 | |
I really should get out more.......
Rover 75 connoisseur se v6 auto Join Date: May 2014
Location: Hull
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Quote:
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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. |
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13th September 2020, 13:14 | #15 | |
Avid contributor
MG ZT 260 SE Join Date: May 2014
Location: Weardale
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13th September 2020, 16:22 | #16 |
Loves to post
R75 1.8 Con SE Man Saloon Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Pinner
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I've had my 1.8 from new. Changed the dampers to good pattern parts when I broke a rear spring around 120,000 miles. Ride was then awful so changed back to new old stock springs and dampers. Suggest you check your springs and dampers in case there is something obviously wrong then try changing dampers. If you change them yourself then check the damping is smooth before fitting them. Bought mine off ebay, one was faulty but the supplier changed them no problem. Good luck, the ride should be very smooth.
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140,000 miles and still going strong! |
14th September 2020, 08:50 | #17 |
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Rover 75 saloon Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: London
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Thanks for all the continued contributions. I'm incredibly impressed with the friendly welcome, the engagement of contributors and the obvious technical knowledge. It's so good to know that I've bought a car that clearly so many people know inside and out, particularly as there are no longer any MG Rover dealers out there.
Whatever happened to X Part and their service centres, which were supposed to be the official replacement for a dealer network? I'm going to ensure the tyres on the car are at least axle pairs. Two Firestones and I'll buy another Ovation to match the near new one at the rear. It'll probably improve the handling and steering feel but I doubt the ride would get any better, unless I bought 4 matching premium tyres. As my springs and dampers clearly don't have the same settings as those on the car when rolled out of Longbridge, any ride quality improvements are going to be marginal. Is there anything akin to a specialist R75 breaker in the UK? Reason I ask, I'm shortly moving (along with my Rover) to a country where garage labour is very cheap. It might be worth acquiring a set of low mileage springs and dampers from a car that rode properly. I'd keep the existing units in case I wanted to go back to a firmer set-up. I agree that ordinariy it makes more sense to fit new parts but with the variance in behaviour from aftermarket bits and some things no longer available as 'official MG Rover', acquiring a set that have already proved themselves in a car would come with the assurance it will behave properly when fitted to mine. Last thing I want to do is invest a lot of money in new parts, only to find it feels very similar to the set up I've had removed.... |
14th September 2020, 19:11 | #18 |
Gets stuck in
Ex CDT Auto Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Barry
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Head over to the traders section on this site.
Its all on there including the breakers, they'll sort you out with whatever you want I'd imagine, its rare that they're found wanting. |
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