Worth it to come to the UK to get some work done?

[bl52krz]

You have a choice of good mechanics over here. Trikey, Marianbrian, and nearer for you is Lates 600, at Corby. I know a lot of Dutch people who work their holidays into having services and other jobs done by him. All members on here.

[Supervinnie40]

Thanks all, seems I'm going to have to plan some logistics around a few jobs. Probably the only thing to decide is who to ask to do the jobs, and when to do it all.

Seeing as I already bought the belts kit from DMGRS, what should I expect for complete replacement of clutch and slave cylinder, changing the belts and a tad of copper grease while I try to fix the brakes. Depending on budget and time available, I might also get the headgasket done. Just to be sure.

[Supervinnie40]

Does anybody know if there is a list or map with the Rover specialists in the south of the UK? I haven't been very successful in finding them via Google.

[Arctic]

The OP would not get his belts and clutch done at a nano meet, he requires a trader or mechanic that can give him the time and place for his car do have the work carried out, over at least a few days I should imagine.

trikey, Jules, Brian if he was willing to take it on, nano is not the place that is for sure.

[Supervinnie40]

Originally Posted by Arctic

The OP would not get his belts and clutch done at a nano meet, he requires a trader or mechanic that can give him the time and place for his car do have the work carried out, over at least a few days I should imagine.

trikey, Jules, Brian if he was willing to take it on, nano is not the place that is for sure.

Would anybody know where MarinaBrain lives? I saw that Trikey lives in the south-east of the UK (?) and Jules lives in Wales (?).

[Jezzer 1]

Originally Posted by Supervinnie40

Would anybody know where MarinaBrain lives? I saw that Trikey lives in the south-east of the UK (?) and Jules lives in Wales (?).

Marina Brian lives near Newcastle upon Tyne in the North- East of England.
There is a ferry service from Hull to Rotterdam with P & O Ferries. Jounrey time from Hull to Newcastle about 2.5 hours.



Hope that helps.

[hogweed]

I admire your enthusiasm mate – it’s a good idea if you really have the stomach for it. Most of the guys are more around the midlands/north, unfortunately for you. Honestly, if it appeals (and you can afford it), you should try and make it into a holiday – maybe even hiring a small car over here so that you can relax, drive around and see the sights while somebody does your clutch, head gasket etc. We have things called “hills” in the UK which you won’t have seen before


Jules in North Wales really knows these cars, but is quite a way from you (Conwy, I think it was) – but the Welsh mountains can be breath-taking, if you got half-decent weather (probably unlikely!) to spend a few days driving through. And you can always visit Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysilio gogogoch.


Brian lives somewhere around Whitley Bay last I heard – again not terribly convenient for you, but not a million miles from the Yorkshire Dales etc. And you’d get to see his 9 Morris Marinas He tends to be VERY busy and in demand though.


Nano meets are great, and worth it just to have a chat with the sainted Arctic (and maybe get your handbrake compensator done if you haven’t already), but you won’t get big stuff like a clutch done there.


But you are right that it really makes sense to get somebody who lives and breathes these cars to do the big jobs, once and for all hopefully. As an example, when I lived in England and didn’t know any better, I got charged something like 6 or 8 (can’t remember precisely) hours to replace my clutch (and rounding off the heads of the gearbox bolts in the process – cost me a small fortune, and it failed again 3 years later.


When I moved back to N Ireland and tracked the local expert down, he did the same job in 2½ hours…


Good luck

[Supervinnie40]

Thanks all, the biggest thing is sorting out logistics. Trying to find somebody who has Rover in his blood and is slightly on the route. 2 things that don't combine easily .

I rather hope to avoid the ferry from hoek of holland, it is about 200 or 300 euro more expensive then the ferry from Dunkirk in France. I can drive many miles for that prize difference.

At the moment the most called names are still Brian, Trikey and Jules. Are they really the only ones who are the best option for me? Of have I not paid enough attention, and missed a few names?

[bl52krz]

You missed Lates600.

[Slaya]

I generally use Lates600 near Coventry, Lates and Pete know their stuff.


There is also www.mgroverrepair.co.uk near Coventry who I used last week, very good service and knowledge - ZTT v6 190 courtesy car too