Project Drive - Illustrated - Page 24

pab · 14th May 2013, 17:59

I have noticed on closer inspection that the early "Rear Lamp Access Panels" seemed to go through a change.

The item on the left is removed from a 99 model. If you notice the clip is different and also the moulding to that on the right which was removed from a 2000 model. The grained effect on the early item is also rougher in feel.

I'm not sure if cost cutting happened on early Cowley fittings or it was a manufacturer and availability issue.

Bolin · 14th May 2013, 20:18

Interesting.

I found that my original ones, from June 2001, both had broken clips and wouldn't stay in place. The replacements are the earlier type, I wonder if the later ones are more prone to broken clips?

Ford Prefect · 15th May 2013, 09:12

Just wondering if I have just found the earliest change of them all! The button on my original key fell apart, so I bought a case to rebuild it with, in the process lost the 'rover badge' on the unlock button as the new cases are of the generic non branded later type. However I thought I would keep an eye out for a 'proper one' and as a result have bought another key, just for the case

However it's is slightly different to my original. The original is blank on the reverse, the one I have just received has writing on it,
'Val TX3
CEPT SRD 1e GB'
and in large script
'Valeo'
none is suprising, as Valeo made it and similar appears on the other rover fobs I have had

Hoever both my broken origibnal and this one have moulding marks to indicate they were moulded in '99

Bolin · 15th May 2013, 17:15

Not heard of blank-backed keys before, wonder if other launch car owners have the same?

Otherwise earliest change is probably deletion of the rubber strips at the bottom inside of the doors.

Ford Prefect · 16th May 2013, 14:34

Closer inspection of my original reveals the mouding date of the blank key case to be october 1998!, the one I aquired is april 1999, the spare key with the car appears to be much later, feb '01 that has fewer letters on the reverse of it

Steve1966 · 17th May 2013, 11:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by pab

I have noticed on closer inspection that the early "Rear Lamp Access Panels" seemed to go through a change.

The item on the left is removed from a 99 model. If you notice the clip is different and also the moulding to that on the right which was removed from a 2000 model. The grained effect on the early item is also rougher in feel.

I'm not sure if cost cutting happened on early Cowley fittings or it was a manufacturer and availability issue.

Just checked my car, built 16th Feb 2000, and it has the trim type shown on the left. Vin is 164378. Can anyone pinpoint a more exact date for this change?

Steve.

Steve1966 · 17th May 2013, 11:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bolin

Another couple of things:

Steering wheel damper - I thought I'd read that this was deleted at some point. Just had a look at Rimmers and it looks like it was introduced after launch and only fitted to Diesel Autos for a while, before being deleted. So maybe early diesel autos didn't have it or perhaps they didn't make diesel autos until a little while after production started?? Don't think so. Either way it looks like a V6 shouldn't have it.

I can't remember exactly when the diesel auto was launched but it was certainly well into my time at Longbrdige, maybe late 2001 / early 2002? The damper was only specified for diesel autos and was fitted from launch. From memory it was tuned to 27 Hz (is the diesel idle speed around 800rpm?). It was very similar in design to the one on 25 diesels. I wasn't aware that it was later deleted but it doesn't surprise me, given the climate at the time.

Steve.

raykay · 17th May 2013, 13:24

Mine was built in June 2001, and according to the VIN number, should have the damper.

Steve1966 · 22nd May 2013, 12:10

Apologies if this one has been mentioned before but there’s a lot of pages to check. I do not know for certain that this is true but I believe it to be so. When the Diesel Automatic was introduced early in the Longbridge era the LH hydrabush had stiffening brackets welded to it (for noise / vibration reasons) making it unique to this model. Due to the low volume this was an expensive addition. I’m sure these stiffeners were later deleted so that the Diesel Auto could use the V6 Man/Auto LH Hydrabush Assembly. Rimmers sort of confirms this. The part no. for the first Diesel Auto bush is KKU108221. This was later replaced in 2003 (VIN 273883) with the earlier Part No. KKU106483 (the V6 one). The detriment to the NVH (noise/vibration/harshness) will have been checked by my department and unless it was noticeable to ‘most’ customers would have been allowed. Not sure if you can see the stiffeners in car but should be able to. They are on top of the ‘gold’ coloured bracket and sit diagonally. (Listens for the pop of Diesel Auto bonnets across the land…..)

Steve.

okenora · 22nd November 2013, 08:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bolin

Looks like the front fog lamp was also a victim, changed in later 2001 to a type which took H1 bulbs instead of H11 (H1 are apparently cheaper)

dunno about this one, mine is Jan 2000, Cowley and has H1 fogs....

15th May 2013, 09:12	#233
Ford Prefect Loves to post Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Wantage Posts: 306 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Just wondering if I have just found the earliest change of them all! The button on my original key fell apart, so I bought a case to rebuild it with, in the process lost the 'rover badge' on the unlock button as the new cases are of the generic non branded later type. However I thought I would keep an eye out for a 'proper one' and as a result have bought another key, just for the case However it's is slightly different to my original. The original is blank on the reverse, the one I have just received has writing on it, 'Val TX3 CEPT SRD 1e GB' and in large script 'Valeo' none is suprising, as Valeo made it and similar appears on the other rover fobs I have had Hoever both my broken origibnal and this one have moulding marks to indicate they were moulded in '99 __________________ [SIGPIC][http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...ne=1355821399][/SIGPIC] 1999 Rover 75 Connesieur 2.5 Dealer Launch Spec LPG (Its very blue) 1999 Landrover Disco2, proper one with a V8 no TD5 rubbish 1997 TB called Ed, runs on grass 1992 Range Rover Vogue SE (LPG) 1975 MG Midget 1959 Austin Healey Sprite I think I may have a problem

16th May 2013, 14:34	#235
Ford Prefect Loves to post Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Wantage Posts: 306 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Closer inspection of my original reveals the mouding date of the blank key case to be october 1998!, the one I aquired is april 1999, the spare key with the car appears to be much later, feb '01 that has fewer letters on the reverse of it __________________ [SIGPIC][http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...ne=1355821399][/SIGPIC] 1999 Rover 75 Connesieur 2.5 Dealer Launch Spec LPG (Its very blue) 1999 Landrover Disco2, proper one with a V8 no TD5 rubbish 1997 TB called Ed, runs on grass 1992 Range Rover Vogue SE (LPG) 1975 MG Midget 1959 Austin Healey Sprite I think I may have a problem

17th May 2013, 13:24	#238
raykay I really should get out more....... Now Other Manufacturer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Co. Kerry Posts: 2,786 Thanks: 16 Thanked 310 Times in 283 Posts	Mine was built in June 2001, and according to the VIN number, should have the damper. Last edited by raykay; 17th May 2013 at 13:26..

22nd May 2013, 12:10	#239
Steve1966 Loves to post 2000 W Rover 75 Saloon 1.8 Man Club (SE) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Warwickshire Posts: 436 Thanks: 66 Thanked 95 Times in 48 Posts	Another one? Diesel Auto LH Hydrabush Apologies if this one has been mentioned before but there’s a lot of pages to check. I do not know for certain that this is true but I believe it to be so. When the Diesel Automatic was introduced early in the Longbridge era the LH hydrabush had stiffening brackets welded to it (for noise / vibration reasons) making it unique to this model. Due to the low volume this was an expensive addition. I’m sure these stiffeners were later deleted so that the Diesel Auto could use the V6 Man/Auto LH Hydrabush Assembly. Rimmers sort of confirms this. The part no. for the first Diesel Auto bush is KKU108221. This was later replaced in 2003 (VIN 273883) with the earlier Part No. KKU106483 (the V6 one). The detriment to the NVH (noise/vibration/harshness) will have been checked by my department and unless it was noticeable to ‘most’ customers would have been allowed. Not sure if you can see the stiffeners in car but should be able to. They are on top of the ‘gold’ coloured bracket and sit diagonally. (Listens for the pop of Diesel Auto bonnets across the land…..) Steve. __________________ Jobs Done since (Apr 2012): Spyhole, Thermostat, IMG (x2), Front ARB Drop links (x3 pairs), Rear Damper, Coils/HT Leads, Heater Matrix, Unions, 13x tyres, Gearbox Oil, Full Service (x3), Water pump & belts, LH/RH lower arm & bushes, Front/Rear pads/Discs, Fr door finishers, Track Rods, Jule's intake tube, Clutch, Slave, DMF (ouch), 1 1/2 exhausts, front springs/top mounts, Jule's Fan upgrade/condenser, reverse gear switch, OSR upper arm, spring, and sill welding. 78,000miles (175,600m total).

14th May 2013, 17:59	#231
pab Banned MG ZT V6 190+ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Leeds Posts: 33,223 Thanks: 41 Thanked 1,614 Times in 1,416 Posts	I have noticed on closer inspection that the early "Rear Lamp Access Panels" seemed to go through a change. The item on the left is removed from a 99 model. If you notice the clip is different and also the moulding to that on the right which was removed from a 2000 model. The grained effect on the early item is also rougher in feel. I'm not sure if cost cutting happened on early Cowley fittings or it was a manufacturer and availability issue.

14th May 2013, 20:18	#232
Bolin This is my second home Rover 75 2.5 V6 Connoisseur SE 4dr manual Wedgewood Blue 2 04-05/06/2001 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: N.E. Hampshire Posts: 4,617 Thanks: 289 Thanked 308 Times in 243 Posts	Interesting. I found that my original ones, from June 2001, both had broken clips and wouldn't stay in place. The replacements are the earlier type, I wonder if the later ones are more prone to broken clips?

15th May 2013, 17:15	#234
Bolin This is my second home Rover 75 2.5 V6 Connoisseur SE 4dr manual Wedgewood Blue 2 04-05/06/2001 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: N.E. Hampshire Posts: 4,617 Thanks: 289 Thanked 308 Times in 243 Posts	Not heard of blank-backed keys before, wonder if other launch car owners have the same? Otherwise earliest change is probably deletion of the rubber strips at the bottom inside of the doors.