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[Dangerous Dan]

Afternoon guys,

My brother purchased a Rover 214 about 6weeks ago from an advertising trader down in Milton Keynes. This week the head gasket went and it's a write off.

Does he have any legal comeback?

The guy runs a motor trading company, is their laws behind what they buy and sell etc? surely there must be....

Thanks

[Martin_1962]

Afternoon guys,

My brother purchased a Rover 214 about 6weeks ago from an advertising trader down in Milton Keynes. This week the head gasket went and it's a write off.

Does he have any legal comeback?

The guy runs a motor trading company, is their laws behind what they buy and sell etc? surely there must be....

Thanks

Why is it a write off?

[Gaffers]

50 quid for gaskets and bolts, 30 quid to get the head skimmed, worth regrinding the valves while youre at it so another fiver for the paste.

I did the same job last year, it was the easiest HG I have ever done!  

If you want a book of lies Haynes Manual I have a used one going spare

[Kevin Wood]

The K series is prone to head gaskets failing. I think you've got no real come-back unless the trader misrepresented the car for sale. He's not obliged to give any warranty and it could be agrued that the fault was no present when the car was sold.  :-/

It shouldn't be a write off though?

Kevin

[Dangerous Dan]

I've not seen the car, he took it to a friend of his who wanted £550 to replace head gasket, car only worth about £600 tops so not worth it on those numbers...

[Growler]

My wife has a 416 which the HG went on back in Jan, I got the gaskets on e-bay £35 got some head bolts £20  and the local mechanic sorted it for us for £200 all in all including a few other jobs (MOT) came to £500 we had only paid ?£165 for the car but now she has a car that should last her years.

[Richard A]

What !!!, some friend, local garage max charge £150 including head skim, tell him to shop around.
regards
richard a

[Olympia5776]

I've not seen the car, he took it to a friend of his who wanted £550 to replace head gasket, car only worth about £600 tops so not worth it on those numbers...

The K series engine in all it's guises is prone to CHG failure . There is no permanent remedy although fitting the later MLS headgasket, steel locating dowels,replacing the thermostat with the current grey item and then repositioning the thermostat housing helps considerably.
Some also suggest new oil rail and bolts but these aren't obligatory.
Regarding the quote of £550 thats a reasonable price providing that No 1 piston hasn't melted as is common.
Just google K series and you'll see the horror stories that abound on these engines.
I speak as an owner of a K series engined Freelander. I wanted to replace the CHG prior to it occuring to ensure the car was up to the current spec of engine mods and was quoted the equivelent of £1900 sterling. Most garages either price it high to avoid doing the job or cover their asses by again pricing for returns.
I tried to PX mine but NO dealer will touch a car with these engines down here.

[theowletman]

As you say its a 214, I am guessing but these finished a good few years ago, its all down to what you could reasonably expect from a car of that age, mileage and price. Ask the trader to make a contribution, you pay for parts, he pays for labour or something simple. £600 is a lot if it is your last £600, but nowadays it's mountain bike money. The only Rovers worth having are those with Honda engines or any of the diesels.

[platty]

I did my mates 214 a couple of weeks ago, I felt guilty takng £50 quid off him but he insisted. That plus £60 for the bits - have a crack yourself  

[Elite Pete]

Dont you get a 3 month warranty if bought from a dealer?

[TheBoy]

Anyone with a K series (esp the 1.4 and 1.8 variants - oddly 1.6 appears better for some reason) will be used to HG failures.

Mrs TheBoy's HG was done by JamesV6CDX and I last year, we went overboard, doing cambelt kit, pump, stats etc etc whilst we had it stripped down (it had down 72k), cost just under £300 for all the bits (later Ks as fitted to Rover 25s seem to have more expensive parts )

[STMO123]

Anyone with a K series (esp the 1.4 and 1.8 variants - oddly 1.6 appears better for some reason) will be used to HG failures.

Mrs TheBoy's HG was done by JamesV6CDX and I last year, we went overboard, doing cambelt kit, pump, stats etc etc whilst we had it stripped down (it had down 72k), cost just under £300 for all the bits (later Ks as fitted to Rover 25s seem to have more expensive parts )

The 2.5 KV6 is good though, dont you think Jaime?

[JamesV6CDX]

If the seller didn't offer a warranty, I'd just take it on the chin and consider it lesson learnt. You can fix this in an easy weekends tinkering for £50.

[Growler]

KV6 -   mine lasted 8 weeks