Rover 825 Sterling Diesel Coupe

[tonewheeldude]

I loved them on my BRG MKII Diesel Fastback (had Vitesse suspension), but not totally convinced they are right for the Coupe - the thing is if I had not have tried them I would always have wondered. Once the car is back home and cleaned up (and that awful pin stripe is gone) I will take some decent photos and post them for oppinions.

In hindsight - I was warned by vtb and chose to ignore him I dont regret it though. I might end up keeping the Roversports and fitting winter tyres on them and keep the Prestige's for summer and general posing with my boat engine gently klacking away.

If this car turns out to have normal Sterling suspension...it will have to go (the suspension I mean) I had a few years of wallowing around country corners in my last coupe (S358 LAN) and missed the incredibly perceptive feel of the fastback. It was more than made up for by sheer good looks, and the coupe wasn't bad either. But I dont fancy more years of leaning around bends (I am quite an enthusuastic driver if you get me drift)

Talking of S358 LAN...I tried contacting Bert (the new owner) but have not had an answer. Anyone know him outside fo the forum? I would realy like to talk to him about my ex/his BRG Coupe.

Insurance - I got a quote today. it will only cost me an additional £8 (only one month into a 12 month policy) which is a relief. I can insure the 75 and the 825 for a couple of weeks on the same poicy whilst i make sure I am completely happy with the "Tara the Tractor".

[scoobyh123]

The correct diesel/Vit Sport anti-roll bars will go a long way to sorting the suspension out to your tastes - spend your time and money hunting down a set of those and the bushes to match, then the lowered springs if you really need to. Rimmers still have (just!) the RBX100500 front 26mm ARB bushes and i think allbrit.de have the corresponding rears.

[tonewheeldude]

I will definately investigate the anti roll bars, will know if they need to doing when I get to take it to work next week.

[tonewheeldude]

So I couldn't help myself - car is taxed and insured and I brought it to work...yeah!

After the 75 its like driving a big 80s GT Car! and I feel like I am sitting behind an executive desk in a big leather seat. The diesel engine - wow. It has so much power after the 75. The 75 is nippier through the gears but you can realy feel the extra torque in the Coupe. but inside the car you cannot hear the diesel tone, just a deep roar as the monster stirs into action. ( I am talking about the engine here by the way)

Anyway will give a full report later when I get home from work.

[tonewheeldude]

I had forgotten just how much attention the Coupe gets. I spent ages in the Esso garage while first the security guard and then the sales assistant talked about the car. The security guard came out to have a look around it. So many people stop and look at it - I think more than my old BRG Coupe - it does look very striking in White-Gold. This is a very salubrious car.

The smell....so Rover 800, I had forgotten that smell! I just finished cleaning the interior and what a nice place it is to be in. I had a door mat on the outside of the car so I could wipe my feet before getting in whilst I was cleaning The genuine mats are so decadent!

To drive the car is very good, the only problem I can find is a very slight clutch judder - I am hoping this is just dirt/ rust on the clutch and will go away...but its not terrible. Braking system , steering all feels fine. My biggest concern is that it would 'feel' like a conversion - but it does not and it feels like a factory build to drive. Gearbox is quiet and its easy to change gear - the diesels always do feel a bit like a spoon in a bowl of porridge but I immediately felt at home with the setup.

The rear view mirror had already fallen off again thanks to the rubbish A1 motorstores squashy stick pad.

Its a bit warm in there as the drivers window and sunroof are both non functional. I think the sunroof might be seized but the window is a switch problem.

Passnger seat - I can hear the motors trying to work but the seat does not move - I think the mechanism is seized there too.

In a few minutes I am going to go out in the dark to experience the nice warm orange glow of the dash lamps.

The roversport wheels - i didn't think I liked them, but I do

[Richard Moss]

White gold really suits the coupe - more than it does the fastback and saloon (in my opinion).

[Very Tall Brad]

White Gold on a Coupe is the best combination.

[tonewheeldude]

Its certainly a fine looking colour, although I have always like British Racing Green - This car looks totally different thats for certain.

So tonight I took it for a bit of a , err, 'clear out'

This car is completely different from the 75. Huge amount of low down grunt which means relearning gear changing. Turbo is very efficiant. Accelerating up to 70 is an event!

There are a few very minor issues that I would like to sort out. They realy are hardly noticable, but they are stopping the car from being 'perfect':
- There is very slight play in the steering. Not sure if I will need to change the complete rack as the play is in the o/s track rod (not track rod end).
- In fifth the car doesn't like labouring (eg 50mph and applying a little accelration to climb a hill) and the car 'hunts' a little. Its fine if you drop a gear.
- The clutch pedal is still lower than I would like despite bleeding. It might be the spring mechanism is sticking as I can flick the pedal up and it stays there until depressed. There is also a very, very slight crunch when changing gear - its hardly noticable but I can feel a very slight resistence working through the gears
- The accelerator has less travel than the 75, I dont remember if that is normal or not?

Took this photo with my phone just now:


I removed the wonky pin stripes tonight.

[rovercoup]

- The clutch pedal is still lower than I would like despite bleeding. It might be the spring mechanism is sticking as I can flick the pedal up and it stays there until depressed. There is also a very, very slight crunch when changing gear - its hardly noticable but I can feel a very slight resistence working through the gears

Probably the slave cylinder causing you the clutch issue but can be a nightmare to bleed. I had similar problems with my coupe and even when changed the slave did the same.

Changed the complete clutch and is now perfect. The problem was down to worn splines on the basket.

[deano]

Personally, I would never have a gold car
I`m currently driving a green coupe and to be honest i keen on that either...

All my previous 800`s have been Nightfire
Its still a fantastic colour !!!

[scoobyh123]

Red cars are unlucky, certainly for me and if you look into it scientifically i'm guessing you might find they're unlucky there too. Your first 827, Nightfire Red? Snapped a cam belt i think you said? Granted it was 4k overdue for a belt change but 4k isn't a lot on a 96k interval. On a 36k interval, 4k is a hell of a lot by comparison.
Over the years, the red cars i've owned have been stolen, stolen from, left me stranded at the roadside, caused relationship break ups - the list goes on! Also i don't know if you've ever seen the film "Christine"? She was red too.

[tonewheeldude]

So I have been digging into the cars history and requested a list of MOTs

Its somewhat incomplete. It was definately registered as a Petrol (I have the original engine number too). But there are huge history gaps - gaps before 2005 are normal (so two are missing as no mot required until the 3rd year), and I know the car has been off the road since at least 2009. I have actually got hard copies of the available MOT's from 2007.

Full Test History, starting with first recorded vehicle and test results: (I removed all the fails, whilst interesting are a bit extensive)


Registration mark: T866ARA
Make/Model: ROVER / 825
Colour: GOLD
VIN/Chassis No: SARRSCCLKXM258285
Approximate date of first use: 31/03/1999
Type of fuel: Petrol
-------------------------------------------------------
Date of test: 29/11/2005

Certificate issued (Pass)
Odometer reading: 53,165 Miles
Test number: XXXXXXXXXX (removed by me)
Test station name: G M MOTORS
Test station number: 6199BF
Test station telephone number: 01803664466
Test class: IV
-------------------------------------------------------

This one is interesting as its the MOT station that recorded the change. I spoke to a guy named David on the telephone and he listed a whole load of work carried out, but none of it involved Diesel Conversion.

Change of details Make/Model: ROVER / 825 STERLING AUTO recorded at time of test on 08/06/2007
Type of fuel: Diesel recorded at time of test on 08/06/2007
Date of test: 12/06/2007
Certificate issued (Pass)
Odometer reading: 70,845 Miles
Test number: XXXXXXXXXX (removed by me)
Test station name: CENTRAL GARAGE TORBAY
Test station number: 1498B1
Test station telephone number: 01803616150
Test class: IV
Test expiry date: 11/06/2008
-------------------------------------------------------
Date of test: 24/09/2008
Certificate issued (Pass)
Odometer reading: 75,885 Miles
Test number: XXXXXXXXXX (removed by me)
Test station name: CASTLE MILL MOT CENTRE LTD
Test station number: V100925
Test station telephone number: 01934 750663
Test class: IV
Test expiry date: 23/09/2009
-------------------------------------------------------
Change of details
Make/Model: ROVER / 825 recorded at time of test on 17/06/2014
Date of test: 23/06/2014
Certificate issued (Pass)
Odometer reading: 77,994 Miles
Test number: XXXXXXXXXX (removed by me)
Test station name: HARPERS PITSTOP
Test station number: 63171
Test station telephone number: 01604710414
Test class: IV
Test expiry date: 22/06/2015
-------------------------------------------------------

[tonewheeldude]

Finished cleaning the Interior...looks nice. very different to the grey in my ex BRG Coupe.

Not sure about the grey plastic parts, looks like Rover should have remanufactured those to match the rest of the interior.

Rover 825 Diesel Coupe by T_W_D, on Flickr
Rover 825 Diesel Coupe by T_W_D, on Flickr
Rover 825 Diesel Coupe by T_W_D, on Flickr

It was raining - sorry the exterior photos are not great:
Rover 825 Diesel Coupe by T_W_D, on Flickr
Rover 825 Diesel Coupe by T_W_D, on Flickr
Rover 825 Diesel Coupe by T_W_D, on Flickr
Rover 825 Diesel Coupe by T_W_D, on Flickr
Rover 825 Diesel Coupe by T_W_D, on Flickr

[rovercoup]

Just goes to show what can be achieved in a short space of time with effort.

Looking very nice indeed. You will have to bring this along to the BMC day at Peterborough.

[tonewheeldude]

Just goes to show what can be achieved in a short space of time with effort.

Looking very nice indeed. You will have to bring this along to the BMC day at Peterborough.

Amazing to think only two weeks ago this was sitting in an alley untouched for almost 5 years. We do indeed plan to come to the BMC day.