So I loaned my beloved Lucille (2002 Disco SD) to my girlfriend, and she totaled it.

So I need another Rover. I've been looking around, and really like the 03-04 body styles. One rover in particular has my attention.

2003 hunter green, 158K miles. Still has Dexcool. engine has NO KNOCKS/TICKS. propshaft done, fluids very clean, and the real kicker on this guy is that it has been shop maintained, and the owner, (very nice lady) has a file-folder about a foot thick of receipts for the work that has been done.

And I'll just say DAMN. She was on top of it! Coolant changed EVERY 15K, oil changes on the dot, propshaft work, fuse box swapped, trans fluid & filter, brakes(fluid too!), new spark plug wires, heat & AC flawless, even an aftermarket stereo w/Iphone hookup.

NO lights on dash, although there are some pending codes for both banks being too lean - O2 sensor maybe?

Interior is a bit dirty, but I can deal with that part.

What am I missing about a 158K engine? HG's appear to have been done, I can't find any coolant leaks, and for the price, I'd be able to buy a spare engine and set it in my shop as a spare.

I don't want a brand new rover, as I lead an "active and dirty lifestyle" - her words not mine but I do need this thing to work, and my 2002 was rock solid.....

Help and thoughts appreciated guys - I'm gonna offer on this thing today unless one of you rover-guru's out there can shed some more light on this.

 

I feel your pain. This is/was my 06 RSX before my wife went to the store.



Is the VIN in the range for the oil pump issue?

Also if you are planning on doing any major off-roading you might want to see if the Transfer Case has the option to add the CDL shifter.

 

How much are they asking for it? Are you aware it does not have a locking CDL, so if you are planning on some heavy wheeling you may want to take that into consideration.

 

Go for it man!!

 

If the head gaskets were done for certain then you might have a good buy on your hands. Sounds like that 158k were lightly tacked on. That motor should last a while, wouldn't worry about a replacement just yet. Did you bring up the VIN range and ask about it?

 

Guys,

Bought her. Hunter green, very pretty. It's in the VIN range. $4600 out the door. Needs a new key, (buttons gone) headliner, and a goooood detailing. Previous owner had a shedding dog, but my detail guy says he can handle.

After going through all these records, at 68K the motor was gone over, HG done, new piston rings, valve cover and valley gaskets, pretty major overhaul. Covered under rover 100K warranty.

Front driveshaft was replaced with greasable one LAST WEEK.

New t-stat, 10 quart coolant flush, trans fluid & filter, serp belt, air filter, new brake fluid & reservoir - DOT4 synthetic.

Tech noted there is a small leak at throttle plate heater gasket - I'll tackle that next weekend.

Motor purrs like a kitten - my '02 had that famous tick-tick that I learned to love, but this 4.6 has NONE of it.

I think I got a good one, but as we all know, only time will tell. I'm going to try and get 200K out of this motor, maybe more before I have to pull & overhaul.

Oil is stupid clean - she used synthetic on 5K intervals and I had to pull the dipstick twice to even see it.

Only thing I can think of is going to be differentials - I'll check those next week one day. Anything else I am missing? Hopefully I can keep this one for a long time.

I'm thinking that I am going to flush the Dexcool out and go back with green - am I inviting trouble on that after so many miles?

Girlfriend is hereby relegated to passenger seat, or maybe the back......I will admit, as mad as she made me, she does dress the car up nicely.

 

You aren't running into troubles with a coolant change unless you don't do the job right.

 

prop shaft grease fittings? $27 kit for throttle body heater. Manual PSI test on oil pressure, just to be sure. With all the money you saved, spring for an Ultra Gauge so you can keep an eagle eye on coolant temp and other things. Swap oil in transfer case also, maybe 85W150.