I am looking up picking up a 97 Rover and wanted to know what type of issues I would face getting one with 75k, 100k, 150k, 200k miles.

I know it's a tough question to ask on an "across the board" level but what are the major issues and is it simply not worth considering one over a certain level of milage.

 

Aside from any maintenance not done on the vehicle you can look up rover service schedules to see what will need to be done once you take possession. There have been many post on rover reliability. Try searching this and other forum for incite.

 

They can have alot of issues but that does not mean much if you love Rovers. Some will be plagued by issues and others can be relatively fine. The main issues surround the EAS suspension system, and electrical woes. There is a good link to a list of common faults and how to fix them, I cannot find it right now but do a search and you will find plenty of information.

 

Can a lot of the work be done if you are somewhat mechanically inclined or does it almost always require a pro? I ask only as i have been pretty good about doing work on my 3 series.

 

I haven't owned a 1997 myself, but according to Land Rover guru John Robison (who has a lot of great tips and FAQ's on RobisonService.com), he says that 1996-7 is the nadir of Rover reliability and you should generally avoid those years. With the Bosch equipped (1999+) Rovers so cheap right now, why take the risk? Having just sold my own 2000 4.6, I understand the appeal, although there is always SOMETHING that needs doing. The new style is MUCH improved in every way, but they don't have that same quirky character.

 

There are definately some things left to a pro and a lot you can do yourself. I just did a complete swap of the engine and tranny and it was fairly easy. This site helps out a lot with proper information too.