[Dorchester]

Thank you for that tip!
No I hadn't seen that mod: there are so many posts in the other forum...
The finish touch looks very nice, far nicer than the rough spring I'd seen in the first place.
But something's missing: the item list!
And TBH I was a bit dropped backwards when I read: "Some had issues with them causing the hinges for the bootlid to bend."
BTW I'm so impressed by my new struts which make a massive difference with my old 21 years old ones that I think I may postpone that mod for a while except if I can get the exact length of the metal spacer and the precise spring type. I'll see to ask the question later.
Thank you once more: astute & not to fiddly a mod!

 

[Dorchester]

As my "England" boot badge has completely lost its red colour, I replaced it with a slight classic flavour of good old days Britishness...

Before:

After (do excuse a very thin layer of dust due to the lock-down...):

 

[Dorchester]

Here is the last ranking in this month PC. The 75 is 11th out of 40: not that bad!
Just behind the MG F/TF!

 

[gnu]

Good showing for mg and rover! What was no1 though?

 

[Dorchester]

Morris Minor indeed ! 👍

 

[Dorchester]

I'm happy to say that I've found out a French Rave for 75/ZT/ZT260. I didn't imagine such ever existed!
It will be of good use for my skillful mechanic who isn't that keen on English, mainly when the time comes to swap belts, pump & pulley. Very soon...
The last swap was done on the 25 Apr 2014. But I'm not obsessed with the so called 6 years rule. Lots of 75 did 10 years and more with the same belt without any harm as we can learn from forums. On the other hand I'll not try a foul play which would be silly of me. Maybe next autumn or even in spring 2021 at the latest.

 

[gnu]

Belt swap on a V6? That’s a difficult job, I’m not surprised your mechanic would prefer to work with French manuals!

 

[Dorchester]

Belt swap on a V6? That’s a difficult job, I’m not surprised your mechanic would prefer to work with French manuals!

Indeed and he should have thin hands because there isn't much room in the engine bay.
Since he is working on my 3 Rovers, I bet he has greatly improved his skills. It would be nice if he'd been awarded with a special Rover mechanical trophy !

 

[Dorchester]

A good find recently: 2 Rover workshop manuals in French bought from a retired Rover mechanic who worked very close to Rover France headquarters in Paris North suburb.
The electrical library is regarding the 75, and the other one is constituted by several additions made from 1995 to 1999 for the 200, 400, 600 & 800 series but one booklet inside is about the KV6 last release in the 800, and I assume that it's very similar to the 75 KV6. Am I wrong ?

 

[Dorchester]

Every time I'm at my 75 wheel it gives me lots of good vibes - vibes I write, not vibrations!
Particularly one of the best features IMHO is the cruise control.
Why?

With an auto gear box 75 - even in a V6 2.5 - you may think sometimes that the pace is rather lazy, revs hardly pushing over 2k in ordinary situations, that is very often.
But had I switched on the CC and fixed it at 50 mls (80 km) which is unfortunately now the rule on the country roads and had I just switched it off for any good reason - crossing a village at 30 mls (50 km), following a sluggish car, encountering a corner or whatever reason, when I resume the previous pace the engine suddenly comes back to life going down to lower gears and revving higher up to 3 or 4k, you feel a massive power pulling you forward faster & faster and realize that your engine was dozing beforehand thus using a ridiculous amount out of its actual strength.
The fact is that without the CC unless I crush the pedal in a sudden kick-down while leaving the box in 'normal' (eco) mode, I can't get the same brilliant result. Hence I'm activating the CC as soon as I can especially uphill. It's great fun!

Another good moment is when this morning remaining out of the car and giving the key to my good mechanic I heard the exhaust (MIJ Exhaust full SS line) from outside: a fantastic low-pitched growling not too loud but neatly present I haven't ever the opportunity to hear so comfy & insulated is the cabin when I'm at the wheel. Then you can realize it's a true V6 and not a 4 cyl. Magic!

At last thanks to the ethanol (--> high engine lower temperatures) and the mod I've done within the air box I'm every time amazed to notice the unusual low temperature of the coolant (thanks to Torque Pro) when cruising with a little charge on the engine: often aeound 80°C, and sometimes around 75°. Last Wednesday 74°C. Hard to reach 90° unless I find myself jammed in the traffic which nearly never happens! I must add that nearly 3 years ago I've put a slightly oversized radiator using all the room available which may help.

I can't wait to drive Lady Carlotta on the 17th of June going 500km (320 mls) far from home to visit my younger son and his wife in Savoy (Alps).

 

[Dorchester]

So yesterday I went at my mechanic's to change my nearly worn pair of rear tyres.
So far I'd 205x65x15 in the front & 195x65x15 at the rear. All good Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance.

As the back ones were put in the front and the new ones at the rear, now all are 195.
Will passing from 205 to 195 make any difference in handling and / or consumption? I'll tell you later on. Initially the whole lot was 205. But 195 are far much cheaper and I thought that the difference wasn't worth the money. Mind you I'm not mean and tight: if so I wouldn't spend so much on my prides & joys, but I demand that every penny is well invested.

BTW I asked him to re-tighten the hand brake cables at the drum fastening: when he swapped the drums several months ago he didn't want them too tightly fitted and told me he'll do it next time. Hence that's it.

 

[Dorchester]

As I'm back from Savoy where lives my younger son, it looks I've got some feed back.

First the 195 front tyres: TBH no feeling difference with the previous 205 ones, brand - Goodyear - and model - efficient grip performance - being the same. And mind that in the Alps there are lots of corners as usual in mountains!

Consumption... terrible! But mind my V6 2.5 is only swallowing E85 (ethanol) hence at least 20% more than unleaded 95.
All the conditions were gathered to make it high:

• altitude
• awful lot of corners
• awful lot of uphill country roads
• some densely populated crossings (Aix les Bains, Annecy) hence traffic, lamps, speed bumps
• sunny & warm weather hence aircon nearly every time

Chronological result in 5 fuel-ups:

• out 1/2: 12.78L or 22.1mpg
• out 2/2: 12.07L or 23.4mpg
• on the spot 1/2: 14.86L or 19.1mpg (the second worst one ever done!)
• on the spot 2/2 & back 1/2: 13.57L or 21.6mpg
• back 2/2: 12.53L or 22.5mpg

the usual average being the last one. E85 litre being 0.60€ worth in France on my way (E5/E10 being around 1.30€ at the moment), then not so expensive after all...

Maybe I should have told you I've got a heavy foot which is particularly excuseless uphill & in corners...
But what a bliss in such a car! She works a treat.

 

[gnu]

I guess 195’s are fine if the handling is not affected. Some models had 195’s as standard. You should get less rolling resistance and less noise as well, although it’s probably marginal!

 

[Dorchester]

I guess in 1999-2000 they were fitted with 205, then because economy & project drive 195 afterwards. Or maybe 195 for 1.8 & 2.0 and 205 for V6?
Anyway the comfort isn't affected at all nor the handling on dry ground. I've just to test the latter on wet corners except that I'm very reluctant to take her for a drive when the weather's rainy!

 

[Dorchester]

As I've told once, one of the things that shows the good health of the engine & both VIS motors is the kick-down!
Every time I've had to overtake as quickly as possible (not that often...), it was hugely impressive and I was flabbergasted!
As I've better to focus on the road I can't say how many revs it's going up to but I bet that 4.5k or even 5k might be pretty close to the truth because I can hear the engine growling high during a few seconds. In less time than to tell it we are propelled like a rocket from 80km/h (50 mls) to 110 (70 mls): every time dreadfully amazing and it gives me a big grin on the face!
The more surprising is that it doesn't cost so much fuel (I've the nearly instant consumption in view thanks to Torque Pro with a slight delay - that's why I can tell it - when I'm just back in my line), for sure less than driving uphill with lots of corners I can ensure you!

 

[Dorchester]

My love affair with a Rover 75: tragedy, romance and a walnut dash

 

[Dorchester]

Every little helps as one says...
I wasn't very satisfied with my additional Bluetooth receiver & transmitter (fitted on the 3rd of April 2018) only because of one downsize: the small memory card sometimes switched off by itself and my co-pilot (!) had to take it off then reinserting it again to make it work again. Boring. Nevertheless the hands free bit was working fine.

But technology is ever improving and I've found on the flea bay another device, smaller, without any additional wire and remote item.

Very compact as you may see and just able to be fitted in the cigar lighter location: every mm is used (size: 7,5 x 4,3 x 3,6 cm) and none is wasted.
And it works brilliantly even when you receive a call while the memory stick is running: then it's swapping by itself with the phone and only by pushing the green button you can answer hands free.
Brilliantly I was saying... by night:

Hence I can keep using my dirty good genuine 1999 Rover Symphony radio with 6 its CD changer while benefiting from the must of the 21st century technology!
Otherwise Lady Carlotta is still working a treat...

 

[Dorchester]

A nice journey with Lady Carlotta on Friday, Saturday & Sunday last.
I've tested the fuel warning light for the first time, and did around 30km (20 mls) with the light on.
I wasn't looking so cocky while driving and rather in a hurry to arrive at the saving pump!
E85 as you may guess is now more common in France, nevertheless there are less E85 pumps than petrol & diesel ones. That's the explanation of my temporary embarrassment.

I filled up with 58.72 litres out of 65. Hence it wasn't absolutely the end of the tank even I know that it's better not to nearly empty it for fear the pump may be damaged by some dirt coming within the last liters.
That most excellent car did 22.23 MPG (12.7 L/100km) only filled with E85 (0.60€/L), which is normal as I've told several times. Around 28/30 MPG equivalent depending upon road, weather & traffic conditions as usual.
In summer given the higher ethanol proportion and A/C permanent use, I'm consuming more than in mid-season, even more than in winter (our winters here not being that cold).

Just one downsize in a blissful week end: that dreadful warning bulb on the dash just in front of me is back!
Now it's the right stop bulb which is dead. But sending a warning every 30s is so diabolical & scary a design!
I'll change the bulb very soon, today or tomorrow.

 

[gnu]

Glad you found a refill in time. I try not to run my zt too low as last time I saw the low fuel light the fuel gauge went wrong soon after. I think one of the floats got stuck as it freed up after I took the fuel filter out.

 

[Dorchester]

To be perfectly honest, I might have refilled the tank before. But I'm trying to get the best price on E85, given a rather puzzling price difference from one pump to another in France. E85 alone is subject to large variations and may be found from 0.50€ up to 0.85€ when E10 & gas-oil are nearly at the same price everywhere. The reason is that taxes are very low on E85 and that lots of greedy sellers are trying to put the huge tax difference in their large pockets! I'm not willing to give my dough to the gangsters... Hence instead of paying 0.70€ per litre, I chose to reach a 0.60€ per litre station! A gamble...
Ludicrous? Maybe, but why paying 15% more for the same good and encouraging the cheaters?
Anyway I'm not mean & tight as I may look.

BTW the bulb is swapped and the dash is back in order. But I was to wait till the third I tried to make it work. The first two bulbs, apparently identical in power (21W) and shape and looking good and clean, refused to work... Happily I've got lots of them on the shelf.