ZR 105 Buying Advice...

southside · Post by **southside** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:03 pm

Right, I went to look at a ZR today. My initial thought after i'd been to look at it was nah its a bag of s**t i dont want that. But now i've got home the more i think about it the more im wondering weather to have it or not.

Basically i've been offered it at a good price (Way below the lowest book price) its an 02 plate with 37k miles on it. Its need some tidying up, Bodywork is pretty straight, couple of small parking dents and looks like someones cleaned it with a brilo pad on the pass door but i rekon i could cut that out. Interior need a bit of tidying, some cracked pieces of trim and needs a good valet,

But the only thing thats bothering me is when i had a look at the engine, it runs fine and doesnt get hot but it looked a bit low on water and it was a bit scummy in the tank so i staight away though headgasket's on its way out. Although the engine hadnt been cleaned and there was no signs of any oil leaking out the drivers side of the block. Also i swear i remember hearing someone say a few years back when the ZR's first came out that they were fitted with the uprated HG as standard with the metal dowels? now is this just an urban myth? as a garage we do work for has constantly got 25's in with HG failure that are only a few years old, or was it just the ZR's that came with the uprated HG? I really dont know what to do at the min, Even if its just to tidy up and sell on for a bit of a profit?

C2K · Post by **C2K** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:12 pm

Land Rover made an uprated Head Gasket for the K last year. The 25/ZR revised gasket was just the metal locating dowels, but it still didn't cure it. Various mileage versions get it - i've seen as low as 9K get HGF.

TBH it really depends how bad it is, could turn into a nightmare just to break even.

Murky water could just be poor coolant. If it's leaked at some point or whatever or just been topped up with water it could be gunky rusty coolant. I bought my second 214 with no water in the exp tank and it did me fine for the next 9K i did before selling.

southside · Post by **southside** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:23 pm

Well tbh the car is not that bad. I mite aswell tell you all i've been offered it for Â£2500 but i rekon i can get him down nearer 2k as he's desperate to get rid as he's got no where to store it and just bought a freelander. The list of things wrong with it are...

Centre consol round hanbreak is cracked (not a prolem as it'll be replaced with armrest)
No stereo
Couple of minor parking dents (as in people swinging door open onto it)
One of the front fog blanks is missing (he said someone nicked it which i can believe as MGR parts are getting harder to get hold of)
17" straights 2 fronts are scuffed but its only took the powder caoting of hasnt kerbed the metal
Gearknob has broke but again not a problem as i have a ZR one off my old cabby.
I noticed some primer overspray but he's saying he had the rear bumper and a bit of the rear quater re-sprayed where his mrs reversed it into a bollard a few months back. He sounded genuine enough.

And i think thats about it other than the fact im not sure about the HG. On the good side its got 12months mot and 12months tax. The only thing that lets it down is the fact its the top spec 1.4 with the 17's and sideskirts but its only got keep-fit windows and no aircon

Gonzo · Post by **Gonzo** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:39 pm

AFAIK rover never got as far as the tri-layered gasket we've had rover garages buying them of us. Rover one with the metal dowels was about the same as the previous one.. some good, some bad. So far haven't seen a freelander come back after newest types been fitted.

Early 105's i recall had problems with moving liners to an extent, i know we did loads of them before going pop but cant remember now if it was a specific amount of cars or not.

Sounds like a bargain though dude, build up a 1.8 or vvc with all the landrover coolant mods for when you kill the 1.4

al

C2K · Post by **C2K** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:45 pm

Weren't the 120's the ones which had wandering liners?

Gonzo · Post by **Gonzo** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 9:03 pm

C2K wrote:Weren't the 120's the ones which had wandering liners?

120 was 1.8 wasn't it?
I swear it was the 1.4 but it's been a few years dude. Too many Landrover part numbers and specs pushing the decent stuff out of my head, i'm 90% sure it was the 1.4's but more than willing to be shown up as wrong

al

mach1rob · Post by **mach1rob** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 9:49 pm

Put it this way, if it's just HG you're worrying about then get it, changing it is no biggy, costs bugger all (414 cost me Â£30!) and can be done in a few hours easy.

will-220GSiTurbo · Post by **will-220GSiTurbo** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 1:35 am

at the end of the day,i k series is a very reliable lump when looked after. head gasket is a few hous job,and even if you do the gasket/oil & filter/rad flush as a precaution,you wont go far wrong @ 2-2.5k

Post by **agw_01** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 2:35 am

I can't see why you don't get a cheap 214 SEi and spend the rest on getting the Tubby on the road

Much less hassle than buying a shed of a ZR and having to replace bits of interior etc before you're able to sell it on at a reasonable price.

But then... I can't really talk can I. Just look at the time/effort I've spent on my car. And I'll be replacing it with a tubby when the right one comes along.

southside · Post by **southside** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 12:13 pm

The 420's going to be on the road after xmas. I havnt got the money to splash out on mot, tax and insurance at the min with xmas shopping looming. But even when the 420's on the road its only going to be a second car. I still want something a bit newer, more reliable and cheaper on petrol for everyday use

southside · Post by **southside** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 11:10 pm

Well been and bought it. Got it for Â£2100 in the end which i think is a pretty good price. Havnt decided if im keeping it or selling it on yet though.lol Picking it up tomorow will get some pics up soon as i can

fordie2 · Post by **fordie2** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 11:47 pm

southside wrote:Well been and bought it. Got it for Â£2100 in the end which i think is a pretty good price. Havnt decided if im keeping it or selling it on yet though.lol Picking it up tomorow will get some pics up soon as i can

Can't beleive how little they go for now, if that's it I might end up keeping mine

southside · Post by **southside** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 11:54 pm

fordie2 wrote:
southside wrote:Well been and bought it. Got it for Â£2100 in the end which i think is a pretty good price. Havnt decided if im keeping it or selling it on yet though.lol Picking it up tomorow will get some pics up soon as i can

Can't beleive how little they go for now, if that's it I might end up keeping mine

Trust me mate they arnt going that cheap hence why i snapped it up

I got confused with the mileage aswell its 70 summot thousand but still been looking on autotrader and they're still going on there for over 3k so im pretty chuffed.