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Kasyx
04-23-2008, 03:25 PM
Hi all, just a quick (ish) note to introduce myself. I posted on a couple of other threads last night but didn’t get round to waving hello to everyone.

I live in Middlesbrough, have done all my life and I love it round here. It’s got some of the most beautiful countryside in the world, but we’re trying like mad to keep it a secret so that it doesn’t get too overcrowded (thanks Location, Location, Location. Keep up the good work) :)

I’ve had my BRM for two years now after a guy at work was selling it to get an MG ZR. He still misses it hehehe. She was a silver mouth (or nose if you prefer :) ) until just last Sunday when I changed the whole front bumper for one with an un-dealer-tampered-with orange grin. She’d had a minor collision over a year ago and given the ludicrous price for a new bumper from the dealer, plus a few other minor repairs there was a very real chance of her being written off, so I never claimed, hoping to one day carry out some repairs in a much more cost effective way. I came across a guy last Monday selling a few bits and bobs on ebay he’d got as a job lot from a dealer. Among them were a couple of bumpers for the BRM, priced at less than a sixth of the dealer’s outrageous tariff. So as you’ll have no doubt gathered, I snapped one up. She’s got a few other minor bodywork repairs that need doing, but the interior is still tip top.

I almost lost her last year when the head gasket blew too. (I bet there’s a few out there who know a song about that…) And after getting some obscene quotes from various garages to repair it (from those that weren’t frightened off by the VVC complications in the first place) I did a bit of research, got some good info from a few chaps over at the MGRover forum and tackled it myself. She spent about a fortnight off the road and just to make sure all of the mayo was out & the cooling system didn’t have any airlocks in it I shoved it into a Rover specialist whilst I went on holiday. I felt like a kid in a sweet shop when I went to pick her up and drove away. She was back!

That’s the thing though isn’t it? They have a personality. More so than any other car I’ve owned. Nice to see there’s a few other like minded people that share the passion.

Dom
04-23-2008, 03:58 PM
Welcome!

Similar story, I bought mine off someone who 'upgraded' to a ZR 160, got a green nose though! And indeed, it's got a dented wing...

And the headgasket went last year. But seeing as it was MOT and service time as well, I just bent over and experienced wallet extraction though the arse.

It's a testament that I still own this car after 18 months, average length of ownership of cars before then was around 6 months

Adam
04-23-2008, 04:03 PM
Welcome to the site :wave:

Fantastic story there and i'm so glad you've had the passion to keep her running! :clap2:

mafcaw
04-23-2008, 06:31 PM
I live in Catterick Village and I'm currently working in Middlesborough, so not too far away. Although you wont see my BRM as I've had it SORNed over winter (Fiesta Zetec TDCI daily transport as does 50mpg & attracts less attention - nearly as much fun in the handling dept, but no where near as fast).

You refer in your intro to have taken yours to a Rover Specialist - anybody up here?

Welcome to the forum

Regards

Mark
(mafcaw)

Kasyx
04-24-2008, 11:47 AM
Aye, they're in Stockton.

www.rovetecgarage.co.uk

I've only used them once, so I can't offer any concrete approval of their services. But, to be fair they did a decent job and they were amenable and offered advice free without trying to have my eyes out whilst drawing air through their teeth and saying things like "Yeah mate, it's probably going to need a whole new engine."

Bets of luck old chap.

boogie
04-24-2008, 05:03 PM
Greetings