Viewing: Rover MG Diesel (BMW)

**aston** · 07-02-2011, 09:37 PM

Would you consider buying a rover/mg diesel. I persume the BMW 2ltr Diesel is a good reliable engine however how about the rest of the car? Any ideas? Thanksalot

***HDi fun*** · 07-02-2011, 10:24 PM

The engine is sound, but even the later 2.0 CDTi is only 129bhp in standard tune.

BMW has been a bit stingy in this respect and has never allowed Rover access to the later engines.

All are common rail units and as such are smooth and quiet, typical of most BMW engines. They will tune to slightly over 150bhp with a remap (source: Celtic Tuning) but that's about it.

As for the rest of the car, well, the Rover 75 is a bargain. Buy one as late as you can possibly get and you'll get a comfortable and quiet car which should be pretty durable.

Also have a look at the Roewe (pronounced Ree-Wee) 750. It's a Chinese built 75 and shouldn't be dismissed. Build quality is reckoned to be second to none.

I am uncertain as to their availability in The UK.

**aston** · 07-02-2011, 11:34 PM

Well I am still looking for a bargain diesel, I was looking at MG Zt's which use the M47R BMW Engine but realised the 75 with the same engine are well under half the price of the MG. For basically the same car. Seems to be good MPG, I was looking for 306's but it seems the rover gives over 20% more mpg, and weighs almost 50% more. Not bad.

***HDi fun*** · 08-02-2011, 08:46 PM

The 306 HDi models are pretty frugal. If you can find one with the 2.0 HDi 110bhp unit (the HDi 90 lacks an intercooler) then you'll get very good economy indeed.

The earlier XUD-T engines are not in the same league for economy.

BMW's diesel engines are impressive, though the one that was fitted to the 75 is not particularly special it's still a parsimonious little engine.

**aston** · 08-02-2011, 10:47 PM

Well, to be honest It seems the Fiat/GM engines, BMW and Pug/Citroen are the only recommended Derv's. The MGZT(BMW) and the multijet 147's (Fiat) seem to tick the box's for me today however no doubt tomorrow it'll be something else.

**jarrus** · 10-02-2011, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDi fun

The 306 HDi models are pretty frugal. If you can find one with the 2.0 HDi 110bhp unit (the HDi 90 lacks an intercooler) then you'll get very good economy indeed.

The earlier XUD-T engines are not in the same league for economy.

BMW's diesel engines are impressive, though the one that was fitted to the 75 is not particularly special it's still a parsimonious little engine.

I beg to differ there dude,

Yes, the HDi's are more frugal but not that much more, most people struggle to get 50 mpg in combined driving, I get 45 mpg on my XUD consistantly.

On a motorway trip I dare say that gap will widen but for now the real world figure speak for there selves, just ask any of the guy over on Pug306.net they will tell you,

Also I don't think they fitted the 110 Hdi in the 306's if they did it must have been a few very late ones as a "parts bin special" kind of thing

***HDi fun*** · 10-02-2011, 11:42 AM

That's fair enough. My Dad had a 1769cc XUD-T in a 405 estate and that was pretty economical.

**jarrus** · 10-02-2011, 11:47 AM

Yeah that was the XUD7, pretty much exactly the same as the XUD9 like mine,

In fact I have a head off an XUD7 in my garage which I'm going to use on my XUD9, they are exactly the same

***HDi fun*** · 10-02-2011, 07:43 PM

The 2.1 XUD-T is a nice engine.

**aston** · 10-02-2011, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDi fun

The 2.1 XUD-T is a nice engine.

Funny that becausi in a pervy kind of way I allways fancied an XM (the 2.1derv) but no doubt that is certainly asking for trouble

***HDi fun*** · 10-02-2011, 10:19 PM

The appeal is its strong performance for a 4 cylinder derv of its age.

If you can find a Xantia with Citroen's Hyrdactive II suspension and it has strong history (of course, it must work properly as well

) then you have a very interesting car. I'd be careful to make sure you have a local Citroen specialist on hand though.

Citroen's XM is worth a look as well, purely for its exclusivity. They are quiet and refined cars.

**jarrus** · 11-02-2011, 12:14 PM

Yeah complecated bit of kit, look out for one with a bosch ve fuel pump, they are much more reliable than the later Lucas EPIC pumps (ironicly.....considering the name)

**aston** · 11-02-2011, 08:20 PM

So which is the better buy for an old car, the Bosch Pump Xud or the HDI, Cheers

***HDi fun*** · 11-02-2011, 08:49 PM

Either will serve you well. As Jarrus has noted, the 2.1 is very complex for an IDI engine and is perhaps not the very best of choices.

If you got your hands on a 406 with the 2.2 HDi 16v engine you will get what I consider to be one of the best diesel cars of its era.

They're not cheap to service - however, the 2.0 HDi engines are no better in this respect.

The 2.2 responds well to ECU remapping - I'd recommend this to anyone - and is extremely quiet and refined. Not just in the usual 'for a diesel' kind of a way but is so in its own right.

**aston** · 11-02-2011, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDi fun

Either will serve you well. As Jarrus has noted, the 2.1 is very complex for an IDI engine and is perhaps not the very best of choices.

If you got your hands on a 406 with the 2.2 HDi 16v engine you will get what I consider to be one of the best diesel cars of its era.

They're not cheap to service - however, the 2.0 HDi engines are no better in this respect.

The 2.2 responds well to ECU remapping - I'd recommend this to anyone - and is extremely quiet and refined. Not just in the usual 'for a diesel' kind of a way but is so in its own right.

From what I could make out the 2.2 is not very good on fuel. I am not too interested in mega power as there is so much congestion there is never a chance to use it on my daily commute, But like all immature big kids I like to chase numbers....stupid isn't it

***HDi fun*** · 11-02-2011, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aston

From what I could make out the 2.2 is not very good on fuel. I am not too interested in mega power as there is so much congestion there is never a chance to use it on my daily commute, But like all immature big kids I like to chase numbers....stupid isn't it

You're right. It's not the most frugal of engines. Mine managed about 38mpg on average over the 105,000 miles I had it.

Were it not for that horrific situation in which I found myself on 24th June 2009 I'd still have it now.

But, and this is the key, for the performance it had on offer (and which I used daily) it was a very sensible car for ny needs.

Well equipped - all the usual toys plus climate control, auto dipping mirrors, auto wipers, lights, ten airbags (hence I'm still alive and well), full electric seat adjustment driver and passenger, etc etc.

**Producer** · 24-02-2011, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDi fun

As for the rest of the car, well, the Rover 75 is a bargain. Buy one as late as you can possibly get and you'll get a comfortable and quiet car which should be pretty durable.

Also have a look at the Roewe (pronounced Ree-Wee) 750. It's a Chinese built 75 and shouldn't be dismissed. Build quality is reckoned to be second to none.

I agree to HDI fun. It is quiet and durable. It is little complicated to get parts since it is not on stream (I don't know, maybe it is different in other countries). I hope Roewe's return to market could solve it.

In general my car is realiable and I can give it to my wife without worry that something serious could happen on a trip.

derek999 · 28-02-2011, 12:48 PM

Hi there.
The M47R engine was deliberately nobbled by BMW when fitted to MGR vehicles to keep a performance gap between the two. Many of these differences can be removed very simply and the result is a very quick and frugal vehicle. My ZT Tourer has around 170bhp and regularly gives 53+mpg on motorway runs cruising at 75/80. Mods include EGR removal, a fueling computer, decat, and a freeflow air intake (which was severely strangled), but so far no remap required even though engine was 116bhp model originally. Total cost for mods so far around £250.
Car is roomy, smooth and comfortable for 5 people with all the toys you need including cruise, xenons, aircon, leather, full electrics, etc.
Around 200bhp is possible by raising boost from 17psi to 20psi max, but clutch and intercooler need to be uprated for that.
It has to be one of the best value diesels around with easily the highest spec for the price, plus it is very solidly built as you would expect from what is really a BMW in disguise!