I have a 200 BRM LE, K series engine, and approx. 10k miles (at 49,960) & 15 months ago, the head gasket went and the engine was rebuilt at a 'specialist' garage where I live in Bolton, which cost me about £700.

3 weeks ago, whilst working in Crawley (West Sussex), after no trouble, the engine just cut out and it could not be restarted. I couldn't get it back to the original garage, and so I've got it into a local (reputable) garage down here, who have had to take the engine apart again, and found all 8 inlet valves were bent.

The local garage down here struggled to get technical info (they thought that perhaps last time it was rebuilt the timing/pump had been set up incorrectly - resulting in the valves bending). They eventually got the correct info (so they think) and have rebuilt the engine.

Problem is it still won't fire up, and when the garage try to hand crank it they say it is very tight. They don't want to risk firing it up in case the problem that caused the valves to bend is still there.

Does anyone have any idea/info on what the cause of this problem might
be, or do you know someone who might know?

Thing is I want to get it sorted asap, I want to get it sorted correctly & I don't want to keep paying these guy's £55/hour + VAT to mess about on a trial & error basis (last count I was already upto £850 and that was for a straight in & out job!)

Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.

are both timing belts set up correctly? just wondering because the vvc has two.

Problem is it still won't fire up, and when the garage try to hand crank it they say it is very tight. They don't want to risk firing it up in case the problem that caused the valves to bend is still there.


These people have had the engine in bits so should have fully inspected everything when it was apart.

There is no way they should be telling you "well it seems a bit tight so we don't want to start it up" - what sort of garage is this?

The engine and cylinder head is VVC - very very complicated. They should not have been playing around if they did not know what they were taking on.

which garage is she in... in know a man in crawley that is a guru on this type of thing

Hi,

It's in Kiplings Motor Centre, Ifield Road, West Green, Crawley.

These people have had the engine in bits so should have fully inspected everything when it was apart.

There is no way they should be telling you "well it seems a bit tight so we don't want to start it up" - what sort of garage is this?

The engine and cylinder head is VVC - very very complicated. They should not have been playing around if they did not know what they were taking on.
I agree, but they said they could do it, and were experienced with these, I specifically asked them about it as one garage had already had the good grace to tell me that they were "...a pig to work on..." and that they did not want to touch it.

are both timing belts set up correctly? just wondering because the vvc has two.
So far they tell me, yes. Even with my total lack of mechanical knowledge I know there are two. On the advice of my local mechanic I replaced them ahead of time at the 48k service, they were then replaced again as part of the 50k (1st) rebuild, and now 10k later these guys are replacing them again - nust be some sort of record!

I agree, but they said they could do it, and were experienced with these, I specifically asked them about it as one garage had already had the good grace to tell me that they were "...a pig to work on..." and that they did not want to touch it.

I am sorry as I felt my response came across a bit strong. . . . It just made me annoyed that these people are being paid as professionals and they are giving it this "not sure if that is right" stuff.

They are the freakin experts and they have had the thing in pieces, so they cannot put it all back together and they say "feels a bit tight".

I am sorry as I felt my response came across a bit strong. . . . It just made me annoyed that these people are being paid as professionals and they are giving it this "not sure if that is right" stuff.

They are the freakin experts and they have had the thing in pieces, so they cannot put it all back together and they say "feels a bit tight".

I agree, they are supposed to be the experts and they are almost suggeting you help them....
Kiplings, I've heard they are good, however they are not K series VVC experts by any means.
If it's tight when turning over then it sounds to me like it's not been put back together correctly.

If the valves hit the pistons then either the timing was out or the cambelt snapped/slipped.

I am sorry as I felt my response came across a bit strong. . . . It just made me annoyed that these people are being paid as professionals and they are giving it this "not sure if that is right" stuff.

They are the freakin experts and they have had the thing in pieces, so they cannot put it all back together and they say "feels a bit tight".
Matt, No Problem - I entirely agree with you. With cars & computers I often feel frustrated that I'm expected to pay thru' the nose (£60+ an hour with VAT) for them to tell me that they're not sure if they have fixed the problem it's gone in with - always on the basis that "...if it's not right bring it back and we'll charge you some more!"

I agree, they are supposed to be the experts and they are almost suggeting you help them....
Kiplings, I've heard they are good, however they are not K series VVC experts by any means.
If it's tight when turning over then it sounds to me like it's not been put back together correctly.

If the valves hit the pistons then either the timing was out or the cambelt snapped/slipped.
Hi, it's me that's now pushing this, with the help of you guys, as this has now been going on for 3 weeks. The garage have been waiting for reliable technical info to get/check the timing etc set up, and say they have had to beg, borrow & steal it to get this far. I'm confused about this as although Rover has gone bump, this engine is used by others (Landrover, Lotus etc) and info should be available from them. I've even arranged today to buy a set of Rover service manuals on CD so that I can pass them on to the garage to try & speed things up. For me now it's a case of getting sorted so that it is right.

Oh no not another set of illegal copied software.........

I'd be interested to know how they have arrived at their diagnosis of a tight engine........

Is the alternator free and not seized?

Oh no not another set of illegal copied software.........
Not so far as I am aware. I got it from the online shop at www.roverbrm.com

http://www.roverbrm.com/shop.php

I'd be interested to know how they have arrived at their diagnosis of a tight engine........

Is the alternator free and not seized?
Don't know, I spoke to them on the phone at lunchtime and they dropped this bombshell and I nearly dropped the phone! I'm waiting for the CD Manual to come tomorrow (see your last comment) and I'll go round with it and see where they are up to and try and get a better explanation.