The P5 Club www.roverp5club.org.uk

Both of these models breakage’s along the join Buyers were available in a of the leather - this can be choice of Saloon or repaired reasonably easily. , the latter Torn or damaged seats are being the most expensive to repair. Rover produced two main P5 types; Guide desirable. Carpets if wet, may be due the 3 Litre Straight Six, known as a P5 to ingress of water through and The P5 (3 Litre) had the window seal, inner the 3.5 Litre V8 known as the P5B. an option of a manual wing or leaking heater

with overdrive or matrix. Replacement automatic gearbox. The P5B (3.5 Litre) carpets are available, but not to the was only available as an automatic. same quality. Wooden facias and especially door Visual Differences cappings may have suffered from The easiest way to differentiate between moisture resulting in the joints the two models would be the Rostyle separating. Although unsightly they can wheels, found on the P5B. be easily repaired, especially on the Other saloon model. P5 - 3 Litre saloon points to Window winders, especially on the note would Coupe are prone to failure - check all P5B - V8 Coupe be side mechanisms. indicators, Door apertures. All doors should fit no hole in correctly & close with a simple ‘clunk’. the front If there is a problem closing the door, grille for carefully check the A & C (where the the starting handle, rubber strips to the doors are hinged to the ) posts over-riders and recessed fog lamps to for rust. the front wings - all found on the P5B Engine. The 3 litre & 3.5 litre engine and not the P5. will last for well over 150,000 miles. panels. Change oil every 3,000 miles and Rear bumpers are very difficult to find in Inner wings can be checked via the check the level of antifreeze and/ good condition, although new ones are engine bay and boot. Whilst in the boot, or inhibitor in the radiator. Ideally the available. They are prone to rust on the check the area around the battery. car should have service records or inside corners, so check carefully and Carefully check the top and bottom of receipts of work done. When started, make sure the bumper is straight. the splash panels, found under the front the hydraulic tappets may be slightly Body trim is stainless steel - pay wings. noisy until warm, then it should settle attention to the trim that runs the length Sills (including to a quiet ‘burble’. of the sills on the P5B - it’s usually the spacer The engine is prone missing. This trim should NOT be fitted and inner sill) to slight leakage to the car using screws. especially near around the join to the The trim is also a good guide to the the jacking gearbox. Check the correct fitting of the body panels. Look points. Do not radiator to ensure along its length and you should see a be misled by it’s both clean (no steady downward curve to the trim. the condition of white ‘scum’ on It is important not to discard any the outer sill as the surface) and complete body panel(s) as only it is a structural sufficient antifreeze replacement sections are available from part of the car. has been added SPECIALIST SUPPLIERS. The cost for during the summer A, B, C & D-post especially the D Post replacement and winter. which is the sills is low, Automatic choke area around but to fit them if fitted. Switch the the rear wheel correctly engine off before it gets too warm arch, that can will cost and trying to restart it after about a be seen when minute - a faulty choke would result in the rear doors the engine either failing or reluctant are opened. If to start. Depending upon the date of the doors have production, some are fitted with a dropped, this could be due to rusting in manual choke. the A & C posts. Automatic gearbox should be smooth Window Scuttles - the areas both changing up and down. Check immediately below the front & rear the kickdown on a CLEAR ROAD - it screens, which are difficult to repair. should change down smoothly and Due to the considerably more. Badly fitted sills can accelerated quickly! Check the fluid is complexity of the be easily spotted by the doors ‘sagging’ clean. It should not be brown and smell structure, ANY in the middle of the car. The sill should of rotten eggs, which could mean an bubbling should fit level to the front wing. expensive rebuild. be treated as Chassis legs especially around the rear Manual gearboxes on the 3 litre should only ‘the tip of spring hangars. Correct repairs should be extremely smooth - carefully check the iceberg’! have had the the overdrive unit. Rear valance - old metal cut Power steering especially the panel that out. Beware of on the P5B is extremely runs under the plated legs. light and does leak. The rear bumper. Body panels P5 3 litres came with the Leather & will not fit optional power steering. Interiors. All correctly models came This is intended as a guide to without potential purchasers of the P5 with leather seating and particular adjustment marque and as such both the Rover P5 Owners attention should be given to the Club nor their Representatives can be held - this also applies to original Rover responsible for any decision the reader makes in condition. Front seats are prone to the purchase of his or her car. www.roverp5club.org.uk