I have had an on-going problem with the temperature gauge keep going into the red. After numerous visits to my local Rover dealer and several compression tests on the coolant system, I was advised that the head gasket had blown. This fault first occured at 60,000 miles, the problem is still there now at 95,000 miles even though the gasket has been replaced, as has temperature sensors and the electronic control unit. The car has always drove very well and hasn't shown any signs of a loss in power.
I believe that my 1.1S is a fairly rare model as it has a fuel injection rather than a carburettor.
Over the past five years I have been very pleased with the engine on this small car. The 1.1 engine has been driven hard and even when the car has developed a problem it has always got me home.
The Metro has sadly suffered with one or two minor accidents. First a motorbike chose to slide under the car. Then I drove through a ford, had no brakes at the end of it and chrashed into the kerb. A Jeep Cherokee hit the drivers side front wing. Soon after getting the wing repaired I hit a Fiesta XR2i. Surprisingly, this car has stood up very well to the abuse that I have put it through.
I have found that Rover servicing costs can be fairly high, especially as it is only a small car. However, the routine maintenance has meant that the car has always started.
If Rover still made the Metro or the 100 I would definitely buy one.
The temperature reading may be due to the radiator needing replacing. My 111i, which has the same sort of engine, had the same problem and it took 4 different garages to diagnose a faulty radiator, after suggestions of a blown head gasket. Apparently not many mainstream garages bother with radiators anymore, so most don't consider it.
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