RESIDUAL value experts believe BMW's sale of Rover has hit future residual values. However, CAP Motor Research and Glass's Glass's Guide are divided about the extent of damage to the resale value of cars, in particular the Rover 75. The verdicts come two weeks after the two organisations claimed residual values would not be hit.

But Adrian Rushmore, chief car editor of Glass's Guide, said: 'Our RVs reflect the loss of confidence and the fact that the 75 has moved from being an aspirational premium brand mass market car which would have made thousands more than a Vauxhall Vectra and Ford Mondeo after three years to just hundreds more.'

But Ramesh Notra, economist at CAP Motor Research, said: 'Our figures are less gloomy because they reflect that production of the 75 has been halved first and then suspended to limit supply which will be translated into a strong RV performance.'