[220 GSi turbo]

The passenger's door lock barrel was deleted for 1994 model year if I remember correctly: the reason given at the time was that it enhanced security because many thieves would attack the lock barrel on the pavement side of a parked car.
I would think there would have been a useful cost saving for Rover too: a small stainless steel blanking plate vs the cost of a lock barrel, associated linkages and microswitch.

When I bought my 420 GSi Turbo in 1997, the previous owner had given the driver's door handle the same treatment (as well as fitting a Thatcham-approved immobiliser that required me to poke a sensor on the dash with a stick attached to the keyring every time I wanted to start the car).
Getting into the car after the battery went flat was challenging, to say the least. It involved using the key to open the boot, unscrewing one of the rear speakers and then poking a modified broom handle through the speaker hole so that i could 'hook' one of the rear door lock buttons upwards!

[Johnny 216GSi]

Getting into the car after the battery went flat was challenging, to say the least. It involved using the key to open the boot, unscrewing one of the rear speakers and then poking a modified broom handle through the speaker hole so that i could 'hook' one of the rear door lock buttons upwards!

You should have removed the central locking and made that the default way of opening the car! A security level unmatched by modern electronics

When BMW were designing the latest "on person" unlocking modules for their cars, why didn't they just do this instead? They could have included a BMW-branded broom handle in a nice compartment in the boot too... (alongside the umbrella accessory).

[Mr Teddy Bear]

Reference the clutch bite point; it's a manually adjusted clutch cable and you will need to remove the induction trunking/battery/battery tray to get near it.
A set of 3/8 sq drive single hex' sockets will be very useful, pull back the adjuster as its located by small round dowels in the friction face before turning it!
While you're in there perfect time to change the thermostat/coolant at the same time; I would use conventional antifreeze myself, not Halfrauds ready mix, but a good quality aftermarket product.

The 214/414 have a high bite point because of the spring locating the cable outer.