Looking at returning to the fold
 

Well im hoping to return to the MG fold. Iv got my eyes open for a Mk2 Zs diesel. Not too fussy on colour or style but i am after one with the full body kit on. iv seen couple im enquiring about at the moment so we will see who that goes. would end up been my 3rd ZS!! is that bad... 180, 120, diesel, working my way down. does anyone have pointers on looking for a good diesel?
Thanks

I think its working your way UP to a diesel.

Belts should be done by now, could even be on the second set.

If it seems flat and underpowered could be the MAF out, £60 and transforms the car.

Just done my clutch 79000 miles.

Good one should go well with plenty of grunt above 1200/1500 revs when the turbo kicks in,

Hope you can find a good one.

:happy2::happy2::happy2::happy2:

cheers, iv seen a black hatch with full kit, 68k up for just over £2k, service history, belts done couple of years back. trying to arrange to view and make a deal on my mondeo estate. i think its the 100hp model but that doesnt bother me too much, need the eco and it seems quite easy from what i have read to make them more drivable with a remap and/or sdi injectors. will need to do more reading on that.

Depending on miles, age and condition seems a good buy.

Easy to tune up a bit.

Test drive a must.

790,000 miles on one clutch? WOW! I didn't think any ZS's were 3/4 of the way to a million miles yet... but on the first clutch as well? ;)

IIRC there are two types of L Series diesel, One with a Manual Tensioner and one with an Automatic Tensioner... One costs £300 for a cambelt change.. the other costs £600 for the cambelt change :) (My old Diesel had the £600 version, my grandparents rover 45 has the £300 version... not sure why some have one and others have the other or which way round (money to tensioner) it is?)

The old Diesel ZS I had was awsome for torque :) but I found I was changing gears too often, guess thats why I like the 180 more...

(By the way my diesel was a MK1 101ps Version... I've never driven the 115 version before!)

Agree with the tune up comment :) - Seen L series engines putting out over 180BHP... imagine the torque! :D - Mainly on ZR's though for some reason....

Pete must have driven round the world lol..

Dont forget, Diesel, K-series or 180............GET A TY..........

I presume there not the most quiet engines been an old L series so is it major knocking im looking for or is it mainly the power delivery thats the problem with them. iv heard their quite solid blocks. Im hoping a mate will come with me even though he hates MG/rovers, hes a vw man but has always run the evil fuel so knows his stuff.

TY? am i having a blonde moment.

Edit:
(trophy yellow) god im slow today. i will get back in to the swing of it i promise!!!

I've had:

MK1 101ps Diesel Hatch - Le Mans Green
MK1 180ps V6 Petrol Saloon - Trophy Blue
MK1 120ps Petrol Hatch - Trophy Blue
MK1 180ps V6 Petrol Saloon - Trophy Yellow
MK1 180ps V6 Petrol Hatch - Solar Red
MK2 180ps V6 Petrol Saloon - Perl Black (or is it Raven Black??? well its Black anyway!)

As you can see I prefer the 180's and Have had at least one of all the "marketing" colours :p

Muchus prefer the Black one though! The TY one was too invisible to other drivers... at least with the Black one people move out the way when they see my car (Been asked when I brought the Monaro by a few people... lol and why I got rid of my blue suburu as well...)

Trophy Yellow ;)

The usual mods for the diesel are SDI injectors, de cat, up boost to 19 psi, remap and exhaust. That lot should see you to between 150 to 160 bhp, about 230 ft/ lbs torque and still return 50 mpg. Having had a 180, 3 120's and now the diesel I can safely say you wont be working your way down if you do the above mods. Granted though in standard form you will struggle to keep up with cyclists however with the usual mods you will surprise a few GT TDI drivers ;)

Just to add, the only difference between the 115 and the 101 is the map on the ECU so if you plan to remap it anyway it makes no odds. If you are planning on leaving it standard then the 101 is the map of coice because the 115 apparently have a massive flat spot above 2800 revs.

Ta for the info. as i have been driving an estate mondeo filled with house stuff or the wife and kids i can cope with been slow for a bit longer.... think im turning in to a sunday old man!! Even though i dont go far im always picking someone up or popping somewhere so i have decided diesel is the best way to go for eco. will be a change as i have always been a petrol person apart from work vans.

i presume i fend for myself when serching for the sdi's or do we have a secret club supply somewhere lol

Afraid not, just getting them from the scrappy is what most people do. You can use the injectors from any diesel 200 or 400 as long as they are the bubble shape ones. Probably the mod which will give the best bang per buck. Just make sure the remap is last on the list if you start modding so that it ties all the existing mods together to get the most from them.

ebay, about £50 and take your chance they are OK.

Never heard of any not working, do get a lot of black smoke, so I'm told.

:whistle::whistle::whistle:

tempted with just a remap and new panel air filter and maybe empty the cat internals. would just like a nice useable day to day car. 130 ish bhp would be fine for me i think (he says) not even bought a car yet so need to not get too carried away lol.

Just clocked my one in case I want to sell it, 79,000. miles. :p:p

And the clutch was done. It still had a bit of clutch plate left, but would spin up in 5th if you accelerated up to 70 mph.

The springs in the centre plate were loose and shiny where they had been rattling about.

The gear change is a lot lighter and easier to get into gear, specially dropping back into 2nd or 3rd. Did need quite a bit of effort. The actual clutch always felt quite heavy.

£359.00 but well worth it makes it a lot more pleasurable to drive.

:):):)

Well i have finished my cost comparision chart for the wife to look at!! try and keep her informed and part of it while twisting her arm. just going by tax and the lowest mpg figures of both cars its £815 saving with the MG, thats leaving out that the one i have seen has MOT till 04/2013 and mine is due about now at roughly £300 to sort. 4 pages with figures broken down and comparisons lol

Best of luck with the arm twisting.

:):):)

quick question for peterzs, what mods if any have you done with yours?

well i spoke to the wife last night and i think its a yes to return.
This is the responce i got.
"it makes alot of sense to change the car, saves money in the long run and it has good tax and test and there is not point putting more money in the mondeo, if you want to then yes but we will have to watch the pennies."
Now then, how do we perseve this responce lol, she is not too bothered by cars, just practical and good for the family but she has a better money brain than me so thats why i gave her the figures and asked a decision.
I think its a yes but are there any girlies who can shed some light... please!!

Hi James, my ones standard O/E at the moment.

But if I were to mod it, there are a number of things, Decat, boost pressure set a bit higher, Powerflow s/s exhaust from cat back. BMC panel filter, Rover ron mafram, (keeps the MAF within spec. or just make sure the MAF sensor is working correctly, about the most important part of getting any power, just flat if its gone) remap, give you about 135 bhp 208 ft/lbs torque.

Or bang in some SDi injectors, live with the black smoke and get 159 bhp, 236 ft/lbs torque, that would need to be done with a remap, so have to decide what way you want to go.

All the above is only a guide, as to what mods other people have done.

Hope you get a good one. Dont for get speed will be at the cost of mpg somewhere along the line.

:smile1::smile1::smile1:

Ha ha thanks for that, yeh its a shame speed lowers mpg!! :D
For me a better panel air filter with maybe a decat/stripped cat, riase boost a litlle (19psi sound common) and a remap, i like the idea of the sdi's but i think i clean smooth eco car with the bit extra grunt to make it easier to use day to day is what im after. The idea is for it to save me money.
I want to save up for a fun car one day in the future and we have loads going on with a new house and wedding in a couple of months so this is for the family.
Would post up the one iv seen but dont want someone to beet me too it lol but would be good to know if its a site user old car.....

Think thats the way to go, only thing some people do is blank off the ERG valve.

Think it recirculates engine fumes, could be why some get the black mess inside the Turbo pipes.

You can also buy new Turbo pipes by Roose to replace the o/e ones that are prone to split.

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Do you think i would be safe t post up the link to the Mg iv seen, i expect others have seen it up for sale as well but i am quite interested in it and would like to have the choice on it lol

Post away I dont think anyone would pinch it off you.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-04-MG...79462085854881

Hope that works.

Would be great to find one in xpower grey, deep red or the blue but i dont think i can be that picky so im focusing on the TD aspect and 180 kit and the history, mileage and warrenty (depending if its of any use lol)

Although i'm not a girl i got the missus to read this and she said thats a yes in her book, so i am comfortable in saying go get it mate before someone else snaps it up but remember the basics have a good sniff round it, even underneath, make sure every single button works, check the aircon, check to see if the engine is warm before you start it up, if he has got it up to running temp, ask him why, if he hasn't make sure you do after you have taken it for test drive, listen for any unusual knocks and bangs when out on the road.

Be prepared to walk away from it if something doesn't sit right with you.
Check the history to see if the belts have been done and the hg as a few on various sites has had a problem with these.

if you sell the mondeo private, make sure you buy your missus something nice!

Thanks for that andy and the missus!
Does getting married in July not count as something nice?! im sure i can find her i little something special just becuase i love her :kissing: (sorry dont wish to put u all of you tea!)

well on friday i went to have a look at the car, looked ok but a couple of bits didnt sit rite, couldnt decide if i was been picky or affriad to spend money so left it to have a think, decided that if it was still for sale on saturday morning then i would go for it once i had checked a few things.... well it sold on friday night so missed that one. not sure what to do now MG wise as i really need to change the car this week before the MOT runs out on the mondeo and i dont really want to put it through as i think it will be a few hundred. hummmm what to do??!

keep your eyes open,theres plenty zeds out there mate,bet you were gutted it had sold aswell,good luck in your search bud!

Cheers, seen another nice one in dorset in black again on ebay but its far too rich for me. i have asked what the possible best deal is they could do but i still think i will be way short. there are some mk1's around for cheap money and in good condition but im after a mk2 and i think she would kill me if i chop and change again and again lol.