Bye Bye for the sake of a £23 part - anyone want a project?

[Trophybloo]

My MGZS 180 (51 plate) in Trophy Blue has now become an overly-expensive mistress for an old codger like me with no mechanical aptitude to repair or time to spend breaking. Been quoted £400 labour to replace the thermostat housing (cost £23 from the bay) which went last week just as I was joining the MI near Mansfield (what a great Sunday that turned out to be). So before I ebay it is anyone here interested in making me an offer
87,000 miles
New clutch in January this year, new brake calliper on near side rear in April.
Owned by me since Dec 07 when I bought it from a guy who had just fitted a new half engine (block and pistons) and changed the cam belt at that time (62,000 miles) so plenty of life in the old dog.
6 CD changer in boot, standard ZS180 17” alloys. 30mpg on motorways at 70mph. MOT til November Taxed to August
The bits that would need doing to make her fully lovely again are:
Bodywork – Fell into a ditch in Wales in Nov 10 as a result both wings and the nearside rear quarter panel were dinged.
I have all the necessary panels: both wings, front and rear bumpers and rear nearside door in Trophy Blue to just fit with the right spanner work; and the replacement rear nearside panel which would require welding and spraying (scratch on bonnet could be done at the same time.)
Mechanical
Thermostat housing has failed and can’t justify what I’ve been quoted for the repair .
Slight fuel weep from fuel rail o-ring supplying the injectors, (replacement fuel rail on ebay £31). Again 2 non-specialists have failed to cure this
As is common for the KV6 it uses oil but always passes emission tests
Absolutely no smoking when revved and no emulsion in the oil. Is there a solution to this oil consumption issue?
I have enjoyed the affair but now need to settle down with something a little less fast and loose. I’m sentimental so I’d hope an enthusiast might see this as a viable hobby project. If no one is interested I'll ebay it next week (29th June). PM me if you want to know any more. Alternatively anyone wanting to help me stay a 180 owner that could do the repair for less and beer / future labour etc. please also get in touch soon.

[MG6Turbo]

Has the thermostat caused the car to overheat ? As this would cause HGF.

We can supply and fit the thermostat housing for well under half what you have been quoted but has it caused further issues ?

We could buy the car as is. But it isn't worth that much.

George

[stamford]

Shame it has come to this, but from the description it doesn't sound like it is worth a great deal. Mine doesn't use much oil and has passed 90k this week. I've never topped mine up between changes IIRC.

[POMPSKI]

Where abouts are you?

[Trophybloo]

Greenwich, SE London - To the previous posters thanks - I am aware that it isn't worth much.
The instant the needle went high I stopped the motor but if a hg is also advisory it looks like e-bay here we go.
Shame, 10 years from now the 180's time as a classic will have come and if I had the space to lay it up I would (still kicking myself about my MkI Mexico I sold in 1980) . Anyway as my last name isn't Schlumpf one car at a time is the order of the day

[Dan1971]

I see .... So this is a for sale thread in the project section, thereby avoiding site rules .....

[stamford]

Suggest you ebay it then to avoid the thread being deleted due to selling rules we have on here.