here we go again

[Taff]

You remember I posted a few days ago, asking about X-type Jags? And I said I was looking for a reasonable, reliable, economical, diesel saloon? And loads of you took the time to answer with sensible, well thought out advice as to what I should consider?

 

 

I really shouldn't be allowed on internet.

[DVee8]

Class that is all you could ever want out of a diesel reliable asloon

[DSdriver]

Completely logical... Autoshite logic that is.

[gordonbennet]

Entirely reasonable purchase that, well done.

[jonny69]

Autoshite: the only place on the internet where you can just waste a lot of people's time and not get shot down in flames.

 

 

 

 

Unless you draw a cock on a door.

[RoadworkUK]

[Justin Case]

It also works the other way round. Last year, trying to decide between an MGF or a TF, I very nearly bought a Mercedes 500 SE.

[UltraWomble]

[holbeck]

I feel you pain brother. I keep looking at all sorts of unsuitable tat.

[dugong]

I went out to buy an MGF and bought a diesel knob van. Your actions are more than justified.

[Partridge]

  On 04/02/2015 at 23:48, dugong said:

I went out to buy an MGF and bought a diesel knob van. Your actions are more than justified.

I went out to buy a Rover Sterling 820 Automatic in Oxford Blue with cream leather and bought a Rover Sterling 820 Automatic in Oxford Blue with cream leather.

 

True story.

[Noel Tidybeard]

  On 04/02/2015 at 23:51, Partridge said:

I went out to buy a Rover Sterling 820 Automatic in Oxford Blue with cream leather and bought a Rover Sterling 820 Automatic in Oxford Blue with cream leather.

 

True story.

you are NOT a proper shitter- hand in your badge immediately and leave!

[Felly Magic]

I was after a Lada Samara and ended up with a Gary Boy'd Skoda Favorit.

[Taff]

collection tomorrow, chaps.

 

Seeing as how I now own a BRG open top roadster, I'm just surfing the net for string-backed driving gloves

[Taff]

Well, that was uneventful.

 

Train to Shaftesbury, cab the sellers house, an hour spent chatting and drinking tea, a jump start and off we go.

 

 

 

 

8 weeks MoT, 275 quid and it's not without it's faults (which the vendor had made me aware of on the phone, I'll add. The vendor was good as gold and even rang to be sure I had got home ok), the forty mile drive showed up the following:-

 

1/ Speedo not working

2/ electric PAS not working

3/ idles a little high (around 1400rpm) when at working temp

4/ flat battery (seems fine after a 40 mile run though)

5/ courtesy light constantly on

6/ radio is crap

 

Also, as some point it looks like it's been cleaned with a mine flail.

 

Google fu has shown that faults 1 & 2 are 90% likely to be both linked to the lower part of the speedo cable. The fast idle is likely to be down to a sticky IVAC (whatever and wherever the fcuk that is?!) and the flat battery was probably down to the courtesy lights, which I have cured by pulling the fuse out. Edited to add, fuse 12 also powers the radio, so that will actually need further attention.

 

but none of that is really important.

 

before losing my job in November last year, I had already driven 48 thousand miles for work in a 320. A very capable car but soulless and driving had become a chore. 40 miles in the MG had be giggling like 13 year old with a Gratten lingerie catalogue and this morning when I woke up and opened the bedroom curtains, there is was on the drive and I started grinning again. Smiles per gallon will be the unit of measurement for this car.

 

Taff's verdict -  £300 MGF equals win.

[Taff]

Have any of the MGF wallahs on here (or the wider soft top set, I suppose) had any success "cleaning" the rear screen? Mine is quite opaque, I've noticed a few references to using Super resin polish or similar stuff to clear it up.

 

Is it worth it to buy me a few months or just start saving for a new rear screen?

[Pillock]

New rear screen is a £60ish eBay postal replacement, they'll often even supply the long rivets so you just need a drill and a rivet gun.

 

Courtesy light is triggered by a microswitch within the door lock mechanism rather than a plunger switch on the A pillar. Mine is the opposite and drivers door doesn't make it comes on at all.

[JohnK]

I replaced the screen on my ex's Street Ka when it went opaque - kit was cheap enough from eBay and to be fair wasn't too bad to fit, if a little fiddly.

 

There's just something about the MGF - I don't know what it is, but it does appeal. I really like your logic as well Taff when choosing that sensible, family saloon!

[spike60]

I've owned a few soft tops, crap rear window a given, I've never managed to clean one. I think when they go cloudy they are waiting for an excuse to split as they aren't supple anymore either. Changed a Z3 one which was a fiddly shit. Zips in, how hard can it be? Yeah, right.

[Taff]

  On 08/02/2015 at 09:21, Pillock said:

New rear screen is a £60ish eBay postal replacement, they'll often even supply the long rivets so you just need a drill and a rivet gun.

 

Courtesy light is triggered by a microswitch within the door lock mechanism rather than a plunger switch on the A pillar. Mine is the opposite and drivers door doesn't make it comes on at all.

 

yeah, I've seen a couple on there, looks like a few hours work and done. I might just bite the bullet and do it properly, I got the car for a lot less than I bargained for.

 

Sticky microswitch, just saw that. In theory, if we swap we will both have one of each?!

[Taff]

well, new rear speedo cable section fitted, supply by MGF Bits for £38 delivered, has cured the speedo and power steering, I'll tackle the IVAC tomorrow.

 

While under there, I noticed that the tyres are all goosed, any of our MGF guru's have any thoughts on tyres?

I appear to have different sizes front to rear as well

[saucedoctor]

IACV is a bit fiddly, but doable enough. 4 Torx bolts. I think all 4 cyl 16v injected K series have the same valve, and they're not very good.

[Taff]

  On 14/02/2015 at 21:49, saucedoctor said:

IACV is a bit fiddly, but doable enough. 4 Torx bolts. I think all 4 cyl 16v injected K series have the same valve, and they're not very good.

 

it looks a bit of a double U/J job given how the motor is mounted but nothing to defeat the reme I suppose. clean it with petrol?

[purplebargeken]

Congrats on the excellent purchase! Petrol I guess or carb cleaner maybe? Fronts were narrower as standard, so don't worry about that. 

[Taff]

 

Found my engine.

 

IVAC removed, cleaned and refitted, that's a fun little task. If anyone else has to do it, get a torx bit with some sort of ratchet, it will make life much easier. Also, if you go for a test drive with that panel removed, be prepared for a car that sounds like it's powered by a Coventry Climax.

 

Anyway, with the IVAC cleaned the idle has dropped down to where it should be and all is well. Next on the list is a set of tyres (in hand), a new rear window (after pay day) valet it to within an inch of it's life, clean the moss off it and then fiddling with the door locks to get the courtesy light to go out when the doors are shut. 

 

Tell you what though, it's a right blast to drive. Went to my lads rugby in it earlier on, and just throwing it round the lanes on the way there had me grinning to myself again. Cheap laughs, kids, get one bought while they are beer money.

[Barry Cade]

  On 14/02/2015 at 15:20, Taff said:

 

While under there, I noticed that the tyres are all goosed, any of our MGF guru's have any thoughts on tyres?

I appear to have different sizes front to rear as well

 

This is correct- 205/50 rear and 185/55 front. MGF's are very sensitive to tyre makes. They seem to like a stiff sidewall. 

 

I always wanted to fit a glass rear screen,but kept being given complete hoods for some reason. Pillock- your hood is a TF one BTW, although I think this is irrelevant.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/320605051378?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&chn=ps&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0

[Pete-M]

I was looking for a Mk2 MX5 1.8 Sport 6 speed with leather. Bought a diesel automatic Mercedes estate the size of Oldham.

[dugong]

  On 14/02/2015 at 15:20, Taff said:

well, new rear speedo cable section fitted, supply by MGF Bits for £38 delivered, has cured the speedo and power steering, I'll tackle the IVAC tomorrow.

 

While under there, I noticed that the tyres are all goosed, any of our MGF guru's have any thoughts on tyres?

I appear to have different sizes front to rear as well

Don't fit Nexens. Different tyres front to rear is as MGR intended. One of the Falken ZIEX series (912 IIRC) is the most recent approved boot for the F \ TF given that the Goodyear GSD2 is long out of production and the GSD3 F1 (now also obsolete) apparently makes them fucking lethal.

 

You know those 200 BRM heater switches are worth a few quid, yeah? Would like to fit a set to mine. 

[Taff]

  On 15/02/2015 at 21:17, dugong said:

 

You know those 200 BRM heater switches are worth a few quid, yeah? Would like to fit a set to mine. 

 

What, those three odd alloy things?

[dugong]

  On 15/02/2015 at 21:24, Taff said:

What, those three odd alloy things?

Yes. Check on eBay....