Pogweazled MG ZT-T - Now ft. Poorly Piaggio Porter

[High Jetter]

I looked at this last Wednesday following it's appearance on the Ebay tat thread (thanks to @Dan_ZTT) but discounted it due to the condition of the paint. Come Saturday evening I was beginning to wobble though, and when Dan posted on Sunday that the price had dropped I decided that was an omen. Amazingly, Mrs J said she was disappointed that I hadn't bought it, so with her blessing (and birthday £££ that she'd given me) I emailed the very nice chap selling it and the deal was done, picked it up this morning.

It's the CDTi 135 which has been re-mapped to 160, with 2 owners and 177k miles. Both owners have looked after it well mechanically and the body looks straight to me, but the paint is poor at best. There are a few jobs to do, which I knew about before buying:

• Figure out why screenwash doesn't work (new pump supplied by PO)
• Get to grips with the Naval Comet Android touch-screen device
• Replace O/S door lock actuators (again, supplied by PO)
• Polish the headlamps
• Repair one of the 2 keyfobs where the button covering has disappeared
• Sort the reversing sensors (2 spare sensors supplied)
• List any other jobs found

I'll probably get my usual MOT guy to give it a once-over before throwing any real cash at it, in case there is anything that might make me shout ROFFLE very loudly.

Pics to follow...

 

[Ghosty]

Certainly doesn't sound bad on paper. 

[NorthernMonkey]

Several tickets please. I’ve never actually owned one of these but I’ve had my 320D touring a few weeks now so it’ll soon be time for a change…

[High Jetter]

It's a bit early for that! Also, Dan called dibs when I asked him for info about the owners club forum.

[High Jetter]

OK, it's piccy time: sides...

Front...

Back...

What's that inside?

It came with 9 alloys, 4x 16" Unions with winter tyres (on the car now) and 5x 18" Gridspokes with summer tyres on - none of which are in their first flush of youth. Just been out for another drive, with Mrs J this time, who has given it her seal or approval 👍

[AnnoyingPentium]

Looking forward to seeing where this goes.

[FakeConcern]

I like the shape of these, I'll keep my eyes open for you driving it around...

 

(why is red so susceptible to lacquer peel?)

[High Jetter]

By all means, make yourself known if it's convenient. Coincidentally, I was followed by a blue '53 reg one this afternoon (when I was in my van) which looked absolutely fine. I wonder if it's the same reason that red paint fades so badly.

[High Jetter]

3 hours ago, AnnoyingPentium said:

Looking forward to seeing where this goes.

If I'm confident enough in it's reliability, will use it for a trip to the W. Midlands next weekend, 500ish miles.

[AnnoyingPentium]

2 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

If I'm confident enough in it's reliability, will use it for a trip to the W. Midlands next weekend, 500ish miles.

YOLO.

 

... this is what we have breakdown cover for, however. Haha.

[gadgetgricey]

Had a few R75's, and really liked them.
Just check that the bonnet cable mod has been done with a cable tie.  5 mins work to avoid a world of pain if cable moves and bonnet release no longer works.

https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4692

[High Jetter]

Thanks, will check up on that.

[mercedade]

19 hours ago, High Jetter said:

 

• Get to grips with the Naval Comet Android touch-screen device

 

The 75/ZT forum crew seemed to bloody love those. The ZT I bought from one of their members had one of these Android things - it sounded like the guy paid a fortune for it (Xtrons) compared to the £50/£80 that you can pick up identical but unbranded (ha - 'branded') version of on ebay.

They're usually fine, provided you basically delete everything other than Spotify and Waze - there's never enough RAM so they get a bit worked up about handling more.

[RoverFolkUs]

Beautiful! (Lacquer peel aside)

Aero wipers get in the bin though, pet peeve of mine when they're cars that didn't originally have them  

I wouldn't mind one of these, Crowborough wasn't a million miles away either. Shame I dont have the space for a 3rd vehicle  A diesel would be most useful in the current fuel climate!

[clayts450]

Nice motor. Looks like Solar Red (colour code CMU). My Streetwise has the same colour. And similar lacquer peel.

[High Jetter]

Yes, PO said it's Solar. There's a ZS round the corner from me in same colour that looks all right, not sure what they've done wrong!

[High Jetter]

Had this in for a health-check today. Apart from the non-functioning screenwash, cataracts on the headlamp lenses and OSF & OSR remote door actuators which I knew about, they found both front drop link boots split, the OSF brake pad wear sensor MIA, and slight corrosion on rear brake lines. Seems perfect to use it on our already planned weekend in the W. Mids, approx 500 miles round trip. WCPGR? Will I be able to afford dizzle when we get back?

[High Jetter]

200+ miles in, faultless. Most comfortable distance drive for years. Confidence growing.

[RoverFolkUs]

Is the paintwork too far gone for a nice thorough machine polish? Or even 'just' re-lacquering?

[High Jetter]

Am no expert on paint, and the rear wings look great, but the front is v. poor. Will get a few quotes and see.

[Kringle]

Better off financially by looking for one from a scrappy in the same colour I guess?

[High Jetter]

Back from the W. Mids, 450 mile round trip. Apart from a slight vibration at the wheel north of 70mph which I guess is a wheel balance issue, it behaved perfectly. No back pain or stiffness at all, which is a miracle. Must crack on with little jobs as weather & time permit.

[RoverFolkUs]

On 3/12/2022 at 8:38 AM, High Jetter said:

Am no expert on paint, and the rear wings look great, but the front is v. poor. Will get a few quotes and see.

I have a feeling with a high grit sand on the bonnet to remove the peeling lacquer and then a dusting of new lacquer, followed by a machine polish, it would look better. Shouldn't be too much work for someone who specialises in bodywork as no colour matching to worry about as it'll be slightly faded inevitably.

Replacement panels would be ideal but I suspect they may be hard to come across, cheaply at least 

[RoverFolkUs]

23 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Back from the W. Mids, 450 mile round trip. Apart from a slight vibration at the wheel north of 70mph which I guess is a wheel balance issue, it behaved perfectly. No back pain or stiffness at all, which is a miracle. Must crack on with little jobs as weather & time permit.

Making me very jealous, lol 

My back hurts after about half an hour in the Focus LX seats 

[gadgetgricey]

Dont think I kept any pictures, but bought a 75 (that I kept for a few years) with a horrendous bonnet and front wings.
Was almost as though the whole thing had been repainted and then reacted badly, was like a polyfilla/sandpaper texture.
Took it to an air con garage the once and they thought I'd done it  on purpose as a "modification"

Got a spares car and swapped it all over. 

[High Jetter]

Was hoping to use this long weekend to progress jobs on the ZT-T - Sort out non-functioning screenwash pump, remove cataracts from headlamps, and find what caused this last weekend:

However, Mrs J had other ideas, so I only got to start on it a couple of hours ago. Top and side 10mm bolts move fine, but those 10 screws that secure the bottom of the bumper - not one would turn despite pre-soaking in penetrating fluid so am having to drill off every head

[bezzabsa]

wonder if this had a front end knock, and was sprayed on the cheap?

 

[High Jetter]

49 minutes ago, bezzabsa said:

wonder if this had a front end knock, and was sprayed on the cheap?

 

It's possible, though there's a couple of peeled patches on the back of the roof as well. Not seen any evidence of a prang, so far.

[Boycie]

Get the spare alloys flogged and throw the cash t the paint , these ZT's are way undervalued , had them new on the hire fleet backing in the day and the American tourists loved them 

[High Jetter]

25 minutes ago, Boycie said:

Get the spare alloys flogged and throw the cash t the paint , these ZT's are way undervalued , had them new on the hire fleet backing in the day and the American tourists loved them 

I've been thinking of doing just that for a while. Will see how it fares with a MOT later this month, then get some paintshop quotes, and probably some new rubber on the original allys.