MGF Trophy 160 - finally has HGF
Discussion
After 11 years our little MGF Trophy 160 has finally succumbed to possible HGF. We have had the car since 2007, bought it for £6K with less than 30K on the clock (bought it for my wife – despite having a TVR, I still had/have a soft spot for this particular variant), and it has been driven to and from Italy a lot, but still under 50K on the clock.
However, late last year, the coolant filler cap went, we thought it was HGF then, but it was just the cap, so had that replaced. I have a feeling that this incident weakened the HG, and last week, steam was coming out of the car again, and the dipstick shows a yellow sludge type substance, rather than pure oil.
We know the car isn’t worth a lot, and to fix it will be more than the car’s worth, but my wife loves this car.
Now, is it worth getting the coolant pipes that run under the floor replaced with stainless steel ones whilst having the engine fixed?
Is it worth having this Mike Satur upgrade to the engine – has anyone had any dealing with this chap?:
http://www.mikesatur.com/mgf/mgf-tuning.php
“MGF VVC Clubman kit (Also fits ZR 160 cars)
Consists of reworking valves, seats , throats and port profiles and revised VVC cam timing, when coupled with our recommended air induction kit and exhaust mods can produce around 175BHP with associated increase in torque and throttle response. We recommend that we fit this kit due to the modifications we make to the VVC mechanisms .Fitted price £895.00 plus vat
When fitting tuning parts we always replace gaskets, seals and fluids as required. Any other items found to be required will be advised.
All the above are supply only (unless stated as fitted price) we can quote for fitting upon request.
All prices are subject to vat.
Certain items are exchange and subject to surcharge if found to be unserviceable.
Engine tuning mods are applicable to all Rover K series 16v twin cam engines and BHP figures quoted can vary.”
I could spend loads, but it would be nice to get it so that it gives a few more years of fun – I would allow about £1500 to sort it, as this is the price of a decent replacement.
However, late last year, the coolant filler cap went, we thought it was HGF then, but it was just the cap, so had that replaced. I have a feeling that this incident weakened the HG, and last week, steam was coming out of the car again, and the dipstick shows a yellow sludge type substance, rather than pure oil.
We know the car isn’t worth a lot, and to fix it will be more than the car’s worth, but my wife loves this car.
Now, is it worth getting the coolant pipes that run under the floor replaced with stainless steel ones whilst having the engine fixed?
Is it worth having this Mike Satur upgrade to the engine – has anyone had any dealing with this chap?:
http://www.mikesatur.com/mgf/mgf-tuning.php
“MGF VVC Clubman kit (Also fits ZR 160 cars)
Consists of reworking valves, seats , throats and port profiles and revised VVC cam timing, when coupled with our recommended air induction kit and exhaust mods can produce around 175BHP with associated increase in torque and throttle response. We recommend that we fit this kit due to the modifications we make to the VVC mechanisms .Fitted price £895.00 plus vat
When fitting tuning parts we always replace gaskets, seals and fluids as required. Any other items found to be required will be advised.
All the above are supply only (unless stated as fitted price) we can quote for fitting upon request.
All prices are subject to vat.
Certain items are exchange and subject to surcharge if found to be unserviceable.
Engine tuning mods are applicable to all Rover K series 16v twin cam engines and BHP figures quoted can vary.”
I could spend loads, but it would be nice to get it so that it gives a few more years of fun – I would allow about £1500 to sort it, as this is the price of a decent replacement.
Edited by chris watton on Friday 13th January 14:02
Used Mike Satur for parts when I had the ZR, was quick and good quality stuff.
As for engine work, I didn't use that, so couldn't vouch. But I'm sure someone on here will know.
On a HGF note, my ZR had that at 27k and 3year old. Had a "PAYEN" (SP) gasket fitted, along with cambelt, valve stem oil seals re-done, and head skimmed down a plenty.
Then over 4years I put 70K on it, hard use, properly enthusiastic driving, never missed a beat.
Presume by now all the gasket manufacturers are doing the "evolved" thing in order to prevent future bangs
As for engine work, I didn't use that, so couldn't vouch. But I'm sure someone on here will know.
On a HGF note, my ZR had that at 27k and 3year old. Had a "PAYEN" (SP) gasket fitted, along with cambelt, valve stem oil seals re-done, and head skimmed down a plenty.
Then over 4years I put 70K on it, hard use, properly enthusiastic driving, never missed a beat.
Presume by now all the gasket manufacturers are doing the "evolved" thing in order to prevent future bangs
Have a read on here. I have had work done by both Jon Norris and Russell. They are both very good at what they do, and very reasonably priced.
Worth joining .org as well if you haven't already, a real wealth of information.
Out of interest, has the car been sitting idle at all? I am told that this can cause condensation which can cause a deposit on the dipstick which looks like HGF. You never know your luck !
http://forums.mg-rover.org/showthread.php?t=449530
Worth joining .org as well if you haven't already, a real wealth of information.
Out of interest, has the car been sitting idle at all? I am told that this can cause condensation which can cause a deposit on the dipstick which looks like HGF. You never know your luck !
http://forums.mg-rover.org/showthread.php?t=449530
Edited by onyx39 on Friday 13th January 23:56
Thanks guys. 
I shall look at those links with interest. We moved to Italy in late 2007, and I used the MG to commute the 100 mile round trip each day for a while (until I realised it was costing me about £500 per month in fuel and road toll charges – but I was hitting 130 MPH quite often…). I then used the train (costing about £80 per month), and the MGF wasn't used a great deal in 2008-9 - but it was always started and run regularly, and it was used to take us to and from the UK a few times. It has never once let us down - great little car. Since moving back to the UK in late 2010, my wife has been using it to get to and from work, so it's always been used, and always been well looked after.
I think it was just the age of it that caused the problem, notably the coolant filler cap. With hindsight, I should have got the HG replaced when the cap and coolant were replaced, as I am sure this was the cause of the bigger problem we have now.
I even told her I would get an M3 to replace it for her, but she is insistent she keeps her little red MG. I can understand why, though. I had a MGF 1.8i from new years ago, and it always underwhelmed me, slow and didn’t corner much better than a standard car. I then changed to a brand new Trophy 160, and it was like chalk and cheese. The extra 40bhp made all the difference, and for the first time in my life, driving was fun – I could seemingly fling it into any corner at any speed, and it just looked after me – in fact, I enjoyed it in this regard as much as the Tamora – the Trophy is a very underrated car, and I think it deserves a little more TLC for a while yet…
I shall look at those links with interest. We moved to Italy in late 2007, and I used the MG to commute the 100 mile round trip each day for a while (until I realised it was costing me about £500 per month in fuel and road toll charges – but I was hitting 130 MPH quite often…). I then used the train (costing about £80 per month), and the MGF wasn't used a great deal in 2008-9 - but it was always started and run regularly, and it was used to take us to and from the UK a few times. It has never once let us down - great little car. Since moving back to the UK in late 2010, my wife has been using it to get to and from work, so it's always been used, and always been well looked after.I think it was just the age of it that caused the problem, notably the coolant filler cap. With hindsight, I should have got the HG replaced when the cap and coolant were replaced, as I am sure this was the cause of the bigger problem we have now.
I even told her I would get an M3 to replace it for her, but she is insistent she keeps her little red MG. I can understand why, though. I had a MGF 1.8i from new years ago, and it always underwhelmed me, slow and didn’t corner much better than a standard car. I then changed to a brand new Trophy 160, and it was like chalk and cheese. The extra 40bhp made all the difference, and for the first time in my life, driving was fun – I could seemingly fling it into any corner at any speed, and it just looked after me – in fact, I enjoyed it in this regard as much as the Tamora – the Trophy is a very underrated car, and I think it deserves a little more TLC for a while yet…
mgmrw said:
chris watton said:
Confirmed at garage yestersay, it has HGF for sure - now what to do/where to take it........
Personally, payen gasket. Decent machine shop to skim the head. And DIY with all relevant new goodies 
Got any meeeeechanic type mates?
chris watton said:
Confirmed at garage yestersay, it has HGF for sure - now what to do/where to take it........
Chris, blast from the past
Still got the Tam? I know you went abroad a while back, i take it you are back now?Back OT, myself and my son Danny now have a lot of MGF/TF experience, HGF,modding and chassis tuning.
As already mentioned make sure you get the Multilayerd HG and shim, lots of info on the net, get your self on www.mg-rover.org for more advise.Russell is the HGF repair man IF you can get hold of him
Danny will be into TVR ownership when he is old enough(insurance and running costs), for the time being he went for standard 1.8mpi F in Amaranth then onto a TF160 in Spectra, (Reflex spice to us
)The shocks and springs have been uprated,(X-Power) we have played around with exhaust/decating,(blueflame) induction(open and enclosed)opted for ITG panel with custom intake runs, standard sucks in hot air from the front of the engine and mapping MEMS 3 (optimax fuel) increased the rev limiter as it was cutting in at less than 7k and the power band was still going up at that speed, all done on the Rollers with plenty of before and after results. At the end of the sessions the car delivered 175.2bhp @7140 rpm and 135 llb ft. The car has been stripped of a bit of weight,
we reckon 15kg, and he removes the roof completly if we get the weather that weights another 20kg? the car is used as a weekend toy and keeps up well on TVR runs. If we can be of any help give us a shout.
Tony
T66ORA said:
Chris, blast from the past Still got the Tam? I know you went abroad a while back, i take it you are back now?Back OT, myself and my son Danny now have a lot of MGF/TF experience, HGF,modding and chassis tuning.
As already mentioned make sure you get the Multilayerd HG and shim, lots of info on the net, get your self on www.mg-rover.org for more advise.Russell is the HGF repair man IF you can get hold of him
Danny will be into TVR ownership when he is old enough(insurance and running costs), for the time being he went for standard 1.8mpi F in Amaranth then onto a TF160 in Spectra, (Reflex spice to us
)The shocks and springs have been uprated,(X-Power) we have played around with exhaust/decating,(blueflame) induction(open and enclosed)opted for ITG panel with custom intake runs, standard sucks in hot air from the front of the engine and mapping MEMS 3 (optimax fuel) increased the rev limiter as it was cutting in at less than 7k and the power band was still going up at that speed, all done on the Rollers with plenty of before and after results. At the end of the sessions the car delivered 175.2bhp @7140 rpm and 135 llb ft. The car has been stripped of a bit of weight,
we reckon 15kg, and he removes the roof completly if we get the weather that weights another 20kg? the car is used as a weekend toy and keeps up well on TVR runs. If we can be of any help give us a shout.
Tony
I did sell the Tamora - worst decision I ever made, best car I have ever owned. Now I am back in the UK, I am decided on another Tam or M3 (Bit worried about TVR being no longer around..) Felt like I was selling part of myself with that car.
I would like my wife's MGF to have around 175 bhp, and the suspension sorted (last time it was gassed up, it was the height of a 4x4!). When I first bought it, I took it here for a full service and geometry check;
http://www.tech-speed.co.uk/tech-speed_home.html
Was thinking about using them again, but it's quite a trek from Gloucester - but they did such a good job of sorting the car out before. I will have to look into this Russel bloke...
Cheers
A prime cause of the so called Cylinder Head Gasket 'failure' in any K-Series is coolant loss.
In my expereince, the prime cause of coolant loss in K-Series is a wearing or worn out water pump.
Whatever repairs are arranged, ALWAYS fit a new water Pump. They are about £20 and a few minutes to fit with the cylinder head removed.
This is what to look for below the Timing Belt Plastic Cover on the engine. This is a lady friend's Rover 25 with the K-Series. Dried tell tale signs of coolant stains below the water pump location on a cold engine:~
Fresh wet, coolant showing on a warm, recently switched off engine :~
Keen observers will spot drips of coolant building up on various parts of the engine in the above picture.
Worn water pumps on K-Series engines is likely to be age related as well as mileage related. That engine in the picture had completed 108,000 miles when that Water Pump wore out. The Water Pump on my own 1.8 did the same at only 45,000 miles but, was the same age.
Even if the Water Pump appears sound when renewing a cylinder head gasket, renew it anyway. Very little extra time and work involved as the head is off already so vastly better and quicker access. Renew all belts at the same time: Timing Belt of couse and Power Steering Pump and Alternator belts too.
Four birds with one stone scenario and do not let your repair firm folks tell you otherwise.
In my expereince, the prime cause of coolant loss in K-Series is a wearing or worn out water pump.
Whatever repairs are arranged, ALWAYS fit a new water Pump. They are about £20 and a few minutes to fit with the cylinder head removed.
This is what to look for below the Timing Belt Plastic Cover on the engine. This is a lady friend's Rover 25 with the K-Series. Dried tell tale signs of coolant stains below the water pump location on a cold engine:~
Fresh wet, coolant showing on a warm, recently switched off engine :~
Keen observers will spot drips of coolant building up on various parts of the engine in the above picture.
Worn water pumps on K-Series engines is likely to be age related as well as mileage related. That engine in the picture had completed 108,000 miles when that Water Pump wore out. The Water Pump on my own 1.8 did the same at only 45,000 miles but, was the same age.
Even if the Water Pump appears sound when renewing a cylinder head gasket, renew it anyway. Very little extra time and work involved as the head is off already so vastly better and quicker access. Renew all belts at the same time: Timing Belt of couse and Power Steering Pump and Alternator belts too.
Four birds with one stone scenario and do not let your repair firm folks tell you otherwise.
The little red Trophy is now at a garage being fixed. They have ex MG Rover mechanics and seem to know what they're talking about (and have serviced our cars before). It would have cost too much to trailer the car halfway across the country, so we used someone a little closer, who picked the car up on a trailer and took it.
They gave us a long list of what they do, including changing the water pump, thermostat, better HG, new bolts replaced etc. All in it is costing me £650 (for a car with a value of about £1500!) – but I had to factor in the cost of hiring a trailer and the time involved in taking it to my preferred specialist, which would have been over £200 and at least a day wasted.
I was thinking about just buying another and scrapping ours, but other than this, it has never let us down – even when left for long periods in Italy, it always started first time – so it’s had a reprieve…..
They gave us a long list of what they do, including changing the water pump, thermostat, better HG, new bolts replaced etc. All in it is costing me £650 (for a car with a value of about £1500!) – but I had to factor in the cost of hiring a trailer and the time involved in taking it to my preferred specialist, which would have been over £200 and at least a day wasted.
I was thinking about just buying another and scrapping ours, but other than this, it has never let us down – even when left for long periods in Italy, it always started first time – so it’s had a reprieve…..
Yes, it will be with us for a good while yet.
Now, where's the best place to get a new hood and maybe glass rear screen - these seem quite reasonable, any experiences?
http://mgfmania.com/shop/article_20083/MGF-Mk2_TF-...
Now, where's the best place to get a new hood and maybe glass rear screen - these seem quite reasonable, any experiences?
http://mgfmania.com/shop/article_20083/MGF-Mk2_TF-...
chris watton said:
Yes, it will be with us for a good while yet.
Now, where's the best place to get a new hood and maybe glass rear screen - these seem quite reasonable, any experiences?
http://mgfmania.com/shop/article_20083/MGF-Mk2_TF-...
Not heard anything bad, but as said above, your best off asking on .org for anything specifically MG related.Now, where's the best place to get a new hood and maybe glass rear screen - these seem quite reasonable, any experiences?
http://mgfmania.com/shop/article_20083/MGF-Mk2_TF-...
NotDave said:
Not for me. I was a ZR boy...... And somehow failed to talk my father into a trophy 160 MGF instead of his bloody XK8
I bought my wife a brand new ZR 160 a few years ago, she loved it - but we had to part ex it for something a little easier on the fuel, due to her changing her job and a longer commute....chris watton said:
I bought my wife a brand new ZR 160 a few years ago, she loved it - but we had to part ex it for something a little easier on the fuel, due to her changing her job and a longer commute....
nice, lovely cars.Mine was only a 1400 due to being at uni. BUT the OH is well aware that as soon as money/space allows I will be having a mint, low miles, well loved, ZR 160 Trophy that'll be tucked up on the drive as a weekend indulgence.
Handling on the ZRs was fantastic, and some simple modifications such as upgrading brakes, calipers, etc can REALLY bring them alive.
Have ordered a brand new BAS hood with heated rear screen to fit when we get it back - but I just had a thought, I am not sure there is a switch fitted for the heated rear screen! Is this something a specialist (in the Gloucester area) could remedy if it transpires there is no rear demister switch fitted?
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