Looking to buy MG TF 135.. some advice sought
Discussion
Hi I am looking to purchase one of these as a second car and would appreciate some advice around the HG / cooling issues.
I have a bit on these subjects but am not completely clear on the subject.
Is the HG inherently weak ie it will go ! .... or is the failure due to low coolant issues, caused by water pump failure or leaking steel pipes.
I am aware of the HG upgrade... should this be a requirement on my vehicle checklist.
Currently looking to view a 2003 model with 45k and partial service history (don't have details as yet)
I don't want to buy a car that will fail .....
Appreciate some knowledge and guidance folks on selection criteria for my purchase
I have a bit on these subjects but am not completely clear on the subject.
Is the HG inherently weak ie it will go ! .... or is the failure due to low coolant issues, caused by water pump failure or leaking steel pipes.
I am aware of the HG upgrade... should this be a requirement on my vehicle checklist.
Currently looking to view a 2003 model with 45k and partial service history (don't have details as yet)
I don't want to buy a car that will fail .....
Appreciate some knowledge and guidance folks on selection criteria for my purchase
The K series engine was inherently flawed from the start. The cross bolting and complex wet liner location was not an appropriate technique in a production engine. In addition the siting of the thermostat and the design of that item was flawed. This was compounded with a poor coolant flow pattern and a temperature gauge not well sited or sufficiently sensitive to early temperature changes.
This was further compounded with the rear engine position in the MG E and TF which extended the poor flow problems even further and reduced the flow of air over the engine and radiator.
All in all a very unreliable set up from the start. I appreciate that the K series is a very free revving engine and a most rewarding and lively power unit on song. I should know I own five 1.8 K series in various forms and have rebuilt a significant number. The K series is not a trouble free and durable unit and can let go at literally no notice at all despite all the available improvements. I still use this engine because in performance it is quite brilliant. It is NOT om any sense durable.
This was further compounded with the rear engine position in the MG E and TF which extended the poor flow problems even further and reduced the flow of air over the engine and radiator.
All in all a very unreliable set up from the start. I appreciate that the K series is a very free revving engine and a most rewarding and lively power unit on song. I should know I own five 1.8 K series in various forms and have rebuilt a significant number. The K series is not a trouble free and durable unit and can let go at literally no notice at all despite all the available improvements. I still use this engine because in performance it is quite brilliant. It is NOT om any sense durable.
exgtt said:
Tannedbaldhead said:
Am now a bag of nerves.
Dont be, fit a low coolant alarm and enjoy your car, caught early HGF is not the end of the world & quite cheap to put right on this engine. Several of my various Kit Cars have K series engines. All of these have been heavily modified and the most powerful 1.8 I have non turbo produces some 225 brake on the dyno. However as a roadgoing production engine the K series is clearly suspect. It reputation for fragility was deserved.
Go on to the MGF forums and you will find that owners love their car. Yes a few have challenges but it is the minority.
I have had mine for 5 years and use it on the road and race track with no problems.
Yes I had the Head Gasket blow at 22k miles that was 3 years ago, It has been a very low cost car to run.
Buy a car from an MG club as they are normally looked after.
PS. My V8 put a Con Rod through the side of the block but I fixed it and still run the car. :-))
I have had mine for 5 years and use it on the road and race track with no problems.
Yes I had the Head Gasket blow at 22k miles that was 3 years ago, It has been a very low cost car to run.
Buy a car from an MG club as they are normally looked after.
PS. My V8 put a Con Rod through the side of the block but I fixed it and still run the car. :-))
Owned my MGF for just under a year. Not used a drop of coolant in 8k miles.
Oil the same though changed at 6k.
Still have a touch of paranoia about it failing and check water every couple of days.
Always let it get warm fully before giving it the beans.
Mines the VVC not the 135, though i would expect the 135 has fewer issues being less revvy and lower powered.
Oil the same though changed at 6k.
Still have a touch of paranoia about it failing and check water every couple of days.
Always let it get warm fully before giving it the beans.
Mines the VVC not the 135, though i would expect the 135 has fewer issues being less revvy and lower powered.
Having previously had 1x MGF VVC, 2x MGF Mpi and 2x MGTF 135's in our household as daily drivers I have had very little trouble with them. I have had 2x HGF and replaced 1 set of under floor coolant pipes. The under floor coolant pipes failing led to one HGF nd the other was me not letting the car warm up before revving it hard.
I'm planning on buying a MGF Trophy 160 in the next couple of weeks to bring back to France where I currently work, it should be much more fun than the Audi in the Pyrenees.
My only advice would be to find one with decent service history that has had its HG replaced preferably with the Chinese HG as these seem to be the most reliable. If you want to add a coolant level alarm for peace of mind then do it.
People slate these cars for reliability but mine have been among the more reliable cars I've had. My TVR Cerbera, Fiesta ST, one Passat, both Audi A8's, Alfa 156 and Rover 620ti have been less reliable and less fun.
I'm planning on buying a MGF Trophy 160 in the next couple of weeks to bring back to France where I currently work, it should be much more fun than the Audi in the Pyrenees.
My only advice would be to find one with decent service history that has had its HG replaced preferably with the Chinese HG as these seem to be the most reliable. If you want to add a coolant level alarm for peace of mind then do it.
People slate these cars for reliability but mine have been among the more reliable cars I've had. My TVR Cerbera, Fiesta ST, one Passat, both Audi A8's, Alfa 156 and Rover 620ti have been less reliable and less fun.
Edited by tonywilliams on Monday 5th August 12:17
Picked up my shed MGF Trophy 160 at the weekend. £880.
Bit leggy and the tyres were unbelievably bad. The usual ditchfinders does not describe how bad, 'continent hoppers' is my new phrase for them.
Rattles like only a good VVC can. Many diesels rattle less.
Still new tyres and tracked up, bloody hell!
How much better than a normal VVC?
From 4k rpm, woo yay! Sounds brilliant. And quite rapid. (Lower revs are still pretty good and seem to have many move 'torques' though stats say no difference). Despite the big aero improvement it still goes floaty at 100 leptons plus, (not tried with new tyres though).
Must record the sound of a short blat. I though the other VVC sounded pretty good. Not doing my hypertension any good for sure.
Bit leggy and the tyres were unbelievably bad. The usual ditchfinders does not describe how bad, 'continent hoppers' is my new phrase for them.
Rattles like only a good VVC can. Many diesels rattle less.
Still new tyres and tracked up, bloody hell!
How much better than a normal VVC?
From 4k rpm, woo yay! Sounds brilliant. And quite rapid. (Lower revs are still pretty good and seem to have many move 'torques' though stats say no difference). Despite the big aero improvement it still goes floaty at 100 leptons plus, (not tried with new tyres though).
Must record the sound of a short blat. I though the other VVC sounded pretty good. Not doing my hypertension any good for sure.
The_Burg said:
Picked up my shed MGF Trophy 160 at the weekend. £880.
Bit leggy and the tyres were unbelievably bad. The usual ditchfinders does not describe how bad, 'continent hoppers' is my new phrase for them.
Rattles like only a good VVC can. Many diesels rattle less.
Still new tyres and tracked up, bloody hell!
How much better than a normal VVC?
From 4k rpm, woo yay! Sounds brilliant. And quite rapid. (Lower revs are still pretty good and seem to have many move 'torques' though stats say no difference). Despite the big aero improvement it still goes floaty at 100 leptons plus, (not tried with new tyres though).
Must record the sound of a short blat. I though the other VVC sounded pretty good. Not doing my hypertension any good for sure.
I have no wish to be a killjoy but if the tyres are a bad as you suggest then I would urge caution at high speed. If one really lets go then I suspect the car could be very tricky to control at speed and a rollover in any sports car is bad as I know many times to my cost from over the years from madness by moi.Bit leggy and the tyres were unbelievably bad. The usual ditchfinders does not describe how bad, 'continent hoppers' is my new phrase for them.
Rattles like only a good VVC can. Many diesels rattle less.
Still new tyres and tracked up, bloody hell!
How much better than a normal VVC?
From 4k rpm, woo yay! Sounds brilliant. And quite rapid. (Lower revs are still pretty good and seem to have many move 'torques' though stats say no difference). Despite the big aero improvement it still goes floaty at 100 leptons plus, (not tried with new tyres though).
Must record the sound of a short blat. I though the other VVC sounded pretty good. Not doing my hypertension any good for sure.
Sounds a good buy. I am rebuilding (well the racing garage that I represent are rebuilding) a 160bhp twin cam K series for my MG. It is proving pretty difficult the cambelt let go before I bought the car (for not a lot) and every valve is bent! Happily for me the garage are on a fixed price job and it will definitely reduce their tax bill in time.
I do hope you enjoy the car these are great fun if a little fragile. Worth fitting the temperature warning light kit to the engine in the car to give instant warning of coolant problems. If you stop quickly enough most of the damage will be minimised and on the K series this is definitely a worthwhile additional warning device.
Cheers, have new tyres.
60 was scary enough with the original.
Had a bit of a blast about this morning and it drive straight and true.
Suspension for what we call roads round, is pretty hard. No chance of playing a CD.
Suspect i won't keep this one long, need the suspension from an ordinary VVC.
Should be a small profit hopefully.
60 was scary enough with the original.
Had a bit of a blast about this morning and it drive straight and true.
Suspension for what we call roads round, is pretty hard. No chance of playing a CD.
Suspect i won't keep this one long, need the suspension from an ordinary VVC.
Should be a small profit hopefully.
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