Got my eye on an F & a TF

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JustExtreme
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Re: Got my eye on an F & a TF

Post by JustExtreme » Thu Aug 24, 2017 11:41 am

Thanks for those comments. The roll hoops seem alright to me not too fussed. I think I'll see if it's still available when I get back from Norfolk in a week or so.

Saw this 135 with 89k the other day and gonna try get over to Stoke this evening and take a look https://en.shpock.com/i/WZCT6YUzcHGsG8CX/ it has full service history but seems very cheap so prepared to be disappointed. The arches being a bit scabbed doesn't really bother me I'd probably get it sorted in a month or two. Not sure what tyres are on it.

I'm going to take this along http://mgfcentral.iain-brown.com/docs/T ... cklist.xls seems useful

JustExtreme
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Re: Got my eye on an F & a TF

Post by JustExtreme » Fri Aug 25, 2017 9:18 am

The one I viewed last night ended up being a bit more worse for wear than the ad suggested - not just scabbing on arches but various scratches and scrapes all over. It had Accelera tyres on, one of the front ones which was flat when we arrived and had 0psi (seller pumped it up). One of the bearings was noisy and the seller said he was gonna get it sorted before he sold it but even then the clutch was very spongey like it was sticking on the way up. The heater only worked on top setting. He pointed all these things out to us and didn't try to hide anything which is nice - I think the checklist I took may have given off an impression! I figured it must be a bit worse for wear because of the price but it did have a great deal of receipts for work and a lot of service history.

Going to think about popping over to view this one when I'm in Norfolk next week http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152676357023 Has Goodyear on the back but on the front is a Haida and a hero so would probably want to replace with matching ones although all 4 have >3mm tread. Will try to find out what the reserve is and service history. Will be busting out the checklist again for sure.

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nigelandjo
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Re: Got my eye on an F & a TF

Post by nigelandjo » Fri Aug 25, 2017 8:50 pm

The car in Norfolk looks a nice example and if you're in the area looks like it would be worth taking a look.
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JustExtreme
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Re: Got my eye on an F & a TF

Post by JustExtreme » Mon Aug 28, 2017 1:29 pm

Should be going to see it tomorrow the owner has been pretty helpful covered a lot of stuff on the checklist already although obviously will need to inspect it ourselves and test drive. Not sure what the reserve is but I'm thinking I'll put in a first offer of around 1.4 which seems a fair price for a 160 providing its in as good nick as it appears. Service history is stamped up to 41k then it had another service from a someone they knew who worked at a Vauxhall garage around 60k

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David Dixon
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Re: Got my eye on an F & a TF

Post by David Dixon » Mon Aug 28, 2017 1:55 pm

Probably out of you price criteria but might worth checking this dealer in Woodbridge. http://www.mgtfcentre.com/

JustExtreme
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Re: Got my eye on an F & a TF

Post by JustExtreme » Wed Aug 30, 2017 12:07 am

So I ended up purchasing the 160 in Suffolk for 1.4 all seemed to be ok from the checklist... Does that seem a fair price?

Just got back to Cromer from picking it up I forgot how long it takes to drive 65 miles in rural Norfolk / Suffolk about 3 hours each way.

Meant I got to give it a good run on the way back and no problems were experienced luckily on the journey back.

It's really pleasant to drive I like how it sticks to the road especially on long winding country lanes and B roads. The harshness of the suspension I'm finding sort of uncomfortable but also pretty satisfying.

Will have a look over it again tomorrow in the daylight and take it for a spin or 3. I'm off for the rest of the week so will be a while before I can try it on a proper motorway.

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David Dixon
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Re: Got my eye on an F & a TF

Post by David Dixon » Wed Aug 30, 2017 6:25 am

Nice one, welcome to MGTF ownership.

Fraser
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Re: Got my eye on an F & a TF

Post by Fraser » Fri Sep 01, 2017 11:12 pm

The harshness of the suspension I'm finding sort of uncomfortable but also pretty satisfying.
Best not to shake your teeth fillings out, and there is a cure ! I bought a set of Bilsteins supplied by Vehicle Handling Solutions. They are not cheap at £499 + VAT, but with a set of the recommended Falken tyres I'm now happy to go on long trips and the car is very comfortable. It also helps to lower the pressure a bit on the rear tyres. I set mine at 32 psi instead of the 36 standard, and have never had any "moments", but then I don't drive like a lunatic. Jaguar quote a "Comfort" setting for my Jaguar XJ tyres that limits you to 100 mph and I always set mine to this. How often does one go over 100 mph in this country, for heavens sake ? OK, in Germany this year I got up to 110 for about three miles, but all was OK.

http://www.vehiclehandlingsolutions.com/road_cars.htm

JustExtreme
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Re: Got my eye on an F & a TF

Post by JustExtreme » Mon Sep 04, 2017 12:50 pm

Drove it the 200ish miles back from Norfolk yesterday with no issues so that's good. Roof to the back right has a bit of a rattle or it might be the plastic engine cover (over the coolant) which seems to be missing it's catch. I'll investigate.

Any recommendations for garages that know MG's around the Shropshire/West Midlands area that I could get to have a look over it... unless one of you fairly closeby would be willing to take a look over it?

The journey back wasn't too bad cruises nicely along the motorway - will keep the Bilsteins in mind for the future though.

Small leak on drivers side door seal that I'll need to look into. Roof could do with a bit of a clean so will do that soon and re-waterproof it, AutoGlym soft top kit any good? I was going to look into hard tops but considering the heater is pretty decent I think I'll look into heated rear screens/soft tops with built in ones.

Mikeadman
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Re: Got my eye on an F & a TF

Post by Mikeadman » Mon Sep 04, 2017 1:19 pm

http://www.mgfcentre.com/

Probably closest to you when I bought mine I got them to do a full health check on the car with a full report.

Cheers

Mike.

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Bazzajay
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Re: Got my eye on an F & a TF

Post by Bazzajay » Mon Sep 04, 2017 4:31 pm

AutoGlym Soft Top treatment is excellent. I use it on my F's hood which is the original and now 17 years old. I do it twice a year, in late October or early November, to see it through the winter; then again in April to make it smart for Summer. The kit costs £18 and will easily do the two treatments.

If you have a fan spray on your hose it really helps to shift the cleaner before you apply the proofer. With all the rain we've been having recently it still beads on the hood and runs off freely. All in all Good value for the money.
Barrie

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2002 Peugeot Partner Quiksilver

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daz
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Re: Got my eye on an F & a TF

Post by daz » Mon Sep 04, 2017 7:19 pm

I have eibachs fitted to my tf & it made a world of difference.

I use normal washing tablets in the hottest water I can stand & a stiff scrubbing brush to clean. Then fabsil to waterproof.

JustExtreme
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Re: Got my eye on an F & a TF

Post by JustExtreme » Wed Sep 06, 2017 6:31 pm

Image
Image


Noticed there's a small gap in between the hood and the chassis nothing appears to be ripped or damaged though, any idea what the best way to readjust this would be if there is a way to do so?

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daz
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Re: Got my eye on an F & a TF

Post by daz » Wed Sep 06, 2017 8:15 pm

good luck, all the ones I've owned or seen has been the same :) you can try adjusting the buckles directly in front of the gap, but I've never had much luck doing it.

JustExtreme
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Re: Got my eye on an F & a TF

Post by JustExtreme » Mon Sep 11, 2017 2:03 pm

I might just stick a small self-adhesive piece of draught-seal in there...

Used the AutoGlym soft top clean and waterproofing kit at the weekend which seems to have made the water bead off the top a lot better rather than being absorbed by the fabric. There are some feint but persistent green marks though and some fading so will look into getting a dark blue bottle of Renovo restorer dye soon, anyone used that?

Thanks to plentiful downpours I've discovered that I've got a small leak in the Drivers window above the speaker on the corner join between door and windscreen, is it best to get a replacement seal? I found someone breaking a TF who wants £20 for one and it looks to be in good condition.

I'll be looking into getting an inspection from either MGF Centre in Wolves or Paul Depper MG in Cannock after the 20th (payday). Pending any major surprises I'll look into getting a full set of some Falkens or Toyos (the recommended models).

Anyone here done any USB charging related mods? The position of that cigarette lighter socket is just awful. I see theres a few threads on mg-rover and the-t-bar from a while back.

Oh one last thing when the roof is up theres a rattling noise coming from behind the driver but I can't work out what it is. My solution for now is just to drive with the hood down all the time apart from when its properly raining.

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Re: Got my eye on an F & a TF

Post by hammond » Mon Sep 18, 2017 11:05 pm

JustExtreme wrote: Oh one last thing when the roof is up theres a rattling noise coming from behind the driver but I can't work out what it is. My solution for now is just to drive with the hood down all the time apart from when its properly raining.
It's the car whispering to you to take the hood down :thumbsu:

Mikeadman
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Re: Got my eye on an F & a TF

Post by Mikeadman » Tue Sep 19, 2017 9:36 am

:lol: :lol: :lol: Good call.

Cheers

Mike 8-)

JustExtreme
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Re: Got my eye on an F & a TF

Post by JustExtreme » Sat Oct 07, 2017 9:16 pm

Image
This happened thursday when I was out for a drive in Stafford - old tyres! Was planning on getting a set of Falkens soon but... see below

So payday came and I finally took it over to the MGFCentre today for a health check and it has a lot of problems so tyres are the least of my worries - looking like I'm gonna need to sell it on unfortunately.

Head gasket was done using non-multilayer and seems to be leaking coolant and also theres a big oil leak underneath and the rear sub-frame is rusted to the point it needs replacing, vvc unit is tapping the cambelt amongst a few other things that could easily add to up to 3-4k.

I'm going to try giving the garage a call who did the gasket stuff as they charged like £1200 and it was only in May this year so maybe warranty although the place is in Suffolk and I'm based in Shropshire so that's an issue.

Might be useful to someone who does the work themselves... :(

Pending any miraculous solutions it looks like I'm going to be trying to get whatever I can for it and looking for another one. Not giving up, these are lovely cars I just seem to have been really unlucky.

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daz
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Re: Got my eye on an F & a TF

Post by daz » Sun Oct 08, 2017 12:54 am

That's bad luck unfortunately it's the perils of buying an old used car.

Work through it methodically,

Where's the oil leak coming from?

Where is the coolant leak?

Non multi layer gasket is used for various reasons.

Most od the vvc's are a bit "tappity"

& is the sub frame really that bad? I'd pop it into an mot station to get it looked at.

I spoke to someone else who had there car checked over there & came away with a list of faults, after checking the car over i couldn't find any of the listed faults. This car has since passed it's mot with flying colours.

JustExtreme
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Re: Got my eye on an F & a TF

Post by JustExtreme » Sun Oct 08, 2017 7:47 am

Yeah I was aware that even with the big checklist it was a roll of the dice with a used car of the age.

I think the oil leak was coming from the sump but not 100%. The coolant is not leaking a great deal but looks to be coming from above the head gasket.

Looking at the receipt the place that did the HG was a regular garage rather than an MG specialist kind of place so that could explain the use of single layer gasket and not changing the oil rail etc. They still charged like £1200 for the work though which seems crazy high considering. Hoping maybe they'll be willing to recover it to the garage in Suffolk and remedy it or something but I won't hold my breath on that.

They said the sub frame would probably pass an MOT now but not sure about in a few months time in may when it's due. The corrosion is in the centre of it.

There were also some other things I didn't mention like I think the rear brake discs need replacing as they are at like 20-30% efficiency. Front nearside wishbone could see was pretty corroded and one of the front subframe mounts too.

I'll be getting the full report on Monday with pictures so will update you then. I'd hazard a guess that being specialists in the cars they're looking for any little thing and perhaps have higher standards than me. Plus obviously their pricing estimates would have been based on how much they would charge to do it so could potentially save some money getting HG sorted by somewhere like MG Rover Mobile Mechanics.

I'm autistic I think it was all a bit of a shock and so I don't really know what I'm doing. I'm not under any illusions about them being a cheap and cheerful car to maintain but I just got scared.

Will update with more info when I get the report through
Last edited by JustExtreme on Sun Oct 08, 2017 8:19 am, edited 1 time in total.

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