Top 10 MGF Mods?

[John SS]

Hi All,

I have spent the last four years doing numerous improvements and enhancements to my beloved MY2000 MGF VVC. I thought it would be fun to look back and list in order the top 10 mods that, in my opinion, have enhanced the car the most. Who knows, it could be useful to those just starting out and may prompt some debate!?

1) Low coolant alarm - preferably the B&G kit for complete peace of mind, which allows you to keep your eyes on the road rather than the water gauge.
2) Decent tyres - Falkens in my case, transformed the grip and handling.
3) Servo bracket - makes a great difference to brake feel and if anybody doubts the need for it, see the frightening video on Rob Bell's site.
4) 4 pot front calipers - simply staggering braking improvement for just £180 second hand.
5) Seat lowering springs - only buys you about 1/2 inch lowering but still much better than staring at the top windscreen surround.
6) Hood anti-jam straps - do what they say on the tin.
7) Electronic boot release - takes away the fear of locking your keys in the boot, completely.
8) Osram Nightbreaker headlamp bulbs - terrific improvement in night time visibility.
9) Citroen Xsara screen washer jets - actually cover the screen in fluid rather than just weeing a dribble to the middle.
10) Ctek smart battery charger - bit of a cheat to make up the 10 as it is not strictly a car mod. However it does ensure I never have to worry about the car starting after a prolonged period of neglect, when the sun won't shine.

Wonder if other owners have other opinions? Would love to hear them.
Best wishes,
John

[Reckless Rat]

1. A must, an absolute no brainer.
2. Toyo Proxes T1R
3. On the list
4. Ditto
5. Fitted a set but didn't notice a great deal of difference.
6. Bodged it with a bungy.
7. Bought one on EBay and gave up trying to get it to work. Bought a spare key and a magnet.
8. Agreed. Forget the Chinese wonder bulbs
9. Done
10. Accumate 6v/12v.

11? A replacement set of front and rear spheres as mine are getting very tired after 19yrs.
12. Some rocking horse shyte and a lottery win.

[willyphixitt]

Worthwhile list, John

RR - Get some "scratch" as you can make anything from it.

willyphixitt

[RobboMC]

I reckon a turbocharger would be my No1 mod.

[DanieleT]

Only done a few mods to my TF and I can't count new Falken tyres as one of them really.

Kmaps ECU
ITG air filter
Fluffy dice

done

(only joking about the dice)

[Green Squirrel]

On our 1996 MPi the K&N cone filter is a must

[talkingcars]

Decent tyres, trophy splitter, heated seats, heated screen, A/C, braided brake hoses, K&N Apollo, home brew low coolant alarm, home brew boot release, decent head unit.

[Helsbyman]

I found the best mod was to make the exhaust to one pipe with the second as a dummy and it was a strait though box s/steel it felt like and extra 10% min in torque

[jonaf]

I have owned my '96 mpi since 2000 and I have fitted:
PRT
B&G low level coolant alarm
SAIC HG
Aluminium radiator
K&N panel air filter
Boot remote opener
Homemade plexiglass windstop, height adjustable
DAB+ radio
Toyo Proxes 195/50 tyres
HID headlamp conversion
Tie bar compliance washers
Red/black leather steering wheel, gearstick and handbrake gaiters

[campbosshassi]

I have owned my 2000 f since 2003
so far
Trophy front spoiler
52 TB
MS backbox wide slash finishers
Lexus lights + inside rear light protectors
want
re-map
mgtf steering rack
4-2-1 exhaust manifold
what did you think of your HID lights jonaf?

[Kasper]

There are a lot of things on the lists above I did but to ad a decent one that should be done to any elder car: fit polybushes all around, that recovers the drivability and stability of the car up to more than you would expect. But you do need it otherwise you'll be in an old and tired car wobbling around like a drunken sailor

[adrianclifford]

1. Daytona exhaust
2. Piper 4-2-1 manifold
3. K maps custom re-map
4. Bilstein shocks all round
5. Vader cold air induction
6. Electric boot release
7. Technozen relays
8. Braided brake hoses
9. BMW Angel Eyes headlamps
10. Stage 1 cylinder head conversion

Falken's all round, B&G low coolant alarm and Blue Magnecor leads but I don't consider those a mod, just common sense and for the fun "MG" puddle lights under the doors

[MrNatural]

My list is much the same as Adrian's...

1. Daytona exhaust
2. Piper 4-2-1 manifold
3. K maps custom re-map
4. Bilstein shocks all round with Eibach uprated ARB's
5. 4 pot calipers
6. Bespoke floating brake discs by BG Developments, front and rear
7. 280mm rear brake discs
8. Braided brake hoses
9. BMW Angel Eyes headlamps
10. Replacement head and cams by DVA Power

Still on Goodyear Eagles all round Love my TF!

[radddogg]

What sort of gains are you guys getting from those engine mods? Individually and together?

[Kasper]

The funny thing is that only the polybushes are focussed on handling the car, all other are about improving performance or add nice to have things. Improving the handling of the car is most important in my point of view as this releases the engine from the need to do that extra bit. As for the brakes too. Going faster and safer without a lot of investment. OR have the opportunity to use the extra power a lot better.


Am I in the wrong type of car? Switch over to a Lotus?
I really would go for a well handling car before improving other items, I thing Colin Chapman would agree.y

[campbosshassi]

Can you fit the BMW angel eyes to an F are these different to the HID head lamp kits?
I am still on dim head lights so must change to something.

[Rob Bell]

Good list John!

I wouldn't know where to start with my top 10 - it would depend on the focus of the car I was looking at. But I don't think I would put AP front discs in my top 10 (just to be controversial )

[mgbv8mike]

Here's mine :-
Brake servo bracket
Low water alarm
Aircon
Heated seats
Leather vgear knob
Stainless pipes throughout
Supersport exhaust
VHS/Bilstein dampers
ZR glove compartment
PR Thermostat

[Andrew Regens]

1) Low coolant alarm - preferably the B&G kit for complete peace of mind, which allows you to keep your eyes on the road rather than the water gauge.
2) Decent tyres - I used Toyo RIR's.
3) Servo bracket - makes a great difference to brake feel and if anybody doubts the need for it, see the frightening video on Rob Bell's site.
4)Better pads, almost racing half the cost of the AP{ route no need for 16" wheels and tyres.
5) 52mmTB
6) Front Splitter
7) Better exhaust, I used a Miltek SS.
8) Osram Nightbreaker headlamp bulbs - terrific improvement in night time visibility.
9) Citroen Xsara screen washer jets - actually cover the screen in fluid rather than just weeing a dribble to the middle.
10) K & N filter.

The mods above were the best value for money mods I did on my F VVC, I then went berserk and ended up with 175HP with quaif diff.
I should have left well alone and just stuck with the above.
Now I have started on my TF160 !! The next mod is a new gearbox from a ZR160 with type 2 LSD, I have the box just have to fit it.
The HP will be much about the same as I ended up with my F but with the different gearing and superior handling I hope to be quicker in Hill Climbs and sprints

[adrianclifford]

Can you fit the BMW angel eyes to an F are these different to the HID head lamp kits?
I am still on dim head lights so must change to something.

No, I'm afraid you can't. Pictures of these are in the "what have you done on your MGF page 60" then you will see.

Mine are modified though as the original kit means they are on all of the time, mine now go off when the headlights are on and a better connection fitment, they also have a non ignition source switch so I can put them on and off without starting the car.