MG ZT - Opinions
- Thread starter sgx.saint
- Start date
Nah its the K-series engines that suffer from HGF generally which is all the petrol variants of the mg zr which is why its such a big talking point with the ZR's especially.
The ZT feels like a totally different car from the other MG's and genuinely feels like a big, well built and refined car and refinement seems v popular on these boards for some reason. The V6 ZT is seen as the bargain one of the bunch, but just make sure its had all 3 belts done as if you get lumbered with them, you won't get much change from a grand.
The ZT feels like a totally different car from the other MG's and genuinely feels like a big, well built and refined car and refinement seems v popular on these boards for some reason. The V6 ZT is seen as the bargain one of the bunch, but just make sure its had all 3 belts done as if you get lumbered with them, you won't get much change from a grand.
Best car MGR ever ever built. Although some of the 1.8 Ts can have HGF too. 180 or 190 is variant of choice. CDTis still go for silly money. Pre facelift were better built than the latter 'project drive' models but latter ones do look fresher.
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Soldato
Good cars IMO, based heavily on the Rover 75 but with upgraded suspension and other bits.
The K series engine was in the ZT, in 1.8 turbo and NASP form. It is fundamentally a good design, however obviously plagued by headgasket issues. Once rectified properly a good K engine should do 50k+ without another gasket, and this issue aside is extremely reliable.
Personally I'd be looking at a V6 engined model, using the very reliable (and not HGF suffering) KV6 engine.
The BMW CDTi engine is good, but MAF issues have been reported, aswell as these being fitted with an expensive Dual Mass flywheel assembly.
The K series engine was in the ZT, in 1.8 turbo and NASP form. It is fundamentally a good design, however obviously plagued by headgasket issues. Once rectified properly a good K engine should do 50k+ without another gasket, and this issue aside is extremely reliable.
Personally I'd be looking at a V6 engined model, using the very reliable (and not HGF suffering) KV6 engine.
The BMW CDTi engine is good, but MAF issues have been reported, aswell as these being fitted with an expensive Dual Mass flywheel assembly.
Soldato
If you can afford 23mpg the V8 is the best bet by far, you can pick one up for £6k now. 
I disagree. £ for £ the 190 is the better car. Its performance difference is marginal due to the V8 having larger transmission loss, higher fuel consumption and higher running costs, although the running costs are marginal in the 190s favour.
For noise alone, it would have to tbe the 260 though
For noise alone, it would have to tbe the 260 though
Soldato
Noise is what does it for me tbh, I'd never own the V8 but I'd easily have a V6 even though it'd cost a bit more in MPG.
Soldato
A couple of things i've noted after having a ZT-T 190 for the weekend just gone. The drivers footwell is quite small and the pedals are close together, it seems quite unusual for a car of this size. Also you really can't rush the gearbox at all, you have to be quite smooth with it and you can't really change gear with any degree of speed.
The car itself was lovely though, went well, sounded and looked the part and the handling of them completely defies the size of the car. The trip computer read an average 23.* MPG on it.
The car itself was lovely though, went well, sounded and looked the part and the handling of them completely defies the size of the car. The trip computer read an average 23.* MPG on it.
Soldato
i dont have any probs with the footwell on my 75 being small
seems fine to me and my size 9 work boots lol
Soldato
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
The parts which will cost you quite a bit of money to replace and parts which can fail frequently are:
Clutch
Thermostat
VIS Motors
Inlet Manifold
Fan
The clutch can cost around £500 - £700 to be replaced.
The thermostat is made of plastic and can crack which causes a coolant leak from a drip to a complete dumping of the coolant in a short space of time. A good eye on the temp gauge is needed. You can also fit a level sensor alarm in the top up tank to warn you of loss. A new thermostat fitted will cost £250-£300. Somebody in South Africa has now actually managed to make a thermostat out of aluminum and is charging £60 each.
VIS motors fail because oil gets pushed up from the inlet manifold and into the motor itself which in time causes them to fail. An oil catch tank can be fitted to prevent this and also a chap from Romania has made a complete sealed unit to stop any oil passing through but is waiting for enough orders to start production. A complete kit from him will cost £60 and includes sensors to show they are working. Anyway replacement VIS motors are £90 for the power motor and the Balance motor is £70. They are easy to fit so you can do them yourself.
Inlet Manifold is made of plastic and the butterflies inside can break. A new manifold is needed and can cost upto £550 for a new one and they are easy to fit yourself. You can still use the car with a broken manifold but the power will be down.
The fan comes in 2 varieties, a 3 speed and a 2 speed. The 3 speed is almost always a replacement when they fail and can cost upto £700 fitted. The 2 speed usually just burns out a resistor and can be replaced for £5 and can be fitted yourself if your competent enough to remove the front bumper. The fans usually fail on the low speed setting which is needed for the air con. If left unnoticed for a long time this can cause the compressor to fail.
Also the cam belt change can be expensive but a man in Coventry runs a garage called Lates600.com and can change it for £450 and it will be done in 4 hours so it's worth the trip to see him.
Clutch
Thermostat
VIS Motors
Inlet Manifold
Fan
The clutch can cost around £500 - £700 to be replaced.
The thermostat is made of plastic and can crack which causes a coolant leak from a drip to a complete dumping of the coolant in a short space of time. A good eye on the temp gauge is needed. You can also fit a level sensor alarm in the top up tank to warn you of loss. A new thermostat fitted will cost £250-£300. Somebody in South Africa has now actually managed to make a thermostat out of aluminum and is charging £60 each.
VIS motors fail because oil gets pushed up from the inlet manifold and into the motor itself which in time causes them to fail. An oil catch tank can be fitted to prevent this and also a chap from Romania has made a complete sealed unit to stop any oil passing through but is waiting for enough orders to start production. A complete kit from him will cost £60 and includes sensors to show they are working. Anyway replacement VIS motors are £90 for the power motor and the Balance motor is £70. They are easy to fit so you can do them yourself.
Inlet Manifold is made of plastic and the butterflies inside can break. A new manifold is needed and can cost upto £550 for a new one and they are easy to fit yourself. You can still use the car with a broken manifold but the power will be down.
The fan comes in 2 varieties, a 3 speed and a 2 speed. The 3 speed is almost always a replacement when they fail and can cost upto £700 fitted. The 2 speed usually just burns out a resistor and can be replaced for £5 and can be fitted yourself if your competent enough to remove the front bumper. The fans usually fail on the low speed setting which is needed for the air con. If left unnoticed for a long time this can cause the compressor to fail.
Also the cam belt change can be expensive but a man in Coventry runs a garage called Lates600.com and can change it for £450 and it will be done in 4 hours so it's worth the trip to see him.
Last edited:
Soldato
