New member of the HGF club...

Kona*

Kona*

Kona*

Associate
Joined
29 Dec 2003
Posts
2,039
Location
Newcastle upon Tyne
Hey :)

Nope, I didnt buy a Rover/MG but my girlfriend did! Two weeks ago she bought a '51 MG ZR 1.4 with 40k miles on the clock, last night we were on our way out for the night and as we were approaching the Tyne Bridge (Just before the Swan House roundabout if anyone knows it) her temp gauge shot up and you could hear the water boiling, we pulled over to the side of the road, partially blocking one lane (this is at rush hour) I bet we were loved for that. Anyway, checked under her bonet and the water was BLACK with oil, Mr. RAC came out and took one look and said "Head Gasket Failure" - Does anyone know how much she will have to fork out for this? I told her before she bought it that they were prone to HGF and she didnt listen because "Its yellow and sexy" - Also we made the Traffic News, sorry to anyone who we held up last night :(

Craig
 
I don't know whether to laugh or cry! I'm wanting to laugh at the failure, because 1) you pointed out it may happen, and 2) it caused havok (get in there rover!).

However it may fall costly to repair, in which case :( for your GF.
 
Whatever you do, MAKE SURE THAT THE PERSON DOING THE REPAIR KNOWS HOW TO DO IT, CHECKS THE LINERS AND SKIMS AS NECESSARY!

*n
 
One place I found with a quick search (looking at an MG at the moment) quoted £700 for the job

It's not cheap

Maidstone Sport's Cars said:
Labour £342.00
Parts
Head gasket set £ 80.50
10 Stretch head bolts £ 68.90
Cam belt 1.8i Dependant on model £ 25.74
Cam belt VVC Dependant on model £ 48.04
Oil filter £ 5.65
4 Lt. Synthetic engine oil £ 34.50
3 Lt. Anti-freeze £ 9.00
Tensioner bearing £ 28.50
Sundries £ 10.00

All prices are subject to VAT.

Please note. The above charges are for a straightforward head gasket replacement. If further work is required i.e. Head refacing etc this would be charged accordingly.
Click to expand...

Pricing here
 
Should be cheaper than £700, I had mine done back in 2003 at Rover on my 1.4 SEi and even with a replacement radiator and coolant hose it was about £500.

I didn't need any skimming or any additional work as I caught it in the early stages, to find the water black to be honest is BAD NEWS, usually there are traces of oil in it when it has started to go, that sounds like its been like that for a while, sure you GF wasn't sold a duff car there?

Stu
 
That's expensive, even the large garages charger less than that around here. There is no reason it should cost more than 500 tops, unless the engine is damaged (if it was badly overheated the head is scrap).

Did you check the cam cover/coolant and sump oil when you bought it? They rarely fail instantly with no warning signs, but usualy get progressively worse until it fails entirely.
 
Fireblade2K4 said:
Should be cheaper than £700, I had mine done back in 2003 at Rover on my 1.4 SEi and even with a replacement radiator and coolant hose it was about £500.

I didn't need any skimming or any additional work as I caught it in the early stages, to find the water black to be honest is BAD NEWS, usually there are traces of oil in it when it has started to go, that sounds like its been like that for a while, sure you GF wasn't sold a duff car there?

Stu
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It depends, sometimes you get no oil in the water and lots of water in the oil, sometimes it's vice versa.
 
She bought the car from a place in Manchester as it was one of the only decent yellow MG ZR's around on t'internet. I would have stuck my nose in but she gets a bit touchy if I mention anything negative, I didnt go down with them to see the car as I was at work and all of her family are only bothered about the cosmetics of the car. The dealer said "It comes with one-month warranty" but they dont have a piece of paper to say that.

Is it wrong that I feel good about myself because I knew I was right about the car and nobody listend?

Craig
 
Stonedofmoo said:
lol another one. Wheres all the people who will flock in here and announce theres no problem with rover head gaskets :p :)
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That would be me :D

Funny how I've not had a problem in 25,000 miles isn't it.

My cars have a hard life. Everything needed replacing apart from... you guessed it, the head gasket.

Oh, and Rovers' biggest 'fan', great advice, he slates Rovers like there's no tomorrow. Has he had HG yet, nope. People are too quick to judge.
 
Sorry to bring this slightly off topic but as I'm considering one what are the early signs of an impending HGF? (Is the earliest sign mayo under the oil cap or is there something else?)

Thanks
 
Yep, one of the signs is mayo under the oil cap.

Don't start worrying yet though. Does the car do a lot of short journeys?

Go out for a good 10 mile blast or something... take spare water/oil with you though, just in case ;)
 
I haven't bought one yet :)

I'm looking to buy next week - see my thread here

I just don't want to buy one that'll fail shortly afterwards. I'll be doing a fair amount of short trips before I start work in August, where it's 20 miles each way on open A-Roads (constant 50mph+)
 
agw_01 said:
That would be me :D

Funny how I've not had a problem in 25,000 miles isn't it.

My cars have a hard life. Everything needed replacing apart from... you guessed it, the head gasket.

Oh, and Rovers' biggest 'fan', great advice, he slates Rovers like there's no tomorrow. Has he had HG yet, nope. People are too quick to judge.
Click to expand...

Every single K series isnt going to blow a HG you know? Shame this one went in only 40k though, thats shocking :eek: My wife's has done 30k now so is it time for me to buy a HG set just incase?
 
great advice said:
Every single K series isnt going to blow a HG you know? Shame this one went in only 40k though, thats shocking :eek: My wife's has done 30k now so is it time for me to buy a HG set just incase?
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I would buy 2 just in case. :D
 
great advice said:
Every single K series isnt going to blow a HG you know?
Click to expand...

Well judging by posts on this forum, you'd think otherwise ;)

I get the impression that the K-series is going to kill us all! :D
 
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