Discussion
Just a couple of pics of my ZS, really just showing off one I took at Silverstone;
And it now has matching PH stickers on both sides of the spoiler;
Chuffed to bits with it, first car I've had with a bit of power! Not going to set the world on fire but enough to bring a smile to my face!
Picked it up in Feb, '04 plate, 2 previous owners, 16,000 on the clock. £3,500. Full black leather inside, which is a rarity I think.
Great fun to drive, delivers a nice growl, corners excellently. Would recommend a 180 to anyone, especially as you can pick them up for ~£,2000.
Just wish more ZS owners would wave back....
And it now has matching PH stickers on both sides of the spoiler;
Chuffed to bits with it, first car I've had with a bit of power! Not going to set the world on fire but enough to bring a smile to my face!
Picked it up in Feb, '04 plate, 2 previous owners, 16,000 on the clock. £3,500. Full black leather inside, which is a rarity I think.
Great fun to drive, delivers a nice growl, corners excellently. Would recommend a 180 to anyone, especially as you can pick them up for ~£,2000.
Just wish more ZS owners would wave back....
mark_mcd said:
I think these are great too and seriously considered one. Very underrated and I prefer the old style to the facelift ones. I'd have a saloon in British Racing Green or the Navy Blue colour, with a custom piped k&n down in the bumper and a Piper exhaust 
Maybe in future...
Here are some vids I bookmarked -
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8tg66_top-gear-c...
http://www.streetfire.net/video/mg-zs-drive-away_4...
http://www.streetfire.net/video/mg-zs-drive-bys-fi...
http://www.streetfire.net/video/mg-zs-v6-drive-bys...
I agree. I don't think the facelifted front looks too bad, but the rear is horrible... Nice couple of vids! Maybe in future...Here are some vids I bookmarked -
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8tg66_top-gear-c...
http://www.streetfire.net/video/mg-zs-drive-away_4...
http://www.streetfire.net/video/mg-zs-drive-bys-fi...
http://www.streetfire.net/video/mg-zs-v6-drive-bys...
robsco said:
Those KV6s do make a nice noise.
See the nice couple of vids! I'm looking at changing the air intake to a cold feed and maybe the exhaust, but I don't want to wreck the original sound of it.MGZRod said:
Lovely car, looks very very clean!
Not at the moment it isn't!!MGZRod said:
SparkFox said:
Just wish more ZS owners would wave back....
I wish the same with ZR owners somewhere. But when you see the 'class' of some of the drivers you don't want to asociate with them at points 
I have been slightly put off MG ownership by my experiences, but I would be looking into one of these as an upgrade.
Also I tend to get Corsa Boys trying it on everywhere because, I think, of the spoiler.
Gachet said:
I've owned a ZS180 for 5 years:
Bought it just after MG Rover went bust for £2500 at 30k and have done another 35k in it. It's been a very good car and the only problems I've had have been with are the vis motors in the manifold, a leaking termostat and the clutch hydraulics, which packed about about 4 months ago (an uprated master and slave cylinder kit is available from a guy on the X Power forum that replaces the standard plastic cr*p with metal parts from a Civic). The chassis is very similar to an Integra DC2 and I've been impressed by the driving experience and that's comming from E30 M3's. I fitted a BMC carbon fibre enclosed induction kit and it makes a lovely induction roar when you give it a few revs, but is unoticeable if your just potering around town. The only major expensive is changing the cambelts and tensioners every 6 years or 90k, which cost around £450.
Great car, I like the alloys on yours! Is that picture taken on Wellington straight? I had my belts done in the summer, along with service and MOT for £700. Bought it just after MG Rover went bust for £2500 at 30k and have done another 35k in it. It's been a very good car and the only problems I've had have been with are the vis motors in the manifold, a leaking termostat and the clutch hydraulics, which packed about about 4 months ago (an uprated master and slave cylinder kit is available from a guy on the X Power forum that replaces the standard plastic cr*p with metal parts from a Civic). The chassis is very similar to an Integra DC2 and I've been impressed by the driving experience and that's comming from E30 M3's. I fitted a BMC carbon fibre enclosed induction kit and it makes a lovely induction roar when you give it a few revs, but is unoticeable if your just potering around town. The only major expensive is changing the cambelts and tensioners every 6 years or 90k, which cost around £450.
One tiny no-cost modification to report.
Had purchased a universal induction kit from Halfords (I know!) but the kit came incomplete, as I found when fitting.
However, when removing the OEM airbox, the resonator box connecting pipe fell off. It's stayed off, and I've got a fantastic noise between 3,000 and 6,000 RPM and slightly sharper throttle response.
The best part about this is that in normal driving you can't hear any difference. Give it some loud pedal, and it sounds fantastic in my opinion!
As far as I am aware there are no repercussions from doing this, so remove this jobby from the bottom of the airbox:
Had purchased a universal induction kit from Halfords (I know!) but the kit came incomplete, as I found when fitting.
However, when removing the OEM airbox, the resonator box connecting pipe fell off. It's stayed off, and I've got a fantastic noise between 3,000 and 6,000 RPM and slightly sharper throttle response.
The best part about this is that in normal driving you can't hear any difference. Give it some loud pedal, and it sounds fantastic in my opinion!
As far as I am aware there are no repercussions from doing this, so remove this jobby from the bottom of the airbox:
It wasn't the slave cylinder, as such.
It was the bracket that holds the cylinder onto the gearbox. It appeared to be made out of cheese, and was flexing.
The flexing was transferred through the rest of the hydraulic pipework, taking the force out of the pedal.
Cue Sheddist's replacement clutch kit. The old system looks like this:
Which was replaced by this:
As you can see, much beefier.
It took about 2 hours to fit and bleed.
The difference is like night and day. Added with the pedal stop, it's given the car a great, smooth and fast gear change. Very, very happy.
While I was in the engine bay I replaced the brake fluid for some DOT 5.1 as well and bled it through. I get brake fade quite quickly on a hoon and thought that replacing the fluid would be a good start, before I can save up for some Mintex pads.
Brakes first, then onto my grand plans for the exhuast...
It was the bracket that holds the cylinder onto the gearbox. It appeared to be made out of cheese, and was flexing.
The flexing was transferred through the rest of the hydraulic pipework, taking the force out of the pedal.
Cue Sheddist's replacement clutch kit. The old system looks like this:
Which was replaced by this:
As you can see, much beefier.
It took about 2 hours to fit and bleed.
The difference is like night and day. Added with the pedal stop, it's given the car a great, smooth and fast gear change. Very, very happy.
While I was in the engine bay I replaced the brake fluid for some DOT 5.1 as well and bled it through. I get brake fade quite quickly on a hoon and thought that replacing the fluid would be a good start, before I can save up for some Mintex pads.
Brakes first, then onto my grand plans for the exhuast...
spaceship said:
Nice car. Another car I have a soft spot for.
Glad you are back on the road.
So am I! I have an interview Wednesday, if I was to get the job I would need to use my car for the first 3 months or so before a company car was sorted, so it's nice to have a bit of reliability again!Glad you are back on the road.
That's good to hear mate! What is the suspect now? Are they upgraded brakes or OEM ones?
I spent £13 on 500ml of dot 4 (as a flush) and 2 litres of dot 5.1. A friend has a Halfords discount card! It won't cure the massive fade I get but it may help.
Next step is mintex pads and disks, think I can get all corners for £140 ish.
I spent £13 on 500ml of dot 4 (as a flush) and 2 litres of dot 5.1. A friend has a Halfords discount card! It won't cure the massive fade I get but it may help.
Next step is mintex pads and disks, think I can get all corners for £140 ish.
Sounds worth it to me! Let's hope your cooling problem is sorted in time for our next hoon 
On the subject of disks, do I go drilled and grooved or stay with smooth?
I've read that drilled tend to crack around the holes, and that drilled and grooved will wear the pads quicker, are they worth the increase in heat dissipation in your opinion?
On the subject of disks, do I go drilled and grooved or stay with smooth?
I've read that drilled tend to crack around the holes, and that drilled and grooved will wear the pads quicker, are they worth the increase in heat dissipation in your opinion?
Henry Fiddleton said:
Great car. Like the ZS 180 a lot.
Thanks. I'm still in love with mine after ~14,000 miles!OwenK said:
It seems quite a widespread idea doesn't it - I thought the same, but have heard that as long as they're made by a reputable company it's fine. Besides, the guys who run the race cars at my Uni swear by drilled & they really know their stuff so it's good enough for me. IIRC heat dissipation is a common misconception, holes/slots are for freeing the gas generated by pad contact and also skimming the pad surface to prevent glazing. If I'm honest though I just like the way they look 
May as well paint your callipers while you are at it if you are going for cosmetics! My pads have loads left on them, to be honest. I may hold off on the brakes for the time being. My mind changes so often anyway!Heart is saying that it would be the switch-able exhaust first
Small update. My hot gear change problem is back, and I hope it's a simple fix like bleeding the clutch again.
Also I seem to have developed excessive tyre wear, on one tyre only. Joy.
However, to make me feel better, my friend who owns a really long drive lent me his special box and the use of his drive:
.5 of a second off of the factory time to 60mph, and nearly a second and a half quicker to 100mph? Not bad for a 7 year old car, with 17stone of me, a passenger and a boot full of tools!
Also I seem to have developed excessive tyre wear, on one tyre only. Joy.
However, to make me feel better, my friend who owns a really long drive lent me his special box and the use of his drive:
.5 of a second off of the factory time to 60mph, and nearly a second and a half quicker to 100mph? Not bad for a 7 year old car, with 17stone of me, a passenger and a boot full of tools!
Slight error today. I'm after two new front tyres after being unimpressed with Toyo Proxes lasting a total of 6,000 miles. Spotted a full set of MG alloys with tyres on eBay, for just under what two new Avon tyres would cost me.
So I now have a full set of slightly less kerbed wheels with utter ditch-finders on them. Result....
So I now have a full set of slightly less kerbed wheels with utter ditch-finders on them. Result....
neiljohnson said:
Underrated car the v6 is a nice engine but people are scared off by the repair costs of cambelts which makes them a serious bargain
Most belts will have been done now, mine cost a packet! I've ordered a full set of Mintex pads for 40 quid today to cheer myself up over the tyres!The handling is brilliant, you could make a good B-road sleeper out of an old civic/45 and some ZS bits. Mind you, 180's can be had for shed money in half-decent nick now.
YesItsARover said:
Ok, my MG is back from it's service/check up at the local head gasket shop. I need three (will be four) new tyres, a track rod end and the clutch release bearing is on the way out. Going to be an expensive month!
Not going to be an expensive month, going to have to spread it out over a few months. Financially not viable to do it all now. Vehicle off road, battery will be taken out and it's going under a cover. A sad day.Current state of the ZS:
This is set to improve at the end of the month. I've been all over the overtime for a few months, and it's all coming at once with a bit of luck. This should help move things along.
I'm looking at tyres, I've gone through a set of Toyo P1R (PR1?)'s in 6,000 miles, so I'd like something a little better on wear.
The ZS had Continental's on it when it came, and they where excellent. When they were worn, they had more grip than the Toyo's ever had.
I'm looking at Pirelli's at the moment, I think I can get them for just over £100 a corner. I've also had Avon's recommended to me, so I'm keeping an eye out. Obviously, I want the best I can afford.
While she's up on stands I'll be taking the disks off and cleaning them up, I've got a set of Mintex pads to go on in an attempt to cure the horrendous brake fade I get after just a few minutes of hard driving.
Other than that, there are a few mods in the pipeline. One of my hoon buddies has a Civic Type R EP3, and it is comical how matched we are in a straight line. I want to beat him, so I'm looking at induction and exhaust options. An oil catch tank is needed, to stop oil fouling the motors on the variable inlet manifolds.
Then it's tax and MOT time..... Expensive few months, I may be better just selling the damn thing, which is what my head says, but my heart misses it. It's been nearly three weeks since I've driven the ZS, and that hurts a lot!
This is set to improve at the end of the month. I've been all over the overtime for a few months, and it's all coming at once with a bit of luck. This should help move things along.
I'm looking at tyres, I've gone through a set of Toyo P1R (PR1?)'s in 6,000 miles, so I'd like something a little better on wear.
The ZS had Continental's on it when it came, and they where excellent. When they were worn, they had more grip than the Toyo's ever had.
I'm looking at Pirelli's at the moment, I think I can get them for just over £100 a corner. I've also had Avon's recommended to me, so I'm keeping an eye out. Obviously, I want the best I can afford.
While she's up on stands I'll be taking the disks off and cleaning them up, I've got a set of Mintex pads to go on in an attempt to cure the horrendous brake fade I get after just a few minutes of hard driving.
Other than that, there are a few mods in the pipeline. One of my hoon buddies has a Civic Type R EP3, and it is comical how matched we are in a straight line. I want to beat him, so I'm looking at induction and exhaust options. An oil catch tank is needed, to stop oil fouling the motors on the variable inlet manifolds.
Then it's tax and MOT time..... Expensive few months, I may be better just selling the damn thing, which is what my head says, but my heart misses it. It's been nearly three weeks since I've driven the ZS, and that hurts a lot!
Right, had some time to get stuck in today!
I'm not mechanically minded. However, I have managed to change the track rod ends on my own, with much swearing and sawing....
Brake pads were a pain on the front, enlisted some help and have got them on. Rear pads I have not touched yet, it was the fronts where I was getting fade and I might send it to a garage for them, apparently I need a wind back tool due to the handbrake?
My tracking may need attention now, I'm sure I had the turns correct but I've got it wrong somehow.
The clutch.
The clutch is worse than it's ever been. Sitting on stands for a month or so has ruined it. The bite point is now millimeters from the floor, when it's cold I can hardly change gear, lord knows what it will be like hot.
I should just bite the bullet and get the damn thing changed, but it's £170~ for the clutch, £150~ for fitting....
Still, I should be back on the road in a week or so. I hope.
Forgot how much fun it is to boot a car like this though, forgot how fast and loud it is!!
I'm not mechanically minded. However, I have managed to change the track rod ends on my own, with much swearing and sawing....
Brake pads were a pain on the front, enlisted some help and have got them on. Rear pads I have not touched yet, it was the fronts where I was getting fade and I might send it to a garage for them, apparently I need a wind back tool due to the handbrake?
My tracking may need attention now, I'm sure I had the turns correct but I've got it wrong somehow.
The clutch.
The clutch is worse than it's ever been. Sitting on stands for a month or so has ruined it. The bite point is now millimeters from the floor, when it's cold I can hardly change gear, lord knows what it will be like hot.
I should just bite the bullet and get the damn thing changed, but it's £170~ for the clutch, £150~ for fitting....
Still, I should be back on the road in a week or so. I hope.
Forgot how much fun it is to boot a car like this though, forgot how fast and loud it is!!
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