2004 MG ZT260SE Saloon
Discussion
Update would be a strong word, but I have got some bits for the car.
Got some owners' club produced handbrake cables, despite the compensator being changed and giving the drums a once-over the handbrake is still not very good. I figure my OEM cables are a bit worn out. The ones the club had made are of a stronger cable, so shouldn't stretch over time and hopefully I won't need the hand-Brick to keep the car from rolling down the drive!!
Now have my spare set of wheels in, ready for winter tyres to be put on. Didn't have a great deal of trouble in the snow, even less with snow socks on, but had enough moments to convince me a set of winter wheels and tyres would be a great idea.
Went for the same size alloys, in the other design that I like, I figure the insurance company will be less fussy if I keep the same tyre sizes on.
As for the original fit Apex alloys, they are badly in need of a refurb. They were a bit scruffy in places when I bought the car, and managed to catch them in the snow too. The car's hardly a show-pony with an immaculate exterior, but I'd like the wheels done, not least because they are very hard to come by now.
Hopefully can get them done on my next 10-day rest period from work.
All else is well though, actually very pleasantly surprised at how well the tyres are lasting. My fronts were new on the car when I bought it, and are still legal now 16 months later. Pity they're not much cop, especially in the wet! They're close enough now that a pair of Kumhos are on the way, to match the pair on the back.
Got some owners' club produced handbrake cables, despite the compensator being changed and giving the drums a once-over the handbrake is still not very good. I figure my OEM cables are a bit worn out. The ones the club had made are of a stronger cable, so shouldn't stretch over time and hopefully I won't need the hand-Brick to keep the car from rolling down the drive!!
Now have my spare set of wheels in, ready for winter tyres to be put on. Didn't have a great deal of trouble in the snow, even less with snow socks on, but had enough moments to convince me a set of winter wheels and tyres would be a great idea.
Went for the same size alloys, in the other design that I like, I figure the insurance company will be less fussy if I keep the same tyre sizes on.
As for the original fit Apex alloys, they are badly in need of a refurb. They were a bit scruffy in places when I bought the car, and managed to catch them in the snow too. The car's hardly a show-pony with an immaculate exterior, but I'd like the wheels done, not least because they are very hard to come by now.
Hopefully can get them done on my next 10-day rest period from work.
All else is well though, actually very pleasantly surprised at how well the tyres are lasting. My fronts were new on the car when I bought it, and are still legal now 16 months later. Pity they're not much cop, especially in the wet! They're close enough now that a pair of Kumhos are on the way, to match the pair on the back.
pmessling said:
Get them wheels off asap, they where never approved for the 260 because of not being strong enough for the torque. Whilst i guess ok for very easy driving not for anything else.
How do you figure that? Most cars go quicker 60-0 than 0-60, so more torque is applied under braking than acceleration. The front brakes on the 260 are as far as I know the same as those on the 190, so the peak torque load on the wheels will be pretty much identical bar any difference the extra weight makes. pmessling said:
Get them wheels off asap, they where never approved for the 260 because of not being strong enough for the torque. Whilst i guess ok for very easy driving not for anything else.
Bought them for winter tyres not hooning so I doubt they'll be seeing much torque, but definitely something I'll look into and rectify if needed, thanks for the heads-up!
Very smart looking in black!Benbay001 said:
There is an MG parked near my nan and grandads house. They always comment on how the owner is always washing/polishing/working on it.
I think it may be a ZT260. How do i tell? I dont intend to wait around for the guy to start it up.
Quad exhausts and V8 badges on the wings. May be other signs that someone more in the know can tell you. I think it may be a ZT260. How do i tell? I dont intend to wait around for the guy to start it up.
Benbay001 said:
There is an MG parked near my nan and grandads house. They always comment on how the owner is always washing/polishing/working on it.
I think it may be a ZT260. How do i tell? I dont intend to wait around for the guy to start it up.
Couple of waysI think it may be a ZT260. How do i tell? I dont intend to wait around for the guy to start it up.
Quad exhausts
Calipers to the rear of the disc at the front
Really really big rear discs (i.e. bigger than the front)
V8 badges (duh)
Little "wings" underneath the bumper on each side
No cubbyhole in front of the gearstick (much larger transmission tunnel so no room for it)
Dashboard will have a V8 badge underneath the clock (in other ZT's there'd be a HVAC control but the V8's use a different system so you get a blanking plug instead).
Update to add - although Hairpsins aren't type approved for the V8, I've yet to find a good reason why they can't be used. I'd geuss that it's simply a bureaucracy thing because they were never standard V8 fit. Unless anyone can show me any evidance as to why you can't use them?
My CDTi (on Hairpins) has pretty much the same amouunt of torque the V8 (less than 10ft/lb in it), and the same front braking system (in fact mines a little upgraded over the standard V8 setup) and my Hairpins have yet to explode...
EDIT - The FWD ZT's could come with any of the ZT wheels, although on MK1's Hairpins were usually fitted to the "lower" models (115, 135, 160, 180), with the lowest (120) getting the Mirage wheels nad the most expensive (190) getting the Straights wheels. When the V8 came along, it got Straights as standard on the MK1.
My CDTi (on Hairpins) has pretty much the same amouunt of torque the V8 (less than 10ft/lb in it), and the same front braking system (in fact mines a little upgraded over the standard V8 setup) and my Hairpins have yet to explode...
EDIT - The FWD ZT's could come with any of the ZT wheels, although on MK1's Hairpins were usually fitted to the "lower" models (115, 135, 160, 180), with the lowest (120) getting the Mirage wheels nad the most expensive (190) getting the Straights wheels. When the V8 came along, it got Straights as standard on the MK1.
Edited by Jakg on Thursday 18th April 20:02
Jakg said:
Update to add - although Hairpsins aren't type approved for the V8, I've yet to find a good reason why they can't be used. I'd geuss that it's simply a bureaucracy thing because they were never standard V8 fit. Unless anyone can show me any evidance as to why you can't use them?
My CDTi (on Hairpins) has pretty much the same amouunt of torque the V8 (less than 10ft/lb in it), and the same front braking system (in fact mines a little upgraded over the standard V8 setup) and my Hairpins have yet to explode...
EDIT - The FWD ZT's could come with any of the ZT wheels, although on MK1's Hairpins were usually fitted to the "lower" models (115, 135, 160, 180), with the lowest (120) getting the Mirage wheels nad the most expensive (190) getting the Straights wheels. When the V8 came along, it got Straights as standard on the MK1.
Could be the wet mass, dare say the V8 is heavier than other ZTs so maybe the wheels are a bit spindly to cope?My CDTi (on Hairpins) has pretty much the same amouunt of torque the V8 (less than 10ft/lb in it), and the same front braking system (in fact mines a little upgraded over the standard V8 setup) and my Hairpins have yet to explode...
EDIT - The FWD ZT's could come with any of the ZT wheels, although on MK1's Hairpins were usually fitted to the "lower" models (115, 135, 160, 180), with the lowest (120) getting the Mirage wheels nad the most expensive (190) getting the Straights wheels. When the V8 came along, it got Straights as standard on the MK1.
Edited by Jakg on Thursday 18th April 20:02
Benbay001 said:
There is an MG parked near my nan and grandads house. They always comment on how the owner is always washing/polishing/working on it.
I think it may be a ZT260. How do i tell? I dont intend to wait around for the guy to start it up.
Most obvious is quad exhausts, may have been de-badged but due to expense I doubt anyone would hunt down a 260 bumper just to tart up their regular ZTI think it may be a ZT260. How do i tell? I dont intend to wait around for the guy to start it up.
Scourge151 said:
Most obvious is quad exhausts, may have been de-badged but due to expense I doubt anyone would hunt down a 260 bumper just to tart up their regular ZT
There is a 160 turbo with the 75 V8 grille on my dad's road, looks friggin awesome! For sale too.Bizarrely badged as ZT-T on the wings despite being a saloon.
Scourge151 said:
The big audi-style grill the V8 has?
Sorry, it appears I'm talking b
ks.There are plenty of cars with the premium bumper about these days, but it was never an option at the factory for the cars. MG ZT 260s got a smaller grille.
Edited by SebastienClement on Tuesday 23 April 19:48
SebastienClement said:
Yuss. Not all V8s have it at all!
Well, well, well. Learn something new every day!Checked on the two-sixties forum, you were quite right about the wheels, never approved by MG-Rover for the V8s due to the torque.
Stuck with them for another day or two until my Apex's are refurbed so I have been driving as little as possible and keeping it away from peak torque until then, allowing myself a max of 2000 revs.
Plenty for going about legally, and doing wonders for my mpg!
Scourge151 said:
Well, well, well. Learn something new every day!
Checked on the two-sixties forum, you were quite right about the wheels, never approved by MG-Rover for the V8s due to the torque.
Stuck with them for another day or two until my Apex's are refurbed so I have been driving as little as possible and keeping it away from peak torque until then, allowing myself a max of 2000 revs.
Plenty for going about legally, and doing wonders for my mpg!
Sorry, see my amended post. I didn't get it right at all!Checked on the two-sixties forum, you were quite right about the wheels, never approved by MG-Rover for the V8s due to the torque.
Stuck with them for another day or two until my Apex's are refurbed so I have been driving as little as possible and keeping it away from peak torque until then, allowing myself a max of 2000 revs.
Plenty for going about legally, and doing wonders for my mpg!
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