MG ZS TD

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Discussion

Dimski

Original Poster:

2,099 posts

198 months

Monday 9th November 2009
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A pal has been running one for just over 2 years, and while always impressed by its handling, the performance has been.... Errr... Leisurely....

TBH, to me, if felt like it had about 70bhp rather than the 115ish it should have.

Meantime, he changed the MAFAM, tried to wind up the turbo a bit, and elaborated on plans which I suspected would never happen. smile

I picked up some SDI injectors for him, and they were fitted last week.


Now I could not have expected this. Car is standard, only SDI injectors fitted, and it out performed my ST TDCI. Without this turning into a '335d thread' full of daft perfomance figs, he went from 30-50 in 5.6 and 50-70 in 9.1, to 3.4 and 5.0 respectively.

My Mondy only manged 3.4 and 5.1. While I hoped the injectors would sort it out, I never expected that level of improvement! He's rather smug right now.

MGJohn

10,203 posts

182 months

Thursday 12th November 2009
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Not really surprised... Like most MG-R products, always under estimated by many.

I suspect that car, prior to the fitments you have described, was under par for some reason and so could have benefitted from a careful onceover to ensure all was as it should be. I had the very similar 2.0 Turbo Diesel TD in my Rover 600 Diesel I bought sometime ago when fuel prices went potty. That was no slouch as many drivers of similar sized engined more modern cars will readily confirm. Here I include petrol cars for comparison. I suspect that something was not right with that MGZS TD previously.

You mention handling.

The MS ZS, in all it's various forms, has very fine handling for what is after all an ordinary production car. Have tried several and I believe with the 1.8 ZS, they came up with a near perfect handling package. Be that by luck or good deliberate design judgement I do not know, but it does handle and brake well.

I bought mine new in 2003. A 120+ with the 1.8 K-Series. Car is still a delight to drive and the first car in many years that my better half actually enthuses about driving ... Still drives like new over six years and 45,000 miles later. I bought it as a family runaround and it does that perfectly. As mainly driven by my better half, she gets close to Diesel consumption figures anyway ... and she does not hang about ... quite the opposite.
...

Dimski

Original Poster:

2,099 posts

198 months

Friday 13th November 2009
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Point was about the improvement in the car.

It must be pushing near 135ish bhp now, 20 up on standard... Impressive increase. (If it was standard, I really, really doubt it would have matched the ST, which is pretty decent itself in the midrange.)

As for the rest of the car, while I couldn't claim the interior is the same quality as the Golf etc, it appears to be just as well built (Honestly? Maybe better, I know of a few mk4 golfs that were falling apart after 60k). Approx 95k, no rattles, nothing falling off, seats still supportive and the bolsters look unworn...

And, as you say, for the base MG models there really isn't any competition. While there is competition for the ZS180 (clio 172, st170, Type R etc) the base model MGs come with the same handling, but less power. What can you compare it with? Focus CL? Golf 1.6S? Astra CDTI? None of these drive like their sportier model versions, the MGs do. Brilliant.

Spelling edit

Edited by Dimski on Friday 13th November 11:35

MGJohn

10,203 posts

182 months

Friday 13th November 2009
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Yes, in all it's forms the MG ZS is a nice means of getting about.

A number of enthusiasts on the other Rover/MG sites I visit ( XpowerF ~ MG-Rover.org and above all Rovertech.net ) have fitted Rover's T16 Turbocharged engine to MG ZS. As the ZS shell is a strengthened version of the 400/420 Rovers, many of which were fitted with the normally aspirated version of Rover's T16, a cheap donor car will provide all the engine mounts and other bits and bobs making the turbocharged transplant upgrade reasonably straightforward. Rover's T16 Turbo in bog standard form is 200ps.... with some upgrades more is available, depending on size of finances huge outputs are possible with stronger internals.

I waited and waited back around 2001 for MG-R to come out with a Turbo ZS to fit between the 120 and 180 cars... it never appeared so I got a 120+ in 2003 which we still have. The y did put the Turbo K-Series in the ZT and R75, not the ZS!

Early MG ZS can be picked up for relatively little money now and as I have a couple of good spare T16 Turbo engines laying about .... I am tempted ... smile
..

grahamw48

9,944 posts

237 months

Saturday 14th November 2009
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I've had a Rover 400SLDi (in which I covered 100,000 trouble-free miles), a 200SDi, and my current MGZS 115+ diesel.

She wasn't registered until 2006, has 50,000+ miles now, and being added to at about 750 miles a week.

55mpg is about the normal consumption, and I get mileage allowance, so that's pretty good for my wallet. wink

I've recently had the belts done, and when I've time and can find someone to do the work I'll get her upgraded to 140/150bhp.

Although the Rover 400 had less power, it was nicer to drive because of the way the power was delivered over a wider spread of revs.
It could be that there is a fault on this ZS though, as the power seems to cut off so quickly at pretty low revs.

Yes, the handling on these cars is fantastic, and even as standard there is 192ft/lbs of torque to play with. smile

I'm looking for some quieter running tyres, as the ones that came with the car are very noisy and tramline badly, which spoils things.

I have work colleagues who are running Golf diesels, and their cars seem to have constant(and expensive) problems.

The ZS diesels are vastly underrated IMO...but keeps prices down for those in the know. biggrin



Turkey

380 posts

183 months

Monday 23rd November 2009
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Have you ruled out a MAF problem Graham? This often causes a lack of low down grunt, then a sudden surge of power at about 2500rpm, compared to from 1750rpm onwards, which is where the power should kick in.

grahamw48

9,944 posts

237 months

Monday 23rd November 2009
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Hi Tim.

I think the power IS coming in at maybe 1750 or so (very little below that), but really cuts off markedly at 3,000rpm whereas my old Rover seemed to go on revving forever, while still delivering the goods.

Perhaps it's just the difference between the earlier and later engine set-ups, meaning rapid gear changes to keep in the power band on the 115. I'm not enjoying it.

I'm desperate to get it sorted and upgraded, and basically know what is required, but using it about 8 hours a day for work as I do, it's just finding the time. rolleyes

Just replaced the tyres with Falken ZE 912s, and wow...what a difference !
Quiet running and superb grip, as it should be.
- Now want better power even more. banghead

Driving a car with less than 150bhp is against my religion. hehe





Edited by grahamw48 on Tuesday 24th November 22:37

Turkey

380 posts

183 months

Tuesday 24th November 2009
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Sounds very much like a split intercooler pipe, listen out for a whooshing noise and look for smoke in the rear view mirror. The car should pull up to the red line with a little bit of urgency as standard, well in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear anyway, 4th and 5th take longer of course. A new pipe is about £35 from an ex MG Rover dealer who still does parts, Rimmer Brothers or an XPart dealer.

If you want about 140-150bhp, the easiest way is to fit a set of injectors from one of the earlier models (like the 200/400/600 Diesels), the so called 'SDi injectors'.

With these fitted you will notice a big difference in power, but you will lose a few mpg's, especially if you use the new found power.

Best to fix the low power after 3000rpm problem before tuning though.

grahamw48

9,944 posts

237 months

Tuesday 24th November 2009
quotequote all
Thanks Tim.

Yes, I've got clued up on SDi injectors, etc, and the plan is to go down that route...not bothered about losing a few mpg. 40 would do me, to be honest. smile

I've looked at the pipes and can't see anything obvious. No odd noises and certainly no smoke ( not like the old 400 hehe) ).

I WILL get it sorted - just finding the time...or an expert who'll just do it in a few hours at a reasonable price. Been used to TVR costs for the past few years, so MG mods seem pretty cheap. biggrin

oO0 Huffy 0Oo

14 posts

172 months

Thursday 26th November 2009
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Hey Folks..... nice to see my little car is causing such interest!

Just to fill you all in, I've got the wingy de-cat and a BNC air filter, oh and the rover ron mafam. and am stuck to the road with eagle F1's

Dimski, thankyou for being soooo nice nice about Monty, am a little surprised as you'd never say all that to my face! lol

Might i sugest that the injector mods are an absolute must for any ZS TD owner as well as the maf and anf the decat, am going to sourse a better air filter soon, as a panel filter is to restricted, a green cotton one seems to be the next step smile then a reidy remap smile will keep any one updated if they like smile

Huffy


Dimski

Original Poster:

2,099 posts

198 months

Thursday 26th November 2009
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Soooooo..... Apparently I lied, and the car has one or two other mods!

Good to see you on here Huffy! wavey

Add Pics to my cars. (and Anna's too, should make you popular in this sub forum.)

that'll be a first for you hehe

oO0 Huffy 0Oo

14 posts

172 months

Wednesday 26th January 2011
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Ok... So heres a little update...


ZS 180 Brakes all round, Ketrell Kevlar Clutch, Roose Motorsport Turbo Pipes, turbo running 19psi, and yoko prada spec 2's




Full stainless system on the 5th of feb...


Oh, and this was fun to fit :P


Mike 820

569 posts

186 months

Wednesday 26th January 2011
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Nice Boost gauge mod. Sits quite nicely I think! smile

Dimski

Original Poster:

2,099 posts

198 months

Wednesday 26th January 2011
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Nice mounting there Paul!

The exhaust fitting should also sort that rattle its always had! smile

Such a good car the ZS.



Can I make fun of your brake calipers now? wink

oO0 Huffy 0Oo

14 posts

172 months

Thursday 27th January 2011
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You can... if you like, but if you do, i may have to put up a post about your Jag!!

Dimski

Original Poster:

2,099 posts

198 months

Thursday 27th January 2011
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Fair enough.


You win! hehe

grahamw48

9,944 posts

237 months

Friday 4th February 2011
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Holy thread revival. biggrin

Reference my previous posts....hehe...I fitted a new mafam to my car, and yes the performance was transformed.

MUST get off my arse and fit those SD injectors now, especially after seeing those impressive results above. eek

oO0 Huffy 0Oo

14 posts

172 months

Monday 7th February 2011
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Indeed... get of your ass and get them SDI's fitted!


this is the latest addition, Custom system built by AAS in Newcastle



Dimski

Original Poster:

2,099 posts

198 months

Monday 7th February 2011
quotequote all
That's a great looking mod. One of your best I think.

I love the way its removable, if only the twin point could be better hidden!

oO0 Huffy 0Oo

14 posts

172 months

Tuesday 8th February 2011
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what cost 20k and goes brum brum ... stop, engine management light!