Sight Unseen eBay MGTF

[K50 DEL]

So I'll never learn it seems.

The advert said he was going to scrap it if noone bought it by the end of the weekend... I had Friday off work... what would you do?

I'd been browsing the usual suspect places for a cheap summer convertible but everything I was finding was either miles away, a rusty wreck (or most often both!)
I hadn't totally settled on an MG (I was looking at MX5 and Z4 as well) I'm also very good at talking myself out of things if I think about them for too long!

Checking the MOT history of the car in question I could see nothing seriously offputting, so had a chat with the seller (a garage who'd taken it in px against a Range Rover so just wanted rid) and then negotiated a price we were both happy with.

I grabbed a train down there this morning to be greeted by an obviously currently unloved car, filthy dirty but importantly showing all the signs of being well cared for in the past - a huge history file, 4 matching Toyo proxes, only 2 owners from new etc etc.

A quick dose of tax and a handover of cash and I was on my way home.

|https://thumbsnap.com/1CLn5oGn[/url][url]

So what have I bought?

A 2004 (53) MGTF 135
93k miles
MOT until Dec
history shows prior head gasket and recent lower arms and sill welding

As with all used cars there are a few things to fix though.

Cambelt last changed in 2016 so that's overdue
blowers only work on speed 3 and 4
Throttle pedal is "sticky" feels like it doesn't depress / release smoothly
it's utterly filthy inside and needs a good polish outside too

Mostly it just needs driving lol

I'm aiming to not have to pay labour charges for normal maintenance on this, part of the reason for buying it is to learn a bit more about basic mechanics.
The cambelt will be a garage job though lol, I'm not that brave!

[hxc_]

Go on then, how much?

Walk past the one sitting in the MG... showroom? Office? in central london most days - feels a bit weird that it's still there!

[shalmaneser]

hxc_ said:

Go on then, how much?

Walk past the one sitting in the MG... showroom? Office? in central london most days - feels a bit weird that it's still there!

By green park tube I think? Got a big dent on the rear quarter too. Feels like it's from a different century (I guess it is...).

[K50 DEL]

hxc_ said:

Go on then, how much?

Walk past the one sitting in the MG... showroom? Office? in central london most days - feels a bit weird that it's still there!

£797 of your finest earth pounds lol

According to the extensive history the last MOT and 4 tyres cost more than that!

[AlecT]

Well done, looks like a good buy, the cam belt is very straight forward 2-3 hours max, I have done it twice.

[Roboticarm]

Always had a soft spot for these, yours looks like a bargain, well done

[crofty1984]

K50 DEL said:

So I'll never learn it seems.

The advert said he was going to scrap it if noone bought it by the end of the weekend... I had Friday off work... what would you do?

I'd been browsing the usual suspect places for a cheap summer convertible but everything I was finding was either miles away, a rusty wreck (or most often both!)
I hadn't totally settled on an MG (I was looking at MX5 and Z4 as well) I'm also very good at talking myself out of things if I think about them for too long!

Checking the MOT history of the car in question I could see nothing seriously offputting, so had a chat with the seller (a garage who'd taken it in px against a Range Rover so just wanted rid) and then negotiated a price we were both happy with.

I grabbed a train down there this morning to be greeted by an obviously currently unloved car, filthy dirty but importantly showing all the signs of being well cared for in the past - a huge history file, 4 matching Toyo proxes, only 2 owners from new etc etc.

A quick dose of tax and a handover of cash and I was on my way home.

|https://thumbsnap.com/1CLn5oGn[/url][url]

So what have I bought?

A 2004 (53) MGTF 135
93k miles
MOT until Dec
history shows prior head gasket and recent lower arms and sill welding

As with all used cars there are a few things to fix though.

Cambelt last changed in 2016 so that's overdue
blowers only work on speed 3 and 4
Throttle pedal is "sticky" feels like it doesn't depress / release smoothly
it's utterly filthy inside and needs a good polish outside too

Mostly it just needs driving lol

I'm aiming to not have to pay labour charges for normal maintenance on this, part of the reason for buying it is to learn a bit more about basic mechanics.
The cambelt will be a garage job though lol, I'm not that brave!

The throttle will be the cable, easily replaced in an hour or two. Don't mistakenly get a LHD one. It's longer and you can make it fit, but it doesn't improve things as all the snaking about adds too much friction. Trust me, I've done the research!

[Mr Tidy]

That looks like a bit of cheap summer fun!

Good luck improving it with some TLC.

[Nickp82]

Royal Blue, nice. I’m intrigued to know how you reached the figure of £797 when negotiating with the dealer, must have been some intense back and forth!

[OEMster]

Lovely car OP, what else could be that much fun for less than £800?? These must eventually go up in value as they can’t be getting any cheaper!

[Thebaggers]

Cracking bargains these. I have had a few 160s. Cheapest was £800!

The cambelts arent too bad to do, the 160VVC has an extra one for the variable cam timing, but it is fairly straightforward. You do need an 18mm socket which never usually comes in sets.

[K50 DEL]

Nickp82 said:

Royal Blue, nice. I’m intrigued to know how you reached the figure of £797 when negotiating with the dealer, must have been some intense back and forth!

Funny story there... I didn't check the notes that the cashpoint dispensed and it turned out it stiffed me a tenner (since refunded by the bank)
The actual agreed price was £800 but I only had £7 in shrapnel plus what I'd taken out of the ATM on the way. Luckily the seller saw the funny side and let it slide lol

[WelshPetrolhead]

The heater is most likely the resistor pack. Had to do one on my old 25. Easily sourced online for cheap, and if its like the 25, easy to change. It lives behind the glove box.

EDIT - My 25 was Royal Blue too. Really nice colour polished up in the sun.

[Cambs_Stuart]

Great buy! Good luck with it.

[APontus]

I think the styling has aged well on these, especially the facelift. Great buy.

[K50 DEL]

Thanks for all the positive replies.

Unfortunately I seem to have jinxed the weather and it's now raining so my plans to clean the car to within an inch of its life have had to be put on hold.

Instead I'll get back on eBay and see what upgrades I can buy 🤣

[ggdrew]

.... I'll offer 750
No i need 800 for it
... whadabout 775
I really do need 800
... OK, I can do 780
I put a new battery on it
... OK, so we're saying 790 then?
still not quite there
...FFS I'm not going to a 800!
Listen I'll take 797, but I'm not happy ...

[SlowStig]

Another MG F/TF on the forums!

Looks like you have a nice example there, with all the service history as well that is a bonus!

Cambelt is nice and easy (I actually did one last night at about 10pm..), invest in a cam locking tool and just take your time really. From memory you will need;
8mm, 10mm, 13mm, 15mm, 17mm and 22mm sockets & spanners
Cam locking tool - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/250845173637?hash=item3...

Happy to offer any advice, done plenty with mine over the last few years so know them pretty well now!

[miken2k8]

I had an mgf in tahiti blue r reg last year paid 350 was a pretty car good on fuel nice little vvc engine. forgot it was a classic car ran it into the ground within a few months and scrapped it lol. Felt bad tbh

[MightyBadger]

Great little cars, I found they handle really well on the twisty coastal roads of the uk. Enjoy.