My MG ZS

[Brodz]

No, not that one - anyone hoping to read about a compact SUV will be sorely disappointed.

Hi all,
I'm a long time reader of PH but have never dared to post in the forums. I'd always thought of doing a Readers' Cars thread of some of my more interesting cars but didn't think anyone would be interested - that may still be the case but nevertheless I'd like to introduce my new (to me) daily....



It's a 'base' model MG ZS 110, so...
• 1.6 K Series
• Keep-fit windows
• No air-con
• and I b**dy love it

I've always liked MG's and Rovers ever since being run over by my then girlfriends' mum in her Rover Sterling. They also had a Metro GTi - which was the first car I ever drove - and a 200.

My daily has been a company car for the last 12 years or so but a recent change in job meant I had to find my own transport. The requirements were simple...
• Sub £2,000 purchase price
• Not financially ruinous
• Relatively interesting
• Not more than 100 miles away
... I've fished in this pool before but couldn't believe just how expensive things had become, and how little this sort of budget gets you up here in the North East of Scotland. After viewing all sorts of rusty relics the decision was made, at the pub one Friday night (always the best place for such decisions), to broaden the search and this advert was spotted....



.....a mere 400 or so miles away in Lincoln. Still, I needed transport and had time to kill so, on the strength of a phonecall and some messages from an honest sounding seller, a deal was struck.
A few days later I was off at 6am and after a walk, bus ride, train, another train, a run, and then another train I was greeted by the seller and his more-or-less-as-described MG ZS.

£1600 later and I was on my way back North:



And, much to both my surprise and delight, we made it home in the middle of the night without even the merest of hiccups - 400 miles of fault-free motoring. Here's hoping this level of reliability is the rule rather than an exception to it.

Back home and on further inspection the condition is remarkably good and free of the brown crusty stuff, no doubt helped by the car having spent 12 years in hibernation between 2008 and 2020. This period of inactivity also helps explain the low mileage which now stands at around 41,500. I understand that the car was bought new by the first owner then put into storage upon I'll health or an accident until, sadly, they passed away - this certainly makes sense when looking at the MOT history but not the number of owners on the V5 so more investigation is required.



The plan? Enjoy the car as a daily, really. Although having spent the past few weeks enjoying it I actually wonder if that's a bit hard on it. Ok it's no exotic supercar, nor even a fully-fledged classic, but there's not a great amount of these around now, and apparently only 9 of these basic 110 models left on the road....it's even got what I believe are the original dealer number plates; anyone familiar with the long defunct South Cleveland Garage?

I'd originally planned to fit an induction kit and a bigger exhaust to liberate a teeny bit more power and for a nicer sound, but have since gone off that idea and plan get it back to standard. That doesn't involve a lot of work but does mean removal of the many Union Flag badges it has accumulated over time. The 'ZS' badge is black and I believe this should be silver. I believe this one should also have a different rear bumper, more like the Rover 45 that this car is based on as I understand that the exhaust on these lower powered models should point downwards and below the rear bumper. (The exhaust on this one is correct but the bumper itself has the cutout for the bigger exhaust tip...and it's been hacked about to accommodate a towbar anyway).

The interior is all in a really nice original condition, bar the door cards which are peeling. And I'd really like a standard radio. And some mats.





I've never really been one for single-marque clubs but I'm toying with the idea of joining the MGCC or MGOC for parts and advice - I'd be very grateful for any info from current or past members on whether the £50 fee is worth it or not.

If you've made it this far then a big 'thank you'

Hopefully there's some love on PH for an old but not classic MG !

[littlebasher]

I never did understand why they put keep fit windows in a relatively modern, and outwardly spec'd up car.

Half leather seats too, makes no sense !

[MrGTI6]

These seem to have vanished rapidly over the last few years.

It's a shame, as they look great and handle really well. And aside from the well-documented head gasket issues, the K-Series is a terrific engine.

[Lincsls1]

Looks like a great example OP.

[DuncanM]

Love these, they have aged nicely, and I remember the handling being raved about at the time

[Watchthis]

That's a braw looking car, don't see any around anymore. Remember driving a rover 25 with a 1.4 k series, was bloody quick for what it was

[InitialDave]

Great cars, drive brilliantly, I had a 180 I really liked.

Have a really good nose around the front end for rust - jack points, up the inner arch, and the box section running up to the front panel. I could fit my fist through the holes in mine.

Clutch hydraulics are a disaster. Fit a "sheddist" kit or make your own.

DMGRS great for parts.

[Lanky Car Guy]

Lovely thing. Can't fault keep fit windows. Got a 1400 ZR on a 2004 with the same, as a weekend toy myself

[Brodz]

littlebasher said:

I never did understand why they put keep fit windows in a relatively modern, and outwardly spec'd up car.

Half leather seats too, makes no sense !

Very strange, as the mirrors are electric. The kids are amazed at the "window handles".
I'm not complaining - at this age and price bracket it's one less thing to go wrong.

[Brodz]

MrGTI6 said:

These seem to have vanished rapidly over the last few years.

It's a shame, as they look great and handle really well. And aside from the well-documented head gasket issues, the K-Series is a terrific engine.

I was originally looking for a saloon but soon found out I couldn't be too fussy - there are very few examples left and even less in good condition.
I came out of a Passat R-Line saloon so the handling of the MG is very direct and fun in comparison.
As for the engine, of all the receipts I have for the car there's not one for an upgraded head gasket .... currently the thinking is "if it ain't broke don't fix it" and keep a close eye on all the levels and tell-tale signs of the head gasket being on the way out. Currently it seems fine

[Brodz]

Lincsls1 said:

Looks like a great example OP.

Thanks! Initial impressions are that it's very tidy and the paintwork is generally really good. The engine bay could do with a tidy up if that's your sort of thing, but it's not so high on the to-do list.

[Brodz]

DuncanM said:

Love these, they have aged nicely, and I remember the handling being raved about at the time

I first drove one of these when working in the motor trade when they were a couple of years old and it's the handling I remembered - luckily it doesn't disappoint after all these years. If anything it's more fun than I remembered because my recent cars have all been a bit dull.

[Brodz]

Watchthis said:

That's a braw looking car, don't see any around anymore. Remember driving a rover 25 with a 1.4 k series, was bloody quick for what it was

Thank you you certainly don't see too many around - one of those cars that were everywhere and seem to have just disappeared overnight.

My girlfriends' mum that I mentioned in the initial post had a bubble-shaped 200 which, as a passenger, felt like a wee weapon on the B-roads of Aberdeenshire. Helped that she was quite the hustler.

[Brodz]

InitialDave said:

Great cars, drive brilliantly, I had a 180 I really liked.

Have a really good nose around the front end for rust - jack points, up the inner arch, and the box section running up to the front panel. I could fit my fist through the holes in mine.

Clutch hydraulics are a disaster. Fit a "sheddist" kit or make your own.

DMGRS great for parts.

We went to look at a 180 in Dundee - interestingly it had rotted in the same places as you mention. This one is really good underneath but the plan is for a good injection of wax and a fresh coating of underseal to keep it that way.

I hadn't heard of the clutch hydraulics being a problem (most people I spoke to only wanted to talk about head gasket failure) - is there anything specific to look out for?

[Brodz]

Lanky Car Guy said:

Lovely thing. Can't fault keep fit windows. Got a 1400 ZR on a 2004 with the same, as a weekend toy myself

Thanks really pleased so far
The ZR is another of those that seem to be disappearing fast - I see on your profile that you are thinking of making it into a track car; it would surely be huge fun on a track day...!!

[MrGTI6]

Brodz said:

MrGTI6 said:

These seem to have vanished rapidly over the last few years.

It's a shame, as they look great and handle really well. And aside from the well-documented head gasket issues, the K-Series is a terrific engine.

I was originally looking for a saloon but soon found out I couldn't be too fussy - there are very few examples left and even less in good condition.
I came out of a Passat R-Line saloon so the handling of the MG is very direct and fun in comparison.
As for the engine, of all the receipts I have for the car there's not one for an upgraded head gasket .... currently the thinking is "if it ain't broke don't fix it" and keep a close eye on all the levels and tell-tale signs of the head gasket being on the way out. Currently it seems fine

If you're mechanically sympathetic and keep a close eye on fluids, temperature gauge, etc., you should be fine. Just be prepared to act swiftly if you see any early warning signs!

When MG/Rovers were everywhere, they often fell into the wrong hands. Warning signs of head gasket failure were often ignored or in some cases probably went completely unnoticed, hence the early demise of so many K-Series-equipped cars.

Most of the survivors have reached a point now where their owners understand what to look out for, so hopefully numbers won't decline as rapidly as they did a few years ago!

I still miss my 200 BRM. Despite its many "quirks" it was an absolute joy to drive and went like a little rocket!

[InitialDave]

Brodz said:

I hadn't heard of the clutch hydraulics being a problem (most people I spoke to only wanted to talk about head gasket failure) - is there anything specific to look out for?

Assuming they're the same as the V6s, the issue is cheap, badly designed, plastic components, particularly the slave cylinder. They crack and divorce themselves from the mount, they have no facility for being bled through, and if you fix them, they will go again.

Honda Civic metal components fit with a custom bracket and hydraulic line, and are dirt cheap to replace if necessary.

Someone called "Sheddist" in the MG scene did the first conversion, you can either weld up your own modification to the standard bracket or just Google "sheddist clutch kit" and buy a copy from someone.

Disregard if yours is a different hydraulic design. Or it may already have been done.

[Plus8]

Join MGOC, quite a lot of love for these cars, although mainly post war MG’s, Midgets, B’s etc.
I would suggest MGCC caters mainly for older MG’s though not exclusively.
Plentiful spares and support and thriving local group meets if you like that sort of thing and a monthly glossy magazine. As a member, you may also find discounted insurance on offer.

[Lanky Car Guy]

Brodz said:

Lanky Car Guy said:

Lovely thing. Can't fault keep fit windows. Got a 1400 ZR on a 2004 with the same, as a weekend toy myself

Thanks really pleased so far
The ZR is another of those that seem to be disappearing fast - I see on your profile that you are thinking of making it into a track car; it would surely be huge fun on a track day...!!

I had one years ago, full track spec. Was easier then, as it was a 15k mile/3 year old car.

Now at 18yr old, bit fiddlier

[Mr Tidy]

That's a good looking car, especially in that colour.

I'm not sure why but I have a bit of a soft spot for Rover and MG products of that era! Maybe it's because my one and only company car in 1991 was a 1990 Rover 214SLI. Before that I had a 1990 Cavalier 1.8L and the Rover felt like a much better quality product.