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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - So Tell us about your 'ZED'

Good evening everybody
I thought that it would be interesting if we could share our stories about the new Z cars. You know a sort of owners report. I afraid that I don't as yet own a "Zed", but my uncle does. Hers what we think so far:-

ZS 180 in silver, four door with the "Boeing" option on the boot lid. Just finished 4,500 miles. The bad news is the interior is not holding up, many car magazines have criticised both the quality of trim and the high driving position. We have to agree, the leather inserts are creased and wearing fast. We wish there was a way of lowering the seat but there is none we can think of. (Rover must do something here).

The engine is a happier story, lots of grunt over 3,500 rpm. Indeed the cars mid-range is very impressive. 30-70 mph in 6.7 secs is like Porsche numbers and the noise! We just love that V6 howl, yes the Fuel costs are higher than most but he was expecting that.

What we did not expect is the High oil loss. May be loss is the wrong word, over the first 1500 miles you needed to keep a close eye on the dip stick. No oil leak and by 2000 miles the high consumption had pasted, has everyone had the same thing happen to them?

The ABS is very keen trigger and the brakes do seem to be off a bit but the rest of the car is sound enough. So far I have seen very few "ZEDS" about the place, indeed I was surprised to see that MGR have only sold 1500 ZTs (Autocar numbers).

If anyone would like to tell all on their "Zed" please do. I would be very grateful if Rob from Yorkshire would like to explain just how he managed to reprogram his ZR160 to "Police spec". I will keep you all informed on any developments.

Cheers
Mick.
Mick

Mick

Take a look at my Forum, there are a few owners of ZS's who write regurarly. If you sign into the Forum, then you will be able to buy XPower regalia as of next weekend at probably the most competative price around. If you find cheaper let me know!

Also, have a look at this page of the main site for ZS specific - http://www.xpower-mg.com/MG%20ZS.htm
Jerry Flint

For my running report see the latest issue of MG World!..

No major problems or grumbles!!

Went to Santa Pod today raceway hopeful of getting some standing 1/4 figures, but alas the weather beat us and the organisers!
On the return trip, had a blast on the Higham Ferrars - St Neots Rd :-)
Flashed and got a response back from a Silver ZS180 in St Neots!

Met a very friendly MGF owner who's car was blue like my ZS, his F was from the same dealer in Seffield as my ZS and the registration number was just a few digits different to mine!!

Managed to get some pix of the two cars, but sadly not on the strip side by as we had hoped for.

Kelvin
Kelvin

Thanks Jerry
I love the web site, Keep it up!

By the way do you run an MGF 160? If so you need to chat to Rob. He found a way to get more low down power from his engine by having it put into "Police mode" what ever that is.

Thanks Kevin
There mat be a story for you in this "Police mode" thing from Rob.
Cheers.
Mick.
Mick

Mick

<<<<<<<<<<By the way do you run an MGF 160? If so you need to chat to Rob. He found a way to get more low down power from his engine by having it put into "Police mode" what ever that is.>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I would be very interested to find out more about this mod! However, I don't always check all these sub forums!

JF
Jerry Flint

> The ABS is very keen trigger and the brakes do seem
> to be off a bit

I don't find the ABS on my ZS180 to intrusive but I do find the brake pedal a little spongey. May look into fitting braided hoses to firm up the pedal a bit. Does anyone know if anyone is making a set for the ZS yet?

S.
Steve H

er is it me, but hasn't anybody else spotted the fact that Mick is Mega? or am I just paranoid (who's that looking at me).
ProMGR

> but hasn't anybody else spotted the fact that Mick
> is Mega?

You may well be right. However, his tone is far more considered than the Mega of old - not to mention far more restrained on the subject of seats! While this continues to be the case, I will continue, on occasion, to contribute. If Mick's posts deteriorate to the level of Mega's, I shall stop.

S.
Steve H

No, can't possibly be Mega, the spelling is correct.

I think we should report ProMGR for abuse. Unfounded suggestions that someone is Mega is surely worse than suggsting they own a BMW...

Cheers

Patrick
Patrick

hi all, re the "police mode", when a new car is sold it goes into the garage workshop for an inspection,etc.
On rovers/ mgs the cars need setting up on the testbook, which is basically a laptop computer.
Each model has its own disk which is used to download into the cars ecu via a cable under the dash.
This download basically sets up the car to the appropriate market, ie europe, japan, etc where the emmisions can vary (hence different settings).
On the screen of the test book are a number of options which the mechanic choose to program the ecu, and on that screen is the "police mode" option.
Apparantly if a customer complains about poor performance then the garage can program this for them, takes literaly 5 mins.
Will be going to a rolling road on sun 3rd feb so will find out if its altered the power output from 157bhp or if its just the torque/ power curve.

re the seat bolsters, the leather on mine creased after 2 days (and i climb over them to sit in the seat)

after 1800 miles the oil level had dropped to min

2 weeks after sorting the rattles out they have returned :-(

Rob
rob

Check out this link to Steve Childs webs site to see the long sad story of my ZS, still more episodes to come!

http://www.mg-rover.org/forum/viewtopic.php?TopicID=51

Its now spent more time at various dealers than it has with me!
Climber

Whoops that didn't work did it :0)


Look at http://www.mg-rover.org under forums, Ask Dave, Panel Alignment and heater problems.
Climber

I have done 2000 miles in my ZR160 now and like Rob the rattles have started to return, although the tip I got about the back seat rattles worked. This was to put some white grease on the lugs of the back seat catches (tip from the guys at the garage). The other hot tip was how to remove tar spots, brake dust and make the alloys easier to clean. This was to use autoglym Extra gloss protestion on the wheels. Not only does it make the dust with a wet spong, but it also wipes off brake dust, as does traffic film remover.
I finally have my passinger side sil extension bonded on now, however i have noticed the beginings of a leaking (oil?) cylinder head gasket around cylinder 2 at the front of the engine. Like Rob the oil consumption has increased although I have not hit the minimum mark yet.
The other problem I have is that I can not get hold of the CD Autochanger bracket for the boot. Which is frustrating since I have a changer sat in its box staring at me on top of the wardrobe... Hopefully my man at the garage may still get a bracket. The are in sort supply at MGR.
Nigel

No wet spong jokes please !

Should have read the dust wipes off with a wet sponge !!
nigel

Nigel, glad i'm not the only one paranoid about rattles, any polish works well on alloys - i use Mer.

part number for cd brackets
RXQU100700
RXQU100710
the 2 brackets bolt together, dont know why it couldn't be 1 dig bracket?

i've wrapped insulating tape round the catch brackets, didn't work :-(

although i've lost a lot of oil there seems to be no trace of a leak - on the engine or on the ground

Rob
rob

Rob I try the insulating tape but I found it made matters worst. The tip about using a white grease, (in my case I had some lithum based bicycle grease from halfords) came from a chat I had with the guys at the main dealers, who used this on the Rover 25/200. It does not silent the rattle completely but it does may quite a difference. I have come to the conclusion that the best way of hiding the rattles is to fit the CD changer !

When the car goes in for the cylinder head gasket I will see what I can find out about 'Police Mode'.
nigel

This thread was discussed between 27/01/2002 and 30/01/2002

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