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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - ZR to get Ford gearbox

My MG dealer tells me that the ZR is now being fitted with Ford gearboxes. Could this lead to a 6 speed bought off the shelf item around the corner? Or maybe a stronger gearbox to cope with a turbo K series for the ZR? Or is this just a cost saving excercise?

Martin
Martin Woods

I'd say it was a sign of closer co-operation between F**d and MG, don't forget K series engines go in the other direction. Also MG I imagine are working very hard to replace every German-sourced part left from the bad old BMW days....
David

Unless it is a diesel, the ZR uses the K series engine. This means it is likely to be mated to the PG1 gearbox.

PG1 gearbox was a joint Honda / Rover project and has been around for ages, Quaiffe already do a 6 speed and a sequential gearbox conversion for it.

However, this does not mean that what you heard isn't true Martin, afterall the Freelander also uses the 1.8K and that is now Ford owned so there is a link between the powertrain and the two companies, there is also a reason for Ford to develop a gearbox that is compatible with the 1.8K (doing it in-house means they don't have to buy gearboxes from MGR).

This and the fact that there are rumours of a production 6 speed gearbox in the pipeline does lend some credibility to your dealers statement.

Interesting.

SF
Scarlet Fever

David WROTE:

>> Also MG I imagine are working very hard to replace every German-sourced part left from the bad old BMW days.... <<

I hope so. Soon after taking delivery of our new ZS a week or so back, my Hawkeye son Martin spotted several items under the bonnet with the alien BMW logo on them ... DOH! He was a little upset to discover this. Datsa my boy ... LOL ...:O)

JMcF
John McFeely

Where are these BMW badges? I've looked but cannot find any in my ZS 120+
Rob

Ford V8, now possibly Ford gearboxes. BMW badged parts, Honda switchgear.........
I suppose the body work is made out of 57 baked bean cans from Heinz?
Martin

Mg rover cars are already coming through with the ford gearbox at dealership level. The gearbox has replaced both the PG1 and the R65 box on all rover and mg cars apart from the tf.
ricky

Ricky,

Does that mean my three week old ZS120 has a Ford box? Not a bad action ..... not as good as my Monty Turbos mit Qvikshifter though ... :O))

JMcF
John McFeely

The plot thickens.

The former BL subsidiary LDV are also cosying up to the blue oval to an increasing degree. They now offer an extended range of Ford engines in the Convoy Models now availiable with the 70 and 90ps versions of the Ford Di unit, and the LPG derivatives feature the adapted DOHC petrol unit which they exhumed from the Sierra grave for them.
Dave

As part of Ford recent cost cutting exercises did they not merge all there European transmission business with ZF/Gertag or someone?

If MG Rover buy a Gertag built gearbox (or who ever Ford merged with) would they really be buying a Ford unit?

As for LDV they for years used the L series diesel and Rover V8, some years ago they asked Land Rover to supply the 5 cylinder Storm diesel unit but were amazed at the cost and instead opted for Ford and PSA engines.

If MG Rover would buy the soon to be discarded Storm unit and develop the 4 and 6 cylinder versions that so very nearly made it to production they could begin to cultivate a business relationship with LDV.
Dash

mg rover are still using pg1 in the larger engined cars ie zr 160, zs120,zs180,20l turbo diesel 25 and 45 hope this puts the record straight as we workers at powertrain pg1 do exist you know. the ford getrag boxes go in the smaller engined vehicles up to 1.6
gazza

Concur with Gazza and to put the whole thing in perspective is that R65 was supplied by Midland Gears, a company set up and owned by BMW when it retained the R65 gearbox section of what was then the Powertrain part of Rover for Mini supply.

High BMW costings for this box, and in the not too distant future the gearbox would have been discontinued anyway, so an alternative was needed. The costing element meant that this change was sorted sooner so that some cost savings could be gained in the production process. The Getrag made 5 speed gearbox is to the Ford spec and you will see the Ford oval and logo cast into some of the main parts. I have not driven one yet so I can't comment on the change quality and general feedback from the change.

Rog
Roger Parker

This thread was discussed between 05/06/2003 and 25/06/2003

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