MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGF Technical - Engine date of manufacture

I have been trying to trace the origins of my MGF, only partially successfully, since the DVLA has given it a new VIN number and the MG-Rover group cannot recognise it. So I thought I might try with the engine number. The engine number is 18K4FJ31928411. For me it says it is a 4 cylinder K-series engine with 16 valves with multipoint injection with catalyst. I have tried contacting both MG Rover Group and Powertrain about the issue, but they both have refused to help me, telling me to ask the other one (MG Rover Group Helpline told me I should ask Powertrain and a Powertrain representative told me to ask MG Rover Group).
V A A Punkka

Dieter may be able to help now the bbs is back on line. Of course, he may not be able to help but it would be a first time for him!
JohnP

The engine workshop manual carries wide ranging listing of the engine codes - not sure if there are details on the dates of manufacture, and unsurprisingly, I don't have that workshop manual with me! LOL ;o)

Over to you Dieter! :o)
Rob Bell

Rob, en route to Australia presumably?
JohnP

Hi,

Can you confirm the engine number? Doesn't seem to fit any pattern in the info I have.

Regards, Kes.
Kes

Yup,that's right John: there is a very large computer suite here in the Cathy transit lounge :o))

Kewl 8o)
Rob Bell

18K4FJ31928411 is what is written in the registration document. As far as I understand, it decodes as
18 - 1800 cc
K - K series
4 - valves - 16v
F - multipoint injection with catalyst
J31 - standard engine & manual gearbox
928411 - ???
V A A Punkka

Yeeks !!
Punkka, I'm afraid, replied to you form email month ago, but it got back to sender. The address was wrong.

http://www.mgfcar.de/vin is me :)

I remember what you said about the car.
Will try to find out more with help of the Engine No.

No 928411 sounds like ....
... N reg, but this doesn't fit to the other points of evidence you wrote. (much younger car)

I think it's worth looking again for the body numbers marked on the chassis.
Are you familiar with locations where to find them ?

Anyway, see email.

Regards
Dieter
PS. will be offline until monday then.
Dieter K.

.. need to add: I found the chassis number you sent in March.

Veikko, no MGR dealer will know your car.

It is UNIQUE !! :)

Means it doesn't exist in any of the MGR sales files .... :)
However, you are not alone with such a _proto_ ....

Worth to keep it unchanged as it is !!!!

Dieter K.

Hi all,
sounds interesting!! A broken down winter test car left at the test-site and sold...? In the wintertime the uppermost northern parts of Sweden and Finland is THE place to spot new cars on testing ,althou many of them covered in gaffa tape and cardboard to avoid obvious recognition ;O) / Carl.
Carl Blom

bump ?
Calling Suomi !!
Dieter K.

It looks like my MGF is one of the original 98 press prototypes from 1995. It is left-hand-drive (i.e. continental model) and so it was first registered in the UK only in 2000 (X Reg).
V A A Punkka

:-)
Got your email.
98 fits to SARRDWBGMXD[+ 'secret' 6 figures]

Anyone heard about press cars in 98 ???
(Not me, which shouldn't mean anything)
I think your other explanation from the first Email sounds more resaonable.

However, check all stickers and printed dates on parts like
- head lamps
- below seats
- below the T-Bar
- at airbags (is it with co-driver airbag ?)
- ABS modulator (has it ABS ?)
- below the dash

As well stickers with part numbers at the ECU, Main Relay and other electronics.

Last but not least the date code printed on the fromt window (one figure and count of dots on the right or left of the figure).
If it's 98 made window lelated to a September made car, the it will probabbly look like
8...... (glass made in July)
http://www.mgfcar.de/vin/mgfscreencode_uk.jpg

... and don't just try getting rid of it. ;-)
Ask the _dutch guy_ (email). He can help and has the know-how for such unique MGF. :)

Cheers
Dieter
Dieter K.

Dieter, I think he was saying that there were 98 cars given to the press to thrash around in when the F was released in 1995, and his is one of these. So the dot code would be 5...... or something.

From your web site

"There were 98 cars built in CAB2 from the start of 1995 as part of the Quality Prototype phases (QP1 to QP4), and Final Method Build. These cars had VINs 000001 to 000098. Most of these cars were registered for the road and were used as press and road test cars.".
Neil Courtney

Neil, I think you are right, .. of course :)
Another error.

Reg's of the No 000001 to 000098 are still existing. I've seen No 74 with my own eyes.
(BBS visitor, btw) :)

... the VIN that Veikko sent in March is sowhat of silly. ...XD...
Even if the XD is a typo, then the figures (I better keep them secret), they lead as well into 1998 made direction.

Let's wait and see what he will add.
Looks like he hasn't spent much time to investigate yet.

Rgds
Dieter
Dieter K.

Dieter, Veikko stated in the original post that the DVLA (UK vehicle licensing authority) had allocate a new VIN number to the car. This probably explains why the number is not recognisable. I don't know if there is any way of finding out what the original number was - it might be worth contacting the DVLA.

Ralph
Ralph

Ooops ;)
another error...
I had the email in my mind, mentioned new VIN from _SVA_ (Scandinavan vehicle agency ??)

What a funny story :)
Got the *third* VIN then.

Anyway, I wonder whether all locations marked with a VIN have been re-marked.

- behind front window (plastic chip)
- type badge near ABS modulator
- mark below bonnet cover
- mark in the boot, left hand

Over to Veikko.

No error:
VIN mark locations
http://www.mgfcar.de/vin/mark_t.jpg


Dieter K.

This thread was discussed between 04/08/2004 and 11/08/2004

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGF Technical BBS now