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MG MGF Technical - Head Gastket

Hi

I've got a MG Trophy, 2001, which has just gone into a main dealer for a service. Ive been informed that the head gasket has 'gone' and I need a new one. I cannot believe that the gasket as gone at 30k miles! I know that this is an problem with the K Series engine, but didn't think at this year or low mileage.

All in all i'm looking at repairs for approx £2,500.!! (suspension wishbone and callipers aswell).

I'm wondering whether the garage are trying to rip e off.

Anyone else had the same?

Would appreciate any views...

Thank you
Calley
C J Newman

HAS YOUR CAR GOT A FULL MG SERVICE HISTORY - IF SO ASK FOR GOODWILL - THE DEALER DECIDES HOW MUCH THEY WILL PAY.


DONT LET IT LIE - IF NO JOY CONTACT MGROVER HELP DESK
Mark.L

HMMMMMMMMMMMmm I did NOT post above...........I cant shout that loud.

Anyone know WHY someone is able to use my details??????????????????????????????????
Mark.L

Calley

Judging by your mileage, your last service probably involved changing the coolant, which might mean the engine was not bled properly afterwards. If you look in the archive,you'll find that lots of HGFs occurred shortly after the 2year/24k service. I'm not saying this has definately happened in your case but worth checking out as a cause.

Chris
Chris

Chris,
2001 will have 'OAT' Long Life Antifreeze to be changed at 4 Years, 48,000 Miles
F
Geoff F
G. Farthing

£2,500 ? of course they're trying to rip you off!!!!
You could get a complete engine fitted by an independent for that! Ask for a fully detailed estimate / quotation. Also ask them what test they did to conclude the head gasket had gone. Was it compression test, or exhaust gas in the header tank test, or what? Once you have the itemised quote, call Techspeed and get a price off them, even if you have to pay to have it taken to Leamington you will probably save a bucketful of cash.
David S

I agree with Dave - £2500 is a comedy quote. B&G, MGF Centre, Mike Satur or Techspeed would all under cut this by a massive margain. Depending on what damage has been done, a head gasket replacement need only cost from 400 quid.

Check out http://www.shame.4mg.com - and add your details to the database. Unfortunately, HGF at low mileage is not uncommon :o(
Rob Bell

Hi,

£2500 is crunchingly high, but Calley did mention suspension wishbone and calipers as well. I wonder why, on a 2001 car?

Regards, Kes.
Kes

My Trophy (25k0 suffered the same fate today! Luckily I took out extended warranty last year as had similar problem with previous F
Nic

Calley,
Read my reply to David Morey, i think that this head gasket thing on the mgf/tf is a bandwaggon jumped on by a lot of dealers/and Garages merely by the publicity factor and why for reasons beyond me every case of coolant loss and overheating on an MGF or TF is put down to headgasket failure beggars belief, this is poor diagnostics and a way of propping up failing workshop profits.
This needs to be investigated by trading standards !
Robert
R J Hemphill

This thread was discussed between 18/01/2005 and 21/01/2005

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