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 - TF Lowered Suspension

Following a previous thread about the lowered springs available from X-Power I've been thinking about making the change. I rang my local MGR dealer to find out how much it would all cost.

£234 for the labour
£110 for wheel alignmemt
£118 parts
£462 Total Plus VAT = £542

Is this a bit steep???
David Grant

Yes, that's steep. Drop the lads at Tech-speed a line - they're labour rates are lower, they'll do their job quicker and they are much cheaper on performing tracking :o)

If you don't want X-Power parts, then you could also try other MG specialists - Mike Satur and the MGFC both do suspension kits for the TF, as indeed do Leda.
Rob Bell

Yep, Tech-speed are the people to speak to.
I got the springs from my dealer for £118+VAT.
Techspeed then fitted them and checked/re-set the tracking. The total job inc parts, labour & VAT cost less than £250 :D

My local tyre place only charges £50 for a 4 wheel laser alignment, so that price is extortionate!
And £234 for labour equates to 3 hours @ £78 an hour! Techspeed's rates are half that, plus they can do it in less than 3 hours LOL.

Techspeed are located near Leamington Spa in Warwickshire, quite a way from you David, but if the trip saves you £250 its got to be worth it huh?

www.tech-speed.co.uk
Steve White

Also, don't forget Xpower/SnR themselves. They have quoted me under £100 for fitting including wheel alignment. When I enquired at my local MGR dealer and he came up with a price similar to yours I just literally laughed at him! Their loss as far as I'm concerned and you'll get far better service from all the others mentioned so far anyway.

Regards
Pip
Pip

Pip, was that price including VAT?

Has anyone got any feedback on how good this mod is? I know it lowers the car by approx 20mm but what does it do to the ride quality?

Thanks,
Steve
Steve

Been in touch with Tech Speed who were very helpful. Unfortunately the Gent who deals with road cars has been away for the last few days - they'll give me a call upon his return.

As regards the ride quality I was told that it is a large improvement and this has been echoed by all the customers who have had "the procedure". The ride height shouldn't be too much of a problem - apparently nobody has raised this as a concern.

Depending upon final cost I will have the op.
David Grant

Thanks for the info David. Please post something up when you've had it done to let us know what it's like.

Steve
Steve

I have the X-power springs fitted as well and would agree with Steve that they are a great improvement over the standard setup. The car loses it's noddy dog approach to normal driving, feels better planted at speed and works well on the windy bits.

Cost is approx £119 plus VAT = £140 approx inc VAT. MGR Dealers standard quote is 2.25 hours labour to fit (my dealer that is £68 + VAT per hour) plus tracking. Techspeed charge approx £120 inc VAT inc tracking (Steve got it as a discount rate as his was the first they had done).

MGR quote that lowering is between 20 and 30 mm, but empirical evidence from Steve's and my car is that it is less than that as the standard set up seems to be lower than quoted by MGR. Difference in looks is not in-your-face obvious, but is noticable. The wheels fill the arches much better.

Downsides are speed humps with mudflaps. Without mudflaps ther's not too much of a problem. With mudflaps you will have to slow down and you will ground them. My front mudflpas are now less than an inch from the road surface.

Going over the full width curved or flat top table humps seems to be mainly OK if you slow down. The part width flat top humps, the very thin rounded humps in car parks and exit ramps in car parks are more of an issue. Mudflaps gound on all these. The part width table tops are awful as I have gounded the sub-frame on these.

Over all though the upsides outweigh the downsides. I am glad I have them and wont be going back. Just waiting for the variable dampers now and it will really fly.
David Mills

Steve,
I think the exact quote was £83.60 + VAT. Haven't finally booked yet as I'm trying to coordinate some of their new Sportster roll hoops at the same time :)
Pip

I would give Victoria a call at the MGF Centre as they do a TF kit with springs and dampers.

All the best,
Duncan.
DJC Dorrell

Thanks Pip. Makes it worth the fuel involved based on the other prices mentioned.
Although if the fit time is 2.25 hours as Dave suggests then I might just ask my dealer as they charge me £30 +vat per hour (I asked for a discount, they gave me one.)so it might not be too bad.

Steve
Steve

DUncan,

the problem with the MGF centre version is that it is not warranty friendly. Fitting the X-power springs maintains the warranty as if you had the OEM. On a new TF with 2/3 years of warranty left that is a strong driver.

MGR quote 2.25 hours for the fitting then tracking on top. As I said my dealer quoted £68 per hour (their going rate is £75) plus VAT.

Techspeed qoute about 2- 3 hours inc tracking. I paid £123 inc VAT fitting springs and sorting out my front brakes, so springs alone should be a tad cheaper.

The advantage of Techspeed is they set up TFs for racing and you'd miss the opportunity to have a look at teh Touring cars in pieces and the track TFs. They are not really set up for retail, but the work and service is excellent.
David Mills

Fair enough David,
Good luck anyway and happy driving.
Touring cars! mmmmmm..........!

Duncan.
DJC Dorrell

I've had a few conversations with the nice people at Tech-speed and I've arranged to have the springs fitted in mid September. I still confess to have a slight concern over the height drop (25mm) especially because of the variety of sleeping policemen in Surrey but I'll just have to see how it goes!

Let you know more as & when

David
David Grant

David
Good luck with your springs. I have a TF160 and have had a lowering kit and have had no problems with "sleeping policemen", though not Techspeeds I went to another local company and have the adjustable springs and shocks. Occasionally, I catch my mud flaps on the really horrible speed humps but that is all. If they are as good as mine you really will not regret it.
Jan
jan

This thread was discussed between 29/07/2004 and 12/08/2004

MG MGF Technical index

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