Anyone know anything about MG ZT (-T)?

langdang

In my quest to line up a decent estate to replace the current one I came across a 2001 MG ZT-T, 2.5 V6. Anyone had a MG ZT? What are they like in general for reliability? Anything to look out for?

I really like the idea of most people not even knowing what it is, but with that come the worry of getting parts? Am I looking for sourcing stuff from the UK if there are any issues? I know it's a zooped up Rover 75, but even parts for these could be an issue these days? Am I right in recalling that Ryans (Subaru) in Bishopstown in Cork still do Rover/MG parts?

Would I be bonkers? I had been thinking Legacy or Forester, or a Mazda 6 or Mondeo estate, but nothing very appealing available in Munster...

Budget is pretty small to be honest, is that enough to steer me away from this? Having searched for Rover 75 I saw a post from RoverJames indicating approx 1200 (sterling or euro??) for a clutch replacement :eek: Other than the initial outlay, and worry about parts, I don't need to do much mileage so the petrol bill wouldn't kill me.

colm_mcm

If you're in the 2.5 petrol class there's lots of bargains to be had, even in premium brands like bmw.

That said, I'd have a ZT in a flash once the price was right.

langdang

colm_mcm wrote: »

If you're in the 2.5 petrol class there's lots of bargains to be had, even in premium brands like bmw.

You'd think so, but the bloody Celtic Tiger convinced loads of people to buy SUVs etc rather than estates. And the people with any sort of decent estates are hanging onto them by the look of things...

mickdw

I think the rover 75 is a pretty solid car overall and many are foolish to dismiss them.
Parts seem fine in uk at least although there can be a go slow on the odd part. Not what you want to hear when you need that part of course

whippet

For estate cars I would go looking in to importing from the UK, for some reason they seemed to always like estates.

I thought about an estate a few months ago ... a Mondeo ST estate would be a nice option, even in the diesel

langdang

whippet wrote: »

For estate cars I would go looking in to importing from the UK, for some reason they seemed to always like estates.

I would if the budget was bigger, one failed 2-3 day trip over would be a high percentage of what I'd like to spend... that's likely to be a seperate "recommend me a cheap estate" thread tho. At the moment I think I need someone to tell me that buying a 9 year old 2.5L MG is madness...

Agree on the Mondeo ST estate tho.. nice, wouldn't attract too much attention either..

Tragedy

Diesel and KV6 ZT's go on forever, parts are easily available and most are very cheap.

They look absolutely smashing in the flesh but be aware - it has a stiff suspension setup and 18" wheels. I drive boreens in kerry often enough and it doesnt bother me, but it might be a factor for you.

Also, the seats are extremely comfortable, it has good space in the rear(had 3 adults in the back down to wexford no problem) and the tourer has a very big boot+handy split tailgate.

Make sure whichever you're looking at is the + model, as this adds parking sensors, e/w all round, auto dimming mirror and rain sensing wipers - AND MAKE SURE IT HAD THE THREE CAMBELTS CHANGED AT 90K OR AFTER 6 YEARS.

I don't know about the estate, but the saloon shifts nicely and handles beautifully for a car that weighs close enough to two tonnes loaded - the 190 saloon did the top gear test track in 1:33 when they tested(faster than the ZT 260 v8, amusingly).

langdang

Cheers Tragedy, that was the question i forgot to ask- chain or belts. 3 frickin belts, one for each bank and one for water pump? You'd definitely want to see a receipt for that job! It should have had new belts a few years ago so. Don't know if it's the + model, or even if its 160 or 190. I'll be driving Molls gap and some of the Ring of Kerry often enough alright...

Tragedy

Can you PM me some pics or whatever? I'll be able to give you a guess about the likely spec(including whether it's 160 or 190).

Btw, apparently the 160 and the 190 feel about the same, with the 160 feeling quicker at low revs but the 190 feeling quicker at high revs - so I wouldn't let that put me off it.

Re: Cambelts - expect to pay around €300 for the kit alone, and another ~ €80 for the water pump(recommended to do at the same time).
If it was me, I'd cost it at a MGR indy up north and see what they price it at, I know a fairly popular mechanic member of the MG-Rover community was doing cambelt change including parts for £425, based in Coventry.

langdang

PM sent Tragedy, nice one.
Nice looking estates alright, won't be long now before John Gormley outlaws 2.5L petrol V6's - might be my last chance.....

An Ri rua

I've done a lot of reading up on the MG ZT but in particular the 135 with the +.

Totally overlooked car. Looks like I'll be buying into a ZT 135+ and my father is now convinced to upgrade his 91 Audi 80 td to a Rover Connoisseur cdt.

Here's an interesting mechanic's view of the ZT cdti http://www.carsurvey.org/reviews/mg/zt/r97380/

I'm not sure what parts the new M7 in China retains but that is of course the ZT in a new guise. http://www.chinacartimes.com/2008/04/16/nac-mg-discovers-mg-zt/

Anyone know if those builds will be any good to current MGR owners?

Might as well add these write-ups for anyone else looking to do the smart thing and buy a ZT or ZT-T
http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/car-reviews/car-and-driving/mg-zt-cdti-135-range-1003641.html

I do know from reading Honestjohn.co.uk that if you buy automatic and the gearbox oil needs changing (it will do at a certain advanced mileage, probably within your and mine buying spectrum), then the oil change must be done at MGR -knowledgeable specialists (maybe Beemer too?) as its a JATCO box and its very temperature-specific when being changed. It needs to be heated etc.

Also see http://www.mgcars.org.uk/mgzt.html

Also http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=41700

Hope to join you as an MG owner myself shortly.

Trying to run my Xantia HDi into the ground. Impossible!! My 3rd Xantia and they're unbreakable if you buy from Cit owners and if you know how to keep them. Mark II's always, of course.

The 2.5 KV6 in the ZT is a good engine in fairness, used to be awful for HG failure in the 800 but all sorted for the 75 & ZT. Clutch is an expensive job, so too the timing belt. Belt is to be done at 90 000 miles or 6 years, so on a 2001 if it has ever been done you should be fine. Another issue with the KV6 is the VIS valves and motors, VIS valves rattle when worn and quite a few of them do, dead VIS motors can be sorted for nothing if your handy with a spanner and have time on your hands. If their is a rattle from the inlet manifold you are often looking at upwards of €650.

Is it the black one in Cork with 44K miles that's on donedeal you are thinking of ?

Worst case scenario with a KV6 is as follows really
- clutch goes
- you need to have the belts done
- your inlet manifold starts rattling

Tyres are also very dear, budget ones won't be gotten for much less than a ton, a good set of tyres will cost the guts of a grand. In saying all that I'd chance one

langdang

RoverJames wrote: »

Is it the black one in Cork with 44K miles that's on donedeal you are thinking of ?

Might be!;) Altho I'd say I'll pass - I'd prefer to be buying off the original owner/enthusiast.
If it was FSH, driven by an enthusiast situation that car on done deal would be on my driveway now!
Don't think the guy selling it now is too well up on em, to be honest I even didn't bother asking him was it 160 or 190 bhp. Looks well tho..

The add is a bit scarce on detail too, asling price is fairly low. I imagine he will find it hard to shift her on, unless he finds someone a bit green looking for an estate. Could well be a great example though.

langdang

Ya, could be a fine car, and a great deal for someone who knows the cars.
He could try a bit harder with the ad alright... Anyone considering the car should really try to get the seller to put you in contact with the guy he got it off a few months ago, see if there's receipts or whatever for timing belts hanging around in a drawer somewhere!

maggiegorey

Hi
My husband has a 01 MG ZT 2.5 V6
I notice Rover James mentions the rattle problem.
Hubby uis a mechanic and cant find anything wrong but there is still a rattle.
Any ideas??
Maggie

ba_barabus

maggiegorey wrote: »

Hi
My husband has a 01 MG ZT 2.5 V6
I notice Rover James mentions the rattle problem.
Hubby uis a mechanic and cant find anything wrong but there is still a rattle.
Any ideas??
Maggie

Zombie thread and RoverJames is gone now.

I'll email him and ask for you.

maggiegorey

Thanks so much!!

Tragedy

It's the inlet manifold, it has plastic butterfly valves connected by a plastic lever that is actuated by a VIS motor mounted on the left side of the manifold. The plastic is degraded over long periods of time by the oil making it's way in through the engine breathers (there are two small filters that look like brillo pads that no-one EVER changes).

Like for like swap with a non-rattling inlet manifold, easy job. Your VIS motors probably aren't working either.

search site:the75andztclub.co.uk "inlet manifold"

ba_barabus

As Tragedy points out and RJ has confirmed it's the inlet manifold.

If your husband reckon the rattle is from the inlet manifold it's the internals that rattle. Relacement is the only cure. It's the flaps that break away from the rods.

However more information would confirm it.

maggiegorey

Thank you so much guys
Will pass on the info and let you know how it goers
Maggie

Tragedy

It's a simple test. Remove the Power VIS motor (it's under the left circle in this photo: http://www.mredd.me.uk/Photos/rover75/inlet001.jpg )

Underneath is a plastic arm, the arm should move right to left (from drivers side to passenger side) but should have no movement up/down, or from the back of the car to the rear. It should only move left/right to open and close butterfly valves.

Spook_ie

Gotta love Zombie threads, but just have to wonder if it's back up for sale?

How many ZT -T 190 Estates do you reckon made it over here

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2001-mg-zt-t-190/8806954?offset=12

Tragedy

You'd be surprised!

Asking ridiculous money though. Even with the low mileage, they'll struggle to get half that in Ireland - especially as it's a low spec ZT with the exception of xenons.

Spook_ie

If it were taxed up to the NCT Nov 2015, it might be worth it, the tax for 6 months would be €599!, but if it weren't taxed yeah over priced

Always fancied an MG ZT 260 myself

The only real giveaway from outside the quad exhausts


Down side still some £9000 stg to buy 2nd hand, future classic,? with only 883 built I'd reckon so.

Tragedy

If you wanted one, an alright 260 was going for ~£5-6k a year or two back when the exchange rate was still ok. A few blown (400hp) one went for under £10k.

maggiegorey

Tragedy and ba_barabas, thank you so much
Brendan says you are the most helpful lot he's come across!!

inajock

should have a look at 75 ZT owners ireland on face book. good group.

Spook_ie

maggiegorey wrote: »

Tragedy and ba_barabas, thank you so much
Brendan says you are the most helpful lot he's come across!!

Driving any kind of a Rover requires a helpful lot

I should know my 75 2.0 CDTi would have been scrapped ages ago but for internet forums

maggiegorey

we know the feeling!!!

ba_barabus

Spook_ie wrote: »

Driving any kind of a Rover requires a helpful lot

I should know my 75 2.0 CDTi would have been scrapped ages ago but for internet forums

Got a picture of yours?

Spook_ie

ba_barabus wrote: »

Got a picture of yours?

Not really, but just picture a dark blue rover 75 with taxi signage all over it

ba_barabus

Spook_ie wrote: »

Not really, but just picture a dark blue rover 75 with taxi signage all over it

If you're in Dublin I'll keep an eye out

mickdw

Spook_ie wrote: »

Driving any kind of a Rover requires a helpful lot

I should know my 75 2.0 CDTi would have been scrapped ages ago but for internet forums

So true.
We had one too and between the forums and a workshop manual on cd, I kept it running when all garages just laughed and said they were a ball of sh1t.
In reality, it was an easy car to work on, gave only niggly trouble and was super comfortable.

Spook_ie

Have to agree there with the 2.0 CDTi

Fingers crossed I don't put a curse on it now!

Gearbox Solonoids giving a jerky change fixed at Autotranz

Oil being ejected from dipstick...needed a replacement oil breather thingy not the turbo as so many people were telling me

Alternator, went awry 3 christmas's ago, cost a fortune to get one as needed the taxi fixing ASAP, but it blew the odometer ( 999,999 mikles for the last 3 years! )

Crankshaft Pulley, must be made of cheese or something, regular failiure of the rubber, would put a solid one on if I can find one

Water Leaks around the rear light cluster and the Sunroof Drains, easy fixes from the forums

ECU Drain hole modification


that's in 4 years of taxiing


EDIT

Almost forgot, two front road springs ( both snapped last month )

maggiegorey

Guys
Im almost afraid to tell hubby about all this!!!
Dont want to burst his bubble!!