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MG MGF Technical - New to me TF160 - niggles!

As some may know, after what seems like an eternity and a rather less than ideal buying experience I'm now the proud owner of a '53 plate TF160. Hurrah! The car's done 8000 miles and is 12 months old, but it's going back to the dealer on Thursday for a few niggles to be sorted:

1 - steering wheel isn't quite straight and steering feels slightly heavier and less precise than other TFs I've driven. Guess the tracking's out slightly.
2 - Rear MG badge delaminating (really shocking quality badge!).
3 - Occassional squeek from outside on very bad road surfaces.
4 - Occassional rattle from driver's door (lock catch adjustment?).
5 - Faint chirping noise from engine bay.

1 and 2 I'm not too worried about. 3 I'm hoping might be fixed by "liberal doses of WD40" as others seem to have been according to the archives! 4 I'm hoping the dealer can fix but have little faith. 5 I'm not so sure of - the noise is directly related to engine speed and is really only noticeable if you listen for it but I feel it shouldn't be there. Sounds like a slightly squeeky bearing (alternator? water pump?), is this something I should be worried about?

Cheers,
Tim.
Tim Jenner

The dealer should be able top fix all of these issues, they are all curable

If they cant, then you have a ploppy dealer




Neil

>> 1 - Steering wheel isn't quite straight and steering feels slightly heavier and less precise than other TFs I've driven. Guess the tracking's out slightly. <<

That'd be my guess too Tim.

>> 2 - Rear MG badge delaminating (really shocking quality badge!). <<

They all do that sir! Replacement should be easy though.

>> 3 - Occassional squeek from outside on very bad road surfaces.
4 - Occassional rattle from driver's door (lock catch adjustment?). <<

Are these two related Tim?

>> 5 - Faint chirping noise from engine bay. <<

Difficult to know for sure without hearing the noise first hand, but probably just the alternator belt. Get the technicians to investigate in more detail.

How are you enjoying the car - and how does it compare with your previous F?

Is sir considering X Power springs? ;o) ;o) ;o)
Rob Bell

Thanks, guys. The things that are worrying me are the chirping noise and whether they'll fix the rattle and squeek or not. The rattle and the squeek are only related in so much as they both happen on bad road surfaces (of which there are many round here!).

Def pleased with the car so far - unfortunately I was away for a week immediately after taking delivery so I've only done about 350 miles so far. I miss the ride of the old F (and the noise from the K&N and SP exhaust...) but the TF's much nicer to drive. The only thing which is worse is vibration through the steering wheel which makes your arms and wrists ache after a while. I hear the XP springs help with that too... :) Oh, and that alloy gear knob - wow, that was cold this morning!! Nice to be in my own (T)F again though, I had the dealer's demonstrator for more than 6 weeks whilst they sorted out a deal which went rather sour for them - see "Why dealer's hate MGR" on the General board!

Tim.
Tim Jenner

Tim,

pop upstairs if you want to compare engine notes on the 160s and to try the XP springs.

Locks in the TF are pretty poor and the badges are even worse. Going to try and get mine replaced under warranty, but as nearly 3 years old I bet they wont wear it.

Dave
David M

Tim / David

Delaminating badges is a v common fault with TFs. If the back ones gone I suspect the front one will be showing signs too. Got mine replaced under warrenty after two years, after reading about the problem here. So David, its worth asking.

Carole
Carole

the chirping noise is most likely the VVC system, commen all VVC's
D Knott

As David has hinted and Rob has said, the Xp springs definitely help with the vibration through the steering wheel. In fact, it was the first thing I noticed - driving back from Techspeed without forearms feeling like I'd been carrying the car home ;)

Regards
Pip
Pip

Pip,
I had exactly the same feeling on I suspect exactly the same roads back from Techspeed. The SO was just as impressed in the passenger seat.

Tim,

if you fancy a lunchtime drink today, give me a call.
David M

Bought my TF135 new in April 2004. Almost 8000 miles so far; Scottish Highlands; Welsh Mountains and Valleys; X-country Southern England; commuting etc. What is the vibration through the steering wheel? Should I have noticed it yet? Does it only affect early TF160s?
JohnP

Dave - Good plan, will give you a call in a bit.

John - The vibration isn't specific to early TFs, mine was registered in late December 2003 but I also noticed the same thing in the brand new dealer demonstrator I had for 6 weeks. It may be worse on 160s due to the 16" wheels and low profile tyres?

Tim.
Tim Jenner

Definitely worse on TF160s which I put down to the wheels and tyres. But the nodding dog suspension of all TFs is the prime reason.
Perhaps JohnP has much stronger wrists or is used to driving an older car and so doesnt notice as much.
David M

I have the 135.
But it is fitted with the 11-spokes and F1s so that would tie-in with the others' comments. Could also be one of those things that you never really notice until it changes, then you wonder how you never realised that jam jars were getting easier to open!

Regards
Pip
Pip

David M

You could be right but my previous car was a '96 F VVC for 2 years and prior to that a Mondeo with very light power steering.

I will say that I have no problems with the suspension on my 2004 TF135 on 15" with OEM Contis, even when compared to the previous F.

A run home from Ullapool should have caused problems with wrists and/or lower back but (thankfully) none what so ever.
JohnP

Tim,
Dont forget that with the lower profile the tyres go the less absorption can take place, as you have all said you dont get that problem on 15" 55 profiles, it seems you do with lower profiles, understandable really.Dont forget with a larger rolling radius you have to drop a profile per inch on the wheel size, on an existing installation. This keeps speedo calibrated too I believe.
Unless anyone can see a problem, can you borrow a pair of 55's on a 15" wheel and give it a comparison test. I believe it to be safe as the wheel size/tyre ratio should be compatible.

Adrian
Adrian Clifford

This thread was discussed between 26/01/2005 and 28/01/2005

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