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MG MGF Technical - Rear Bumper MGTF version changed ??

Hi all,

I think I'm well known as almost sarcastic and most curious german bloke ;)
Apology in advance.... This post should sound friendly, including a big smile :)

Another german TF owner experienced a P/N change with the TF rear bumper

DQC000230LML is primed one until VIN 622375
DQB000960LML is primed one until from VIN 622376

Can anyone out there explain the difference between both.
I've seen only a matter on costing.

The old was app 180 +VAT
The new is app 295 +VAT

Must be well improved. Dunno whether the new has a _power booster_ installed.

Anyone ?

Regards
Dieter
Dieter K.

Deiter, I noticed at the MG meet at Harrogate that the latest TF's have black plastic inserts in the front and rear bumpers, replacing the previous black paint. This could be the difference?. Does anyone think it would be a good idea to set up a site to log TF updates as they appear? We've already had the modified 'stat, rear springs?, bumper inserts, and I noticed on a TF115 that the interior door handle surrounds are now square, not oval as previous. Regards.
H.R. Bridge

The black bit on the TF bumpers has never been painted to my knowledge. The black bit is an unpainted area of the black plastic the bumper is made from. I had to do a repair on one recently and its definitely one solid lump of black plastic, no paint or inserts.
The only other TF bumper I have seen in a completely grey one. I assumed this was just a cheaper copy rather than a OE part, but perhaps not?
If you used one of these you would have to paint the black bit.
Steve White

Roy,

this is sad we have no TF enthusiast with own interest to building such website.

I think me and all the other silly MGF website _creators_ (notice I didn't say webmaster) feel low competence with almost difficult research about a car we don't own ourself.

For instance, years ago I had direct contact to guys from MGR here in DE and other guys had in _other countries_ and we were able to verify _any news_ with different sources.

We had no CD's, ... well almost not ..., nothing but Email, this BBS and _heard of_ reports, invoices from repairs, sites with pictures etc. (Not to forget the great input from Roger Parker, now professional with the MGOC)
We had no other option to get behind secrets, but with discussions at this BBS.

Apology, I feel the interest of mgtf owners at this BBS is very low. In short, harsh said, it is ... annoying rare.
They like to take what they get, only a few register and look up the archives.
OK, but where is the input ??? Where are the discussions ?

Owning a CD with workshop manual, engine manual and EPC on CD, nice pics @ the X-Power's and other blooming php Forums isn't all. ;)

Long post, I'm sorry, just think about it.
---------------------------
Anyway, back on the matter.

The very simple question is:

Who can confirm what you found due to VIN 622375 and can the bumpers get swapped between older and newer:

>>the latest TF's have black plastic inserts in the front and rear bumpers, replacing the previous black paint. <<<

:)
Cheers
Dieter
http://www.mgfcar.de/vin
PS. ... the german TF owners are the same low interest at our other Forum ;)
Dieter K.

Steve, just nipped out and had a quick scratch, my 02 TF has definately got Platinum silver under the black paint.Mine's an early car, perhaps MGR started to mask out the black base plastic on later models(to save a bit of black paint?!). I can assure you that the cars I looked at, I think they were all 04's, had a separate black plastic insert,I even flicked one up with my nail to check.They are a lot more "Grainy" finish than my painted one.Of course, my local dealer didn't know anything about it.Deiter, 'fraid I'm not computer literate enough to set up a website,and, as you say, getting the actual 'info could prove difficult.MGR don't seem to bother informing dealers about mod's, they just seem to start appearing on cars. Regards. P.s. will try to find out some 'info from dealer parts tomorrow.
H.R. Bridge

Hi Dieter

I moved from F to TF and still bbs every day and refer people to your site (and Rob, tony, Paul etc).

I agree that so far there is less owner interest in the TF bits & bobs. Could it be because so many are company cars in the UK? Also most TFs are still under waranty so the car just goes back to dealer.

Another bbs seems mainly populated by TF owners who want shiny bits and continually complain about minor rattles. Many of these are company cars.
JohnP

My TF160 Sept 03 has black bumpers front/back no paint just the colour of the plastic.
Graeme Glasgow

Slightly harsh Dieter and JohnP.

As an F owner for 6 years I moved to a TF about 2 years ago. Continue to frequent this bbs and JohnP's "Another bbs seems mainly populated by TF owners who want shiny bits and continually complain about minor rattles". Post where I can help and I would suggest Steve White posts lots on changes to the TF.

As for "minor" rattles I am sorry to say that the build quality of my TF is way below that of my 6 year old F and frankly on a £22k car (yes when I bought it that was the price with the extras) I don't expect any rattles.

However, I think JohnP is right about TFs and warranty. We have to be careful with mods and as many of the dealers are pretty ropey, finding info about changed items is very difficult.

I don't really want a seperate web site for TFs as I personally belive the TF is the F Mk3 and therefore fits neatly in this and other websites. After all how often do we reply to a question with "Is your F pre 2000 because that makes a difference"?

Finally as for input both Steve and I have put threads up about changing from standard to X-power suspension springs. ALso add to the knowledge where I can, but as teh TF and F are fairly similar, you guys already know more than us.
David Mills

Got to agree with David on this one. I have a 2003 TF135 (privately owned, not a company vehicle)& post as often as I can.

The TF is widely accepted as a revised & updated F in the MG circles I move in so why a seperate BBS?

The point of modifications affecting warranty is a valid one as even the oldest TF's are still under guarantee.

The mods I've done to mine (non of them shiny, unless you count the exhaust) have used genuine MGR / X-Power parts & have been fitted by my dealer to avoid such issues.

Isn't it down to dedicated MG fans like the people on this BBS to educate disinterested F & TF owners in the ways of being part of the marque of friendship?

Steve
S Preston

I agree, I own my TF and also would not want to see the TF being seperated from the F on the BBS's. Have used this and to a certain extent some other F/TF BBS's to find out quite a lot about my car.
Graeme Glasgow

I don't think anyone, let alone Dieter, is suggesting splitting the BBS. I think Dieter was just suggesting that someone who owns a TF is better placed to build a resource base on TF specifics. As an F owner, he finds it difficult to do this. Fair point I would have thought.
Dave Livingstone

Dieter didn't say anything about a seperate bbs. I think we put that to rest when the TF was introduced a few years ago.

As Dave says, Dieter is a bit dissapointed that there is no TF site equivalent to his excellent MGF site. There are also many other enthusiasts with MGF sites but sadly no similar technical TF sites. What we really need is a few enthusiasts with web skills and access to a TF.

Spyros

Spyros Papageorghiou

David, are we no longer to make light hearted comments on this bbs?

You and Steve post loads of good info on both bbs sites and we seem agreed over the warranty aspect.

I didn't buy my F new so I cannot speak on the original build quality. However, by the time I got mine it was beginning to make a number of creaks, bangs and clunks that I thought were in line with it's age. When I got my TF in April I was pleased that most of the thumps were missing. I was also relieved to find that the suspension was not as harsh as I had been led to believe. Or, maybe I was a bit more compliant and less attached to the F than some others?

I agree that the TF is really a Mk3 and should stay here in an F/TF board. I also suspect that more info will become available as the cars get older and/or more widespread.

Maybe we could solve the dilemma between us? Let's start a "Roll a TF for Dieter" fund ... he can then put the car in his basement and start a full, documented and photographed strip down. How about it Dieter? Would Rosi put up with it again?
JohnP

Spoke to two dealers today, and both said the same,"Just order parts according to your Vin No." Neither, knew, or cared, how the new bumpers differed from previous.What I found strange was that the front is only £7 dearer, but the rear is £200 more expensive.I don't think Dieter or myself suggested a separate BBS for the TF, I was thinking more along the lines of the MG quality parts section, it would be nice to browse any mod's, updates, as they appeared. Of course actually getting the info is another question altogether.Seems that we already have three different types of bumpers, and I'm sure the list will keep on growing. Forgot to mention, one of the Dealers said that they had one of the new rear bumpers on order..............UNOBTAINABLE!! Regards.
H.R. Bridge

Boohhhoo, what have I done again. ;)

OK, had a bad day (you know, boss beats employee, employee beats the wife, wife beats kid, kid beats the cat, cat eats mouse)
No, of course I didn't shout on Rosi (damn she would just shout back !!), ... but used the BBS ;)

It's of course not up to me to upset anyone. Apology if it sounded like that.

I've learned from a neighbour who survived a heart attack recently. He got this tought in health recovery process. Was to late for him, he said:
"If you are disappointed about something that has happened, then notice, in truth you are angry about _yourself_ cause you could have changed it, but didn't."
Means, it is as it is and don't look back.
Makes live easier and prevents from heart attacks ;)

Anyway, IMO
A. one BBS Subject F/TF only
B. vote for a free hosted websites. The more the better.
C. no TF dismanteling from my side .... or delay until retirement (latest in 91 or 151 month, depending on .... counting !!)

>Let's start a "Roll a TF for Dieter" fund ...
Nope ;)
Done that with the MGF.
Curious Engineers don't like having the same works twice. :)

However, at any time someone else will do.
Support promised.
:o)

Errrmm, is there aggreement now on the change matter with the TF bumper ?
So different colour coding only ?

Cheers
Dieter
Dieter K.

Steve is running a poll on another forum to see if he can get more data from the TF owners. see
http://forums.mg-rover.org/showthread.php?t=43965

John
<<David, are we no longer to make light hearted comments on this bbs?>>
Of course, but I think the problem is you get used to the emotions icons on teh other boards and when there is not even a :) or :p in the post it's difficult to tell if the comment is tounge in cheek or upfront and serious.

I think there will be alot more posts and feedback once the warranties start to run out. I wrote some user guides for Paul Lathwell's MGF FAQ when working on my F outside of warranty. Won't be doing that on the Tf until the wareanty expires. ANd of course the guides I wrote (plug changes, lead changes water heater fixes) wont have changed between F and TF anyway.
David Mills

Assuming my 2004 TF has bumpers - never noticed that until I read this thread - and assuming again I understand the "bits" are those black parts behind and between the "bumpers" where the license plates are affixed (and where I put my badges), then the bits are simply black plastic, as the majority voted in the site quoted above (and I also did).

If not, please suggest where I may take a course to upgrade my English! Having a 1950 TD, I was left with chrome bumpers and overriders, simpler to drill (and to understand!).

Denis
Denis L. Baggi

OK, looked up myself on Sunday at the Belgian Kempen Rit. Great Event btw. 111 MGF/TF had been there :)

Early TF I saw below VIN 622 have black painted over the car/bumper colour.

Later have a plastic insert put in from inside.
This makes the part easier to paint, but required a second tool of course.

Dieter K.

Me *again*

>Later have a plastic insert put in from inside.

Need to correct this after having had a look to the pictures I took yesterday.

The insert is smaller and put in from outside.
Dieter K.

A late comer to the thread... but TF specialist website wise, perhaps this is a job for Paul with his dotcomoff website?

I've been trying to include as much TF related material as possible, but like Dieter, the limitation is the lack of ownership!!!

Now, if my WSR raffle tickets come through for me, the situation may be a little different! LOL ;o)
Rob Bell

Rob

For a fee you could take over my TF135 and pretend you own it. You could then apply all known updates and improvements for handling and performance.

THEN hand it back to me.

Make me an offer!
JohnP

Just realised what I may have said - on my way to the warehouse for an enema kit to get it out of my system. May have to visit the procto section while I'm there.
JohnP

ROFL John!
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 16/08/2004 and 24/08/2004

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