MG TF160?

Hi guys been offered a mgtf 160 going to have a look soon had belts done,low mileage serviced anything to look out for? PS it's for the Mrs so no hairdresser comments as she is a hairdresser (not really).

Head gaskets. It's the 1800 K series engine. Not a bad engine IMO. But check to see if there's any gunk in the coolant/oil. They can sometimes be bogged up with an additive to the coolant- possibly copper in colour.

Other than that they're on proper spring/dampers by the TF so nothing out of the ordinary to worry about.

Check to see if it has the remote stat. The original is in a similar place to the coupe, this let's water in that's a tad too cold when it opens and causes most of the dead gasket issues. A remote one is in-line.
If the heads gone once and the cause hasn't been sorted it can easily go again. You can only skim the head once! (I've owned 3 k series powered cars, my brother 2 and my dad had a freelander which we did the head on and then swapped the engine)

Thanks guys any rust problems,is changing the stat to a remote one much of a job?

Not sure on the mid engined car, easy as pie on a freelander!
Parts are easily available if that helps.
It's a rover! It'll rust everywhere!!
I'd check usual, wings, wheel arches, sills and subframes.

Not too bad for rust generally on the TF, unless it is one of the more recent ones made since the Chinese owned MG. My daughter has one which previously belonged to my Dad, the only issue was a blown pipe between the radiator (front mounted) and the engine. Total repair bill was only about £100 for parts and labour.

Nice car to drive, quite fun!

I don't think there's a need for it. Imo if you're too heavy with the gas and labour the engine when cold that causes the problem.

If the gasket does need doing put a steel multilayer one on. Again IMO, if a decent job is done doing the gasket then they last.

Tell that to someone who had a 1.4, 1.6 and 1.8 blow up on him!
Although I think the 1.6 and 1.8 were duff at point of purchase.

Who says mine didn't?

Although it's subjective I think the gentle touch definitely helps. Once they're rebuilt they've all been fine until they've been scrapped.

That's true, only the freelander broke twice! Although I think the old stat was left in when the remote one was added (not by me) and it caused some kind of surge busting the metal gasket and cracking the head!!!!

Some bad luck there. The Freelander is an odd one because it's a big car so you always need to work the engine some. Touch wood ours is still going strong.

To the OP, I worked with a lad who had one. He really looked after it, but it did need the head doing not too long after buying. Once he had it done he used to commute daily Sheffield to Derby in it. No trouble at all.

Hi thanks finally got round to seeing car f/s/h head gasket done 46k miles but after looking through history 02 sensor defective and engine indicator light on ?? Related ? Much of a problem?

Could be.

What about the lambda sensor is defective;is it an out of range value for example? Also which sensor? Iirc they have 2 because of the close-coupled cat.

If it was me (I have a MY2000 VVC MGF) I would look elsewhere there are many other lovely examples around, why risk it? Your dosh though.

Thanks, the reason this looks good is full service history comes with hard top had head gasket and rail ? done,cam belts just had full service including all brakes replaced both remotes and only 46000 miles.

Did you buy one in the end, Spyke?

Must be good fun, especially in a snowy, empty car park!

Hi yes been more fun than I thought, been good to get some topless time, the o2 sensor had just been disconnected goes well handles well mrs very happy. Slowed the progress down on the coop though :-( but nearly done.

Are you doing the work on your Coupe yourself?

I went to the King of Cool open day in Llandod last year.

They know there stuff and do some great work. They love Integrales especially.

Done all the work so far including clutch and cam belt very difficult on your own. Yes also went to King of Cool open day, very keen on Intergrales especially Liam

A friend of mine has one, she swears by this guy "Russ", he travels the country putting right problems with MGs and K-Series engines at a very reasonable price....

https://www.facebook.com/Mg-Rover-Solutions-126586374163989/?fref=nf

He is known as St Russ on the forums, did my cambelt, a legend in his own lifetime, reasonable prices and exemplary spannering

Well my friend Kim, had her's overheat on A130, was told by a garage it needed a£1000s of worth of repairs, she contacted "St Russ", he turned up, diagnosed a faulty head gasket, a slightly warped head and a new timing belt, the price was remarkable cheap.... He turns up at your home/work, sets up and does the work there. She rates him at 15/10