1996 mgf

[Mercdan68]

After getting a lot of response on here to my post on the general board, I finally picked up an mgf this weekend, after setting a budget of £1000 I looked at a few cars, bid on a couple on eBay, but didn't really get anywhere until last week, bit of a strange incident last Saturday I went to view a car at traders in Dartford that was advertised as superb and with full history,when I arrived the car was running in a warehouse when I was shown it, I switched it off and the trader went potty! The battery was knackered , fair enough I thought so I walk around the car having a good look to which the numpty selling it took exception "what are you looking for?" I replied that I always check a car when buying it, he replied that he sells thirty cars a week and there had been too many "idiots" on this car, to which I replied goodbye, and walked away, incidentally the full history was an mot and a couple of dog eared receipts! I would of made an offer as it was clean but the bloke was such an ar@e I couldn't be bothered with him, fast forward a few hours I started the bidding on an mgf in Eastbourne ,then promptly got outbid and thought to myself I would look after Xmas, then Wednesday I got a second chance offer on the mgf in Eastbourne , thinking for three hundred it wasn't going to be to good I phoned the seller and had a good chat, he had owned the car 12 years and it had full history, upgraded head gasket and 10 months mot, but had been garaged for some years and used very sparingly, with my good mate Andy we set off Saturday morning and picked up what is basically a very clean little car with a mountain off history no rust anywhere on the upper body and one very well done welded repair on one inner sill , it runs very well and just needs a drivers seat as its bolster is torn. I'm just going to carry on cleaning it up over the winter, replace the seats with leather ones and then enjoy it next spring, so far we've cleaned the interior up as it was filthy and full off cobwebs,and my 12 year old George did a great job today with renovo products on the soft top , will post some pics later

[Mercdan68]

[düdo]

I drove a new one of these in '96, same colour, which belonged to my neighbour. I was a struggling muso in Brixton - no car, real broke and I was feeding this neighbour's cat as she was often travelling for work. The MG was her new company car and she said when she went - here's the keys, if you want to go somewhere?
My girlfriend and I took it for a weekend to visit a friend in rural Suffolk and we had a real blast. We came burning back down the A12 on Monday morning so she could sign on! Driving back into Brixton I saw one of my deadbeat mates and when he saw me in the pub later he said - have you made it?

It was a bit flash at the time. Definately like these and they've kept their style.

[jiminwatford]

Glad it worked out

Btw stick on reflective numberplates are cheap

[marinanut]

Welcome to the 'club'.... I got one of these ex-scrappy for £495 delivered; duff fuel pump and window motor quickly sorted and it passed the MOT without an advisory. Mine's a 2000 Y Mk2, called "The Golden Shot" (after the Mrs asked what pile of s**t I'd brought home now.....)!

[Mercdan68]

Thanks for the replys.... Been watching these for a couple of years, but never been to sure because of the head gasket problems, but reading a few bits in practical classics, and the mention of prices going up soon I thought I'd better not miss out!!

[marinanut]

Dec 14, 2015 16:49:51 GMT Mercdan68 said:

Thanks for the replys.... Been watching these for a couple of years, but never been to sure because of the head gasket problems, but reading a few bits in practical classics, and the mention of prices going up soon I thought I'd better not miss out!!

I wouldn't get bent out of shape by "head gasket problems", there are plenty of other marques out there with similar problems that the press haven't got their collective teeth into and TBH, there are many good cures for this out there that can end up with a bombproof engine. The important thing to remember is not to hoof it too much until the oil temp starts moving as that is more engine core temp than the coolant. Also, make sure your coolant system is tip-top - there's only 10.5 litres in there for a mid-engine front radiator system. Stainless underfloor pipes are about £70, an new ally rad isn't much more and a piece of p*** to change and it is worth getting a new expansion tank cap as the old ones get weak - about £5 off the bay of E but get a genuine MGR one. Stacks of info out there and despite being a 'complicated looking car' they're dead easy to work on. Well happy with mine even though a cat has slept on the bonnet and b*ll*x*d the paintwork....

[Mercdan68]

Some new bits arrived yesterday, a new gear lever gaiter and handbrake gaiter, that will tidy things up a bit , going to remove the interior and shampoo the carpet and hopefully find some leather seats whilst I'm off over Xmas , oh and order a new bonnet cable And change the oil
And filter

[bob1957]

Hi mercdan68,

Your MGF looks almost identical to the one I used to own...



I did much the same as you - cleaned interior, new gaiters, new seats, etc. 

They don't seem to rust very badly but one area you might want to check is under the plastic finisher on the rear air intakes. 

Look forward to seeing your improvements 

[Mercdan68]

Dec 17, 2015 18:21:41 GMT bob1957 said:

Hi mercdan68,

Your MGF looks almost identical to the one I used to own...



I did much the same as you - cleaned interior, new gaiters, new seats, etc. 

They don't seem to rust very badly but one area you might want to check is under the plastic finisher on the rear air intakes. 

Look forward to seeing your improvements 

Yep looks exactly the same spec,funny really how I really didn't like these when they were new, but I've been wanting to get one for the last year, glad I bought it, it's totally different to all the other cars I've owned in 30+years, finding it strange when I turn the key and the little lump roars into life behind me instead of in front!

[Mercdan68]

Spent a good few hours on the mgf today,new gaiters fitted on the gear-lever,and handbrake,then set about giving the body a good claybar treatment, I normally use bilthamber products, but I picked up a turtle wax claybar kit for £17 and had a go with it, the results are superb, the paintwork has come up superbly,tommorrow I just want to give it a good polish with autoglym, then when our kitchen fitter is done this week I will have my garage back and I can put it away until I tackle a good undersealing and waxoyl on it,if anyone has a nice pair of leather seats please let me know! Danny

[Mercdan68]

A bit of time spent today changing the oil and
Filter and the air filter , took the seats out cleaned the
Carpet up and the engine and all the shuts etc, hoping to pick up some seats over the holiday period, the originals are untidy, had a bit of help of mikey the cat today too!

[Mercdan68]

More small jobs today, took the carpet out and gave it a proper clean this time!, found a tonneau cover in the box given to me with the car, cleaned that up a bit, cleaned and derusted the roof mechanism,used some wonder wheels on the rims, which brought them up like new,the wife had been to tesco and brought home some dash cleaner and a new set of floormats for me,so now the inside is ready for its new half leather seats which I won of eBay, will be picking them up Tomorrow, then it's just a case of an undersealing and waxoyl job done ready for the spring, a real cheap buy and refresh!

[vader]

Great little cars, had a charcoal one some years ago then traded it in for a new (pre registered) TF, then kids came along!!!

[Mercdan68]

Thanks Vader,, that stag is gorgeous, sadly out of my price range now, the mgf was the nearest I could get!

[Mercdan68]

Today I got the later model half leather seats, won of eBay, I fitted them in nice and tidy inside now, will replace the door cards as they let the interior down now! She's all tucked up in the garage now, just need the Spring to arrive now...

[Mercdan68]

Nice result at a local breakers this morning, picked up a nice set of doorcards,bonnet catch, door window rails,indicator side repeaters,boot brake light,and some good sunvisors, all for £30, was nice to actually spend time taking bits off with my young lad, the yard owners a good bloke and just told me to keep him close to me,my early car memories are of trawling yards with my dad, so it was a pleasure for me and George to spend time stripping an mgf

[MiataMark]

Jan 2, 2016 13:55:15 GMT Mercdan68 said:

Nice result at a local breakers this morning, picked up a nice set of doorcards,bonnet catch, door window rails,indicator side repeaters,boot brake light,and some good sunvisors, all for £30, was nice to actually spend time taking bits off with my young lad, the yard owners a good bloke and just told me to keep him close to me,my early car memories are of trawling yards with my dad, so it was a pleasure for me and George to spend time stripping an mgf

I remember going to scrap yards wit my dad, normally to get bits to replace things I'd broken on my Mum's car... Good to know that there are still yards where you can do that. Went back to the same scrap yard to get bits for my daughters car not that she came with me.

Nice looking seats as well.

[Mercdan68]

Horrible little job I've been putting off for a while, replacing the broken bonnet cable, now who the hell would put a bonnet release in the boot then run it the length of the car???!!! Tools required were 8mm spanner, screwdrivers and young son George who has much smaller hands than me!! Fiddly job done and the lad has now learnt another job including th use of a wire coathanger!

[Mercdan68]