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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - What goes wrong?

Hello all,

I have just got a brand new ZS180 saloon last week. It is great! I love it. Lotsa fun etc. etc.

I am posting to ask if there are any problems which are common and happening to these cars.

What should I look out for?

All help would be appreciated.

Cheers


G
Gareth Strang

Hi,
I've had my ZS180 for a year now.

SRS light on dashboard intermittenly comes on - resolution bit more slack in cable needed under drivers seat. I'm 6'4" and had to have the seat all the way back and hence this procedure kept pulling the cable. (common problem)

Engine liked its oil in the first 5,000 miles. Approx 2.5 litres so keep an eye on it.
(common behaviour)

Water ingress into spare wheel depression in boot. Dealer fixed. (rare)

Few pieces of trim needed replacing. Don't hold your breath, spares take ages too turn up.

Virtually nobody that ever gets in will close their door at the first attempt. This effect gradually reduces as the rubber seals around the door lose a bit of their natural spring.
(common problem)

Some clain the Kenwood units supplied give poor radio reception. Can't say I've really
noticed.

Some people have also had strange results from the blowers. There were allegedly a few bits on back to front.

Oh and the suspension creaks from time to time, resolution ask your dealer to apply some grease to the tops of the suspension struts. Mine only appears to squeak when I'm on an incline pulling away, I'll get the sorted with the first service. (common problem).

Apart from that even after a year, I still love it. The handling is just awesome and I've thanked my lucky stars on a couple of occasions for that!

M
M

Yep creaks when pulling away, must check the struts out tomorrow.

Also noticed in hot weather I get some odd creaks from around the Driver and passenger door areas, haven't sussed them yet.

Oil definatley likes a drop early on.

Other than that pretty damn good, and the fun of driving it soon makes you forget any minor niggles.

I've had more probs on other motors with far less fun :)
mikeh

Its not the struts! Mine did it but there is a fix on mg-rover.org - Dr Dave section. Its the bodywork that is rubbing against the suspension mountings and needs to be prised away with a hammer and screwdriver - I did it without taking it to the dealers and its fine now
Rob

just had a problem with mine the keyfob central locking and imoboliser would not work so unable to start car. Got the spare fob and that didn't work either.

Thankfully I was next to a car alarm shop and they told me to walk 13ft away from the vehicle point the fob away from the car and hold down the button for 10sec. This did the job but it did make me realise that if that fob ever brakes or battery goes flat you are stranded.

ZS180
Gary

I'm a ZR driver not ZS but I'm guessing a similar system will apply to your ZS as my ZR.

You should have been supplied with a 4 digit code which is the immobiliser code. By following the instructions in the handbook, it's possible to use the driver's doorlock rather like an old fashioned safe (turning key so many times to left, then right, left again, then right etc) to 'enter' the 4 digit code into the car and the immobiliser will switch off.

It's a failsafe in case your keyfob does ever pack up on you and you're not left stranded.

The alarm will also disarm with the key.

F
F

Had to do that on my previous car (Rover 416).

Its OK if you can remember the code (also may have to be done when changing key fob batteries).

John
JLD

This thread was discussed between 31/07/2002 and 09/08/2002

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