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MG MGF Technical - Bloody Toneau Cover

I imagine this has probably been done to death but with good weather, sorry potential good weather upon us I thought I would give fitting the hood cover another go. As I failed completely last year and failed again last night does anybody know if it actually fits? It must do as the have it on in the brochure pics, or did they just airbrush it in I wonder?
Anyways its a 96 jobby without the extra material at the back.
Any ideas before I break more fingers?
Richard

Richard

The MKl cover is a bitch to fit - that is why they changed to the MKll and I bought a Mike Satur cover.

BUT try by fitting the first press stud inside the door opening then by guiding the wire bead under the rim of the hood and keeping it taut gradually work your way round the car untill you get to the opposite side, pulling the wire bead taut all the time then you should be able to get the second press stud into place.

Failing that - forget it like most of us:-)

Ted
Ted Newman

Also a 96 F with MkI cover. I read an earlier comment on the BBS about fitting; it suggested fitting all press studs first and then pulling the cover to rear of the car stretching the cover and dropping the wire into the groove. Sounds strange but has worked 8 times for me in 3 weeks and my wife did it without breaking her nails.
John

I do it Ted's way. I find that the first time I fit it each year the wire is very difficult to stretch to the second stud, but it becomes easier after it's been fitted two or three times.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/16461713/16461875QqDvPiunpE

Ralph
Ralph

Richard,

I agree with Ted, but as for my wife fitting the cover.....dream on ! With practice it's possible to fit the cover in the fashion that Ted describes in under 5mins.

The only thing that I would suggest is pulling the cover as much as possible, once you've fitted the first press stud in the door opening, as there's nothing so frustrating as getting the thing in the groove all the way round and then not having enough play left to tension it into the other door opening.

Good luck

Graham
(SW France - 505 SX 16)
Graham

Tried fitting mine as above.

Then discovered I had the mk2 cover. Made life a LOT easier.

Try buying one from a breakers yard, or get an ms replacement.

Leigh
Leigh

Problem with Mk2 cover is that it looks IMO ridiculous with the tongue sticking under the bootlid. The Mk1 is a MUCH neater design, if trickier to fit.

That said, i went down the same route as Ted and got a Mike Satur one - far superior IMO.

SF
Scarlet Fever

I agree with SF on the fact that the Mk1 cover looks much better than the Mk2. Does any one know if the former can be fitted to an Mk2? Are there also press studs in the door openings of the Mk2 and are they exactly in the same position?

Per
Per

I only fit the thing occasionly, but found with the original type that leaving it in the hot sun (if available!) made it more pliable and amenable.
John

Don't know why but I found it easier to fit from passenger side to driver side.

Feed the wire between the folded hood and the body keeping as much tension as possible.

Don't give up on it as it drastically cuts down on wind noise and looks a lot better.
Ralph Young

Did the cover come a standard and where can I get a replacement - for a 96 vvc?
Nick

Nick - have you tried the "solution of last resort" an MGR dealer? Or alternatively some of the specialists that advertise on this BBS? BG, MS, Newton spring to mind.
John

John - am looking at the aftermarkets - was it standrad? And which one is best - some seem to go under the bboot lid...
N Battye

I purchased my MK1 hood from the MG owners mag some guy was selling it for £10 and it had never been on the car owing to the fact that he had a hard top fitted. My local MG dealer quoted me £150 for the same item.

I find it only takes me two minutes to fit, I first locate both door poppers and then the three top poppers, and then just feed it around just pulling and stretching the final 12-18inches into place.

If I was really struggling I would stump up the money and buy the new style which locates under the boot.
Alun

So, are the press studs in the door openings located in the same position on the MK1 and MK2? If so, I guess both the old and the new type of tonneau cover could be used on the MK2/TF. Has anyone tried?

Per
Per

This thread was discussed between 03/05/2002 and 14/05/2002

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