MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGF Technical - MGF Head Gasket Replacement

Can anybody recommend a good garage that can replace the head gasket on my MGF VVC in the Newport area of South Wales?

Been quoted £650 + VAT, but that seems a little steep !
C Watts

If that includes doing it all properly incl skimming, flushing, cleaning and replacing all fluids and rebleeding a week later then it sounds a pretty good price!
Charles

I agree, I was quoted £1471 by a garage near Reading.
A Hyatt

If there's is mayo instead of oil in your engine, then this quote is as good as it gets I'm afraid - particularly if you want a good job done.

If an uncomplicated swap, you could have the gasket replaced for around 400 quid from a good specialist...
Rob Bell

Has anyone heard of a head saver shim.

Someone at work used to work at the head gasket manufacturer and told me about this shim, also he said the best headgasket to go for is a none rubber one as the best one is the all metal part which is avaialble from land rover dealers.

Tom
Tom Randell

That'll be the Multi-layer gasket, developed by Powertrain Ltd in the last days before the collapse of MG Rover. Landrover took it up and now retail it for Landrover Freelander owners - and of course for MG owners!

More here: http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/engines/development_history_of_the_K.htm#The%20EUIV%20hurdle

And as you know, it works best with the stiffer lower oil ladder :o)
Rob Bell

I had my hgf done with Promotive in Rogerstone, I felt I was done over good and proper, cost me £1750, they put a new head on but when I had the original tested, it passed the hot pressure test
ok. Took them to small claims but lost the case, the magistrate recognised him from a previous similar case, he obviously new system, and as it was my 1st time, I didn't.
Where did you get that quote from for future reference?
Ron Bourne

yep hadmy head gasket replaced in milton keynes .souls off ward road excellent replaced with the new gaskets cost me £600 know head skimming was needed for this. water pump was replaced thermostat all the gubbings.would recomeend if you are in mk get the car booked in ask for joe hes a top man

darren

Darren Jeffery

i had a HGF and i have to replace the entire engine in my MGF VVC 1998, are there still new engines on the market?
Chris

Chris,have a look at this....
http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/rimmer/xpart/mg_rover

Pete C

Pete C, this is very helpful, thank you very much.
it will even give me some extra horses...
Chris

Sounds like my original quote was fair, for reference it was an Xpart dealer in Cwmbran if I recall correctly.

I noticed a hiss from the expansion tank so had the cap replaced as thought the small coolant loss could have been from this his.

Still checking levels daily, the last check of the rocker cover oil cap was clear, so maybe I've found it.

May consider getting the gasket replaced as a preventative measure.
C Watts

That would be a wise decision,a had a lot of damage and to prevent a HGF is cheaper then to solve it.
Chris

I have posted this before but I am still absoultly stunned by the costs that people have been quoted for replacement of the headgasket in an MGF.

Despite what most people think it makes very little difference that the engine is in the back except that you have to remove the cover above the engine to access it, it's a tiny bit more difficult to unbolt the engine inlet manifold and it takes a little longer to bleed.

Both of my local garages that are experienced with the K-Series engine HGF, charge around £300-350 depending upon the whether it is water in the oil or oil in the water etc.

I think I will go into business doing these as I could do one a day and make a fortune!

A D Smith

There will be more effort required if the head requires skimming as all the valve gear will have to be removed from the head and put back on after the skim, a more complicated VVC head will be more effort still.
Jon Baker

I guess its not quite the same but a complete gasket change on my 1.8 ZS including head skim etc etc cost me a little over £275.00 last year. My local village garage in sunny Devon. I supplied the gasket set and bolts etc which i got from ebay at around £40.00. All in all I considered it to be a fair price.
R Jupp

Russell

As I also live in South Devon I would interested to know which village garage you used as I am sure one day I will looking for somewhere to have the HG work completed
Craig Noble

Craig, its a small village called Witheridge between Tiverton and South Molton in North Devon. Really helpful. John Burd Motor Engineers.
I dont have his phone number to hand but I can get it if you need it. Its quite a long way from South Devon though!
Russell
R Jupp

Russell

Thanks for the info I shall keep it in safe place, I know it's long way from here but heh if the price is right then it may well be woorth the journey

Craig
Craig Noble

Hi all
well it seems ive joined the club today with a blown head gasket on my mgf. i took it to my garage today who said that they will look at it and then tell me i they think a repair will work. apparently they dont always work after repair, but i will still fit the bill. can anyone advise me on this further???????
Tony
tony

Tony, if the repair is done properly there's no reason it shouldn't last the rest of the life of the engine. There are factors like piston liner height that can decide whether the repair is economically viable, and sadly these can only be assessed once the engine is apart.
Did the engine overheat badly, or did you discover the symptoms before getting to that stage?
Mike Hankin

Hi Mike
Thanks for you info mate, much apprieciated.
i noticed when steam was coming out, but stopped pretty sharpish, and had only been driving in traffic for a mile or so!! it was still running ok and was starting perfectly still. does that help????
Tony

have just had the same nasty experience. MGF overheated about a month ago but i was told it was an airpocket and has been driving normally ever since. Today it overheated again and when roadside assistance arrived there was loads of gunk in the oil. Can anyone recommend somewhere in north london where i can have i towed?
jacqui

This thread was discussed between 28/03/2007 and 17/04/2007

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGF Technical BBS now