MGF Head Gasket Failiure

In message , David writes

Head gasket failure at low mileage does seem to be very common with the MGF but those prices can't be right? I don't know much about your engine but I would have thought that £300-£400 including a head skim would be more like it.

You're not considering using the main dealer for this are you ?

Richard

Er I was considering using a main dealer - would I be better off at an independant? Will they be qualified to do the work? It sounds quite complex, not only has the whole engine/rear axle etc got to be dropped down, but the head needs to be skimmed down and measured etc etc. It all sounded a lot more specialist than a simple service. Thanks

David Bevan

Happens all too often I'm afraid. See here:-

Take the car to an independant garage and half or less the above prices is more like it. Lass I knew got her gasket sorted, head skimmed and a plug Helicoiled for £500 on a similar car....

You're probably best off getting the mechanical work done by an engine reconditioners (which is who the main dealer subcontract the machining to anyway). Google for the FER Federation of engine remanufacturers to find one locaal to you

As for a normal Rover with K series really, but add about 100quid as you have to take apart some of the luggage area to get access to the engine, and refilling is a real nightmare cos they airlock like you wouldnt believe- stupid radiator is lower than the engine!

Tim..

You don't know the head needs to be skimmed or the engine dropped until you remove the head. My K series just needed a gasket and bolt set...

snipped-for-privacy@davidbevan.co.uk (David) wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@posting.google.com:

Lots of good advice (current and archived) on

Mike Satur, Brown & Gammons and MGF Centre all have good reputations for MGF repairs; but may be too far away for you. Talking to someone at Mike Satur's a couple of months back, I was told that if I ever had the dreaded hgf they could probably include a stage one tune (I think it was just head reworking) for around £100 on top of the usual ~£600 repair.

Had mine done by Phoenix Chorley (Mechanical breakdown insurance paid out all) and the cost was +/- £700.

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Nearly everybody I know who has a car with the K series engine has suffered cylinder head gasket problems at some point. I imagine a good quality independent garage will have done loads of repairs of this type. It seems very common.

Richard

Don't take it to a main dealer, it'll cost a fortune!

Mine, a 97, blew its gasket during the summer at 73,000 miles. As others have said this was more a case of when rather than if.

I took mine to my local independent, real mechanics not main dealer parts changers! It cost me £438 including a head skim, all the parts, including a new timing belt, and labour.

I know someone with more money than sense who insists on main dealer servicing and repairs, they had one done about 18 month ago and was charged over £1500 for the privilege, also they had the car for nearly two weeks, mine was back on the road in three days.

The new gasket set will include proper steel dowels so once done it won't go again.

In news:5jCdnROk snipped-for-privacy@karoo.co.uk, Richard Goulding decided to enlighten our sheltered souls with a rant as follows

Garage I use (Ferrari - Porsche specialist, but I know them so it's cheap) refuses to do K series heads nowadays. "Do the whole job properly and the bloody things still go again. Can't guarantee the work, so we won't do 'em"

Not as though it's a crap garage, I've seen them get stupid amounts of power out of Lamborghini V12s for offshore powerboats with total reliability, yet they won't go near a K series...

Would an MG main dealer be able to offer any kind of warranty for this work? - I need to change the car very soon due to new baby, but am now scared that im going to sell it, it does a few hundered miles with the new owner and blows up! Then the new owner turns up on my doorstep demanding his money back!

David Bevan

OK, how many you had?

I'm convinced it's nannying that does it - I thrashed my K series from the day I got it, checking the oil and water regularly. Head gasket went after losing all the coolant when a hose split on the M1, never failed again - this was on a H reg 414 16v.

It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "Tim S Kemp" saying something like:

Haven' tushed a drop oshifeir

Nothing quite like a sound thrashing. That, and cold baths at 6am.

No no, K-series! :0

Of the half dozen K-series owners I know of, those that drove it hard day in, day out, never had any problems. I expect yours, Tim, spent most of its time at or over 4,000 rpm? :)

Those that are fannied about tend to go...

It had no go below 4000, so why run it below that? It was only about