I have recently purchased the ZR 105. Must say impressed with its setup and cant wait to give the engine the respect it deserves after the run in period!!

Looking to start modifications and was wondering if anyone had any ideas where to start. I'm looking to start as usual with air filter etc, has anyone had any problems?

As this is my first car I am quite behind in my knowledge etc. 8)

IAM INTO THE FOURTH MONTH OF OWNING MY ZR105
BUT MODS AT THE MOMENT A HARD TO COME BY. I
WORK IN A CAR PERFORMANCE AND STYLING STORE UP HERE IN SCOTLAND AND HAVE TRIED ROVER 200
K+N INDUCTION KITS ON MY CAR BUT ALL THEY DO IS MAKE LOTS OF NOISE. K+N ARE DEVLOPING A INDUCTION KIT FOR THE ZR BUT IS 6-8 WEEKS AWAY I WILL KEEP YOU UP TO DATE , IAM ALSO LOOKING INTO EXHAUSTS PLENTY OF ROOM UNDER THE CAR SO A DUAL EXIT EITHER SIDE OF THE BACK BUMPER WOULD BE NICE IN TALKS WITH SPORTEX AT PRESENT.

Where in Scotland I'm Aberdeen myself!

Cheers for your input. I wondered, as the car is a new model, that would be the case.

How long did you run it in for until you tested it proberly? Im at 800 miles on the clock. I also selected the upgraded stereo but wonder if that was the wrong move as it seems to skip, I am right to expect for a brand new Kenwood CD player to rarely skip and give quality tunes majority of the time?:eyes

Hi Chewie,,

The UK's No1 for MG and Rover tuning are R.P.M you will find their link on www.richardsons-group.com :D

Great choice of car, Chewie :)

What colour?

Your CD should never skip - are you sure it's not a bum disc you have there?
I have used the Kenwood CD Receivers in all MG Z Models, with no skipping at all.

Thats what I thought will be visiting my dealer soon. Have tried brand new CD's too make sure.

Was contemplating the yellow but saw the red and feel in love?

Cheers Edgie will do?

Dr Dave this site is brilliant this is the best forum site I've come across? Youll find however that I might need to ask some daft questions as I aint a mechanic I'm a suit.
:D

Don't worry Chewie - we cater for allsorts here :D :D

Ask away, no problem:)

What would you suggest I should begin with?

Begin with what??

Tuning/Modifications or your questions??

:D :D

Is there any sites that cater for the ZR owner. I've looked in magazines for exhaust prices, induction kits etc but the prices differ for different models.

I would also like to see other modified ZR's for ideas etc.

I have not enquired about the MGR accessories catalogue to work out prices for upgrades etc, but I imagine the dealers prices will no doubt be much more expensive than specialised dealers.

I STAY IN ARBROATH JUST DOWN THE ROAD I WORK FOR AUTOSAVE COMPONENTS IN DUNDEE BUT HOPEFULLY I WILL BE TRYING TO GET THE BRANCHES UPTO SPEED IN ABERDEEN WITH ALL THE STYLING AND PERFORMANCE ACCESSORIES WE HAVE IN THE DUNDEE BRANCH WHERE DID YOU GET YOUR ZR IT WAS'NT REG VARDY WAS IT. >=(

Unfortunatly Yes! they were crap. Lucky for them the product kept them in the deal.

I WAS UP AT REG VARDY BEFORE I GOT MINE IT TOOK THEM 3/4 HOUR TO GET ME A PRICE FOR MY TRADE IN AND THEY WERE £600 SHORT ON WHAT I GOT OFFER AT GUTHRIE BROS MONTROSE AND THE SERVICE THERE SO FAR IS AMAZING.

CAN I USE OTHER DEALERS FOR SERVICING ETC? OR DO I HAVE TO STICK WITH THOSE CLOWNS AT REG VARDY.

Only trouble is Chewie...any mods will invalidate your 3yr/60K warranty.

Otherwise, Induction Kits, Exhausts, Throttle bodies are they way to go:)

We have fitted all of these to a ZR 105 and it transforms the car

Otherwise, Induction Kits, Exhausts, Throttle bodies are they way to go:)


Are you saying that any changes will result in my warranty becoming void. Do they not allow for any upgrades?

No, any modifications will invalidate the warranty.....there are no 'approved' mods, either ???

hi, my mum want's to extract more power from her 1.4 R/25 (84ps). Just exactly how much more power would it pump out with a K&N induction kit?

With a Trophy throttle body and an induction kit, you could increase the power to over 103PS, quite easily.

Or wait for MGR to sort out the Sports pack for them! Whether it will be a retro-fit option I don't know. But I've heard romours of figures around 130bhp from the 1.4, although its all top end at the mo, so you need to rev the balls off it. They're looking to adjust it a bit though, so its smoother.

Has anyone tried fitting the MGf K&N 57i cone filter to a ZR 120+?

Otherwise, I'll have that filter lying around when my MGf gets replaced with a ZR and I really dont fancy coughing up more of my hard earned money on another air filter... heh. I'd willingly spend it on ICE or exhausts though... :D

- Ben..

Ben, the problem with a Cone filter on a saloon car is that you need a cold air supply, which can be hard to get (the ZS is pretty tricky for this).

Without a cold air supply you get a nice roar, but a drop in power.

Why would anyone buy a ZR 105 1.4 16v and then try and mod the engine

why not buy the ZR 120

insurance will go up to ZR 120 levels if you mod the 105 and you wont get it as good as the 120 without serious mods.

its simple jr, the 120 is more expensive than the 105, 1500 quid or some thing, and insurance for me on a 120, well iwouldnt be able to get any, Im just speaking for me but im only going to spend 300-400 pound max, and thats for an induction kit= better engine sound, Backbox= louder sportier exhaust note, quick shift= less trow on gear change and may be a strut brace, all of which wont improve performance much but im not that bothered, but improve other aspects, none of which you get on the 120 or 160 i think, insurance you can tell im if you want, im not. any way its something to do some thing different, and who wants to be ordinary.:D

Robbie, it is probably best if you do modify the car to let the insurers know. If you didn't and the car gets nicked or bashed, and the insurers find out about the mods, it could invalidate the insurance and they may well not pay out on a claim. It's a risk you can take, but could you face the loss of your beloved car and then not be able to afford another one? I used to work in the car insurance industry, and that sort of thing used to happen a lot on sporty cars. Sorry mate

im going to go out on a limb here and say this (correct me if im wrong)

the ZR 105 has the standard rover k series 1.4 16v engine with MPI

thus ANY K&N that fits a rover 200 (new shape) 1.4 16v MPI or metro GTi 16v MPI or rover 414 16v MPI should fit and work as well as any K&N filter.

as for buying the 105 and then modifying to get more power/noise/handling is wasted

adding a strut brace may affect handling, car was setup by MG without strut brace, developed without strut brace and you hardly need one.

the metro GTi 16v doesnt have one and that has 105 Ps.

adding a back box will give you naff all power increases unless you fork out for performance manifold, and do something about the cat (sports cats sell for £400 alone)

the extra 1500 for a ZR 120 is a bargin price. mod the 120 and you can get 165 BHP no problems without changing the bottom end

im pretty sure that if you get powertrain projects (PTP) modications then this shouldnt effect your warrenty, but its worth checking with PTP first.

it will cost you 1500+ to get a 105 to give 120 bhp and even then the engine torque curve wont be as good, and insurance will cost more for modded 105 than standard 120

But for some people the fun is in their car being different! I see both sides of the argument here. We all like and dislike different things about our cars, so some change and modify them to the way they would prefer. Also some people cant afford the insurance for the power models so they buy a base model and mod it and dont tell their insurance running a big risk!

[Edited by Don25 on 21-02-2002 at 05:56 PM GMT]

You hit the nail on the head there Don......there are many people out there paying thousands for their motor insurance even on fairly mundane stuff.

The great thing with the MG ZR is that a youngster can have the looks of the ZR160 but have the insurance-friendly 105PS engine!

Which is a good thing in today's image-concious society! :) :)

Also, personalising your car to your own taste can be a very satifying (abeit expensive!!) hobby=P =P

i know what your saying don and i agree.
im only going off what my mates say, most of which say not to bother telling the insurance company, ?, the proplem is that im with eagle star, and they say a big no to modifactions.
I havent modified any thing yet, my insurance runs out in 3 days, so does any one know a decent insurance company that accept mods?
Back to the 105, im not too bothered about maxing the performance, all iwant is a some thing good to look at under the bonnet, like a nice crome strut brace and a induction kit. and make it sound a bit beefyer, if i boost the hp i'll only end up pushing to far and write it off or something. you could say that im wasting my money but what else am going spend it on im 18, a nother pair of nikes?.
(for 90 quid you can the 160 throttle body and stick it on, it looks the same as the standard from the outside but could gie you a few more hp especially with a cold air induction kit) ?

robbieg wrote:

I havent modified any thing yet, my insurance runs out in 3 days, so does any one know a decent insurance company that accept mods?

you could say that im wasting my money but what else am going spend it on im 18, a nother pair of nikes?.

(for 90 quid you can the 160 throttle body and stick it on, it looks the same as the standard from the outside but could gie you a few more hp especially with a cold air induction kit) ?

being 18 + Mod car = lethal insurance combination!

Yep....insurance is a big issue these days???

I can personally reccommend Performance Direct in Hornchurch, Essex.

Try a search using www.google.com for their contact info.

Robbie, the best bet if you are going to mod the car is to go to an insurance broker. They can then phone around to get a good deal with a company that understands why people want to mod the car. If it's just a cosmetic change then they may not cahrge any more, and maybe just exclude the mod from the insurance. If it's a power hike then how can a theif tell this, so there isn't a greater theft risk, although the extra speed may just up the insurance a bit.

Either way, one of the independant brokers (rather than the AA) would be better, as they get to know the insurance companies better!!

Hope this helps,

Ed

I can understand whats being said about insurance, especially when they rip you off with extortionate premiums and then dont like paying out. There is a stightly different way you should look at it though.

Lets say you mod it and dont let on.
One day whilst happily driving along quiet sensible something draws your attention and you inadvertantly crash or injure someone!!.

Becuase you didnt tell you insurance they wont pay out too you. Neither will they pay out for the poor innocent one youve injured/killed etc.
Result:
1)You face prosecution for driving without insurance. ie BIG FINE + Prison.

2) You face a civil claim for not being insured.


I think that in the event of a death youd be looking at way over £250,000.00 these days.
Quite a bit more than the insurance are going to charge.

Put it this way. If it was me you ran into I wouldnt think twice about sueing.
Why do you need performance mods anyway. Speed limits 70 !!!!

Griff, your right that could happon, and its a big risk, the only thing that made think it might be woth it(not telling) is that one of mates had a car crash.(long story) It was quite funny really, thier identacle twins one was driven the other in the back, i was in the front passen,
he was driven quite fast in town throw a one way system, and came up on a left turn, his brother shouts at him just befor the turn and says "show him how do this turn racing style?", so he took the line, going way to fast in the wet, understeered big time and went into the back of a parked astra, we were all ok but he had written off his civic and did a load of damage to the astra.
anyway his civic had be lowed 40mm all round big 17s alloys, big front and rear splitter, and a home made induction kit. He hadn't told his insurance company about any of it, end result they didnt seem to care?, and infact the astras claim was rejected and because of legal infringement made by the astras owner (they found there address and wrote a abusive letter), so the twins got away scot free.(not funny really as someone could of got killed, This happen a few months ago and since then Im so carful when driven, I'll never go fast in the wet again. I think I will have to find cheap broker then, mean while im putting in some subs and a sun strip.

I'm glad no-one was hurt or injured in that episode Robbie:)

We learn from our mistakes......8)

i am also 18 and considering purchasing a zr105+. the problem is with insurance - in that its very expensive. the best quote so far is about £2500 from elephant.co.uk. does anyone know of an insurance company that might charge a little less????????:eyes

Check out the RAC site. http://www.rac.co.uk

My brother filled in loads of online forms and the RAC came out 50% less than most of them!! There insurance is provided by axa. If you get a quote from axa you will find it about £15 dearer than the RAC.

I thought that there was free insurance on the ZRs at the moment? Or does that only apply to people over 21?

kris southstand wrote:
I thought that there was free insurance on the ZRs at the moment? Or does that only apply to people over 21?

You are right Kris, it only applies to 21+, as it was printed on the ad i read on the back page of the Metro.

I can understand whats being said about insurance, especially when they rip you off with extortionate premiums and then dont like paying out.

I'm not here to defend the insurance companies. However, I was listening to Irish radio this morning and the Irish government has been investigating its own insurance industry.

As part of the investigation they looked at the market here in the UK and concluded that the average UK insurer had made a profit of £0.20 on the average UK insurance policy.

Indeed, I went to renew my insurance about 4 weeks ago for my Rover 25 and was advised that my previous insurer had withdrawn from the motor insurance market.

Doesn't exactly sound like an appealing or profitable market to me.

John

THINK BRITISH... THINK MG ROVER

MG ZS+120
JLZ 4613

I agree with you, redviking. The motor insurance industry is losiggn money because they have to pay out for those motorists who dont pay their insurance. These are the people who are the main cause why we get rip off.