MG ZS Diesels ~ I seek feedback from Owners/Users.

MGJohn · Post by **MGJohn** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 1:59 pm

Soon will commence the search for a replacement for my MG ZS 120+ hatch which some plonker rear ended two weeks ago. Ideally we seek a close or identical car to the one written off on a BER ( beyond economical repair ) basis. Will also seriously consider the Diesel Version which both I and my better half will try before deciding. The last Diesel I drove was a year or two ago and it was a nearly new Mercedes. I am not a diesel enthusiast but, a diesel version of the ZS may suit as a family runaround. I am very familiar with the way the petrol ZS performs, both 120 and 180 versions having experienced several.

So, anyone with experience of the Diesel MG ZS please take time to give your appraisal ~ good and bad points please. I'll be interested to know if the Diesel version handles as well or as near as our petrol version which, for an ordinary relatively cheap production car, has extraordinary handling which I found a delight in all aspects.

Honest performance and consumption figures 'straight from the horses mouth' will be greatly appreciated as we all know there can be a world of difference between real users' figures and those from manufacturers. Also, reliability and running costs. Some diesel under bonnet components can be horrendously expensive as my work colleague discovered when something gave trouble on his Diesel VW Golf.

Oh yes, anyone had a Rover-ron Jobbie fitted to an MG ZS Diesel ... provided such is available and if so, feedback on that would be greatly appreciated.

Picture below shows the reason we need to have look for a replacemment ~ everything in front from the rear doors forward is near spotless...

.

Squaddiemodo · Post by **Squaddiemodo** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 2:10 pm

Have a mooch round the diesel tech section mate, its one of the reasons i am getting a 200SDi, so i can get a speed fix with economy (not getting rid of the vitty though, shes my toy)

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 3:51 pm

John,

Speak to Al (al_roverMG). He has recently purchased a diesel powered ZS.

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 4:57 pm

In standard form they are not too bad, only issue I had was the hair raising moment when you floored it and expected to take off, but unless you were over 2k rpm, it was like a flatspot until the boost picked up.

Fitting a decat helped no end, but didnt get to experience a RoverRon special before I moved on.

Decent economy, averaged mid 40's, had a habbit of munching front tyres, Tracking was spot on though, so may have been too soft a compound in teh rubber.

On teh whole, Very good.

Would look for a MkII if I were ever to return.

Steve

TurboMG · Post by **TurboMG** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 6:27 pm

One thing I noticed is they are incredibly noisey, you definately know your in a diesel... Try a ZT john you might like it....

BrackenFox · Post by **BrackenFox** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 6:30 pm

TurboMG wrote:One thing I noticed is they are incredibly noisey, you definately know your in a diesel... Try a ZT john you might like it....

Shouldn't be *that* noisy, at least not when moving. One thing to check if the noise seems excessive is that the engine undertray is present, it does tend to go missing on many used L-series diesels, and results in quite an increase in noise, as all that lovely diesel clatter comes down from the engine, bounces up off the tarmac, and fills the cabin.

danclarke · Post by **danclarke** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 6:47 pm

My dads two ZS's are diesels and he loves em! cant fault them in any way, and iv drove them and they pull

Very nice cars!

TurboMG · Post by **TurboMG** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 6:58 pm

Undertray may of been missing, but with the window down they are very loud, did pull well though (for a diesel)....

You just dont get any toys on a ZS, plus the interior on a mk1 is terrible...

mach1rob · Post by **mach1rob** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 7:57 pm

Al's is very nice, and goes very well as std, I've yet to sample it now he's fitted one of Ron's magic boxes, but going by the message I got it's only got better and faster

75s/ZTs are worth a look too, CDT responds well too, and Conn SE you get all the toys too

al_roverMG · Post by **al_roverMG** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 10:24 pm

John posted in your thread on MGR so wont say it all again here but you can see i really do like mine and am still suprised by how well it goes.

Rob will be about sunday if you want to have a go and such just how much quicker it is.

mach1rob · Post by **mach1rob** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 10:41 pm

Should be about, I'll bother Miles again, but he don't reckon it's up there! :@

Oh and 20 psi

al_roverMG · Post by **al_roverMG** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 3:24 am

So it needs turning up then

Oh and