- New

Even though the prices of car purchased in the UK have finally started to reduce over the past couple of years, buying a new car is still and expensive business and it's always best to start off by choosing a dealer with a good reputation. It is therefore suggested you make your first stop the MG Dealer Guide, which as the name suggests is a guide to MG Dealers! (sorry UK only).

Once you taken the plunge, ordered your car and finally got to the dealer to pick it up you would expect to see your car in perfect condition. Of course there are various things you should check before you finally pay and drive off with a silly grin on your face...

Collection Checklist

1. Do not sign anything until you have run through the following check list!

2. Make sure the specification at the time of placing the order is correct. If anything is missing or not as it should be tell the salesman right away, it may be the item you requested has been simply over-looked and not put in the car. Whatever the reason though make sure the order is fulfilled before you drive away.

3. Pre-Delivery Inspection Check sheet (PDI) - It is the dealer's duty to ensure you new car has pasted a series of final checks before handing it over to you. As the mechanic checks these items, such as ride height and functionality of switches etc. he has to tick them off the PDI checklist, a copy of this form should be given to you - insist you have a copy if it is not provided.

4. Even when you do have the PDI check-sheet still insist on giving you car a thorough examination. Generally check that everything visible is fitted correctly and shows no signs of damage, pay particular attention to the fit and finish of bodywork panels. If you find defects later it may be much more difficult to prove when/where the damage took place, ie. before or after you took delivery!

5. The door windows on the MGF are adjustable, make sure there are no gaps between the glass and rubber seals on the roof and that both doors open and close easily without fowling on the seals. If your car has been supplied with the optional hard-top make sure you check both the soft and hard-top seals for fit in relation to the windows.

6. Any half decent dealer will make sure you know how all the features of your car work and where they can be found. Make sure he/she also shows you how to operate the hood even if this means the optional hard-top has to be removed to do so.

7. Normally you would use the key-fob to unlock and disable the engine immobiliser. However, batteries don't last forever and although the key will still unlock the door it does not (in normal operation) disable the immobiliser (ie. you'll only gain access to your car - you won't be able to drive it!). To use the key to disable the security system you need to use the special key-code unique to your car. Ask the dealer to show you how this works, this will also prove the correct key-code has been provided.

8. Test the alarm by leaning over the car when the hood is down and removing something from the seat. The alarm should sound - switch it off with the key-fob unlock button. :)

9. Browse other areas of this FAQ - You can never know too much!

   
   

- Used

Before setting out as a prospective buyer of a used MGF make sure you know exactly what you are looking for. Obviously the amount of money you have (or are willing) to spend on a used F will determine roughly what year and model you can afford. Having determined what you can afford - do your homework and find out the standard specification for model(s) falling into your price range. Doing so will enable you to spot any options that were added to the car when originally purchased and equally stop you being fooled by an unscrupulous seller that a piece of standard equipment was an optional extra.

Naturally, there are basic checks you should do when buying any used car, do these before you pay for your shiny new toy to avoid nasty and costly shocks at a later date. When buying from a private seller this becomes even more important - if the engine falls out as you drive away your new purchase it becomes your problem...

• Check the authenticity of the car - make sure any paper work for the car relates to the car you are looking at. Ensure chassis/engine numbers match both with the V5 form (log-book) and with each other on the car itself. Also ensure the VIN plate attached to the car has not been tampered with in any way, it should be firmly riveted to the chassis and lay flat against the surface. If the VIN plate looks in anyway suspicious - walk away, and if you are particularly alarmed by what you see - contact the Police immediately, the car may be stolen or a 'ringer' (one or more vehicles with fake/false identity).

• If the car is being sold with a 'full service history' make sure the service book is both present and stamped up as it should be. Any additional receipts/invoices for servicing and work carried out are of course an added bonus.

• Naturally, check the whole car for any signs of damage or abnormal wear. All panels should line up with an equal gap, though with older examples expect to see stone chips and the odd dink in body panels. Interior wise make sure any visible wear to seats, steering wheel, gear lever and foot pedals tally with the car's mileage. Excessively worn rubbers on the foot pedals and shiny areas on the steering wheel normally mean the vehicle has a high mileage.

• HPI Check - Have your prospective purchase checked for any outstanding finance, you don't want to stump up several thousand pounds for a car only to find a finance company breathing down your neck for money! HPI checks can also confirm that other details about the vehicle tally with what you actually see, eg. body colour.

• If your knowledge of cars is limited or you simply want a little more re-assurance you should consider having one of the motoring organisations RAC/AA etc. give the car the once over. This should highlight any problems with the car and will either confirm it's worth buying or problems highlighted could be used as a bargaining to reduce the asking price.

Like any car the MGF is also subject to it's own specific list of possible faults and problems to look out for....

• Uneven tyre wear - Quite a common occurrence on MGF's particularly earlier MK1's has been front tyres wearing on their inner edges. This is usually as a result of poor ride height and tracking settings leading to excessive loads being placed on the inner edges of the front tyres. Always pay particular attention to how the tyres on a used F are wearing. If the front tyres show signs of inner tyre wear or have recently been replaced when the rears have not - be suspicious, it could be an indication of tracking/ride height problems.

• Ride Height (Also referred to as trim height) - As mention above the F's ride height can be a factor in uneven tyre wear. When out looking at used F's take a tape measure with you to measure the ride height: Measure both front trim heights from top center of front wheel arch to the center of the wheel hub. Ride Height should be 368mm +/- 10mm. Bear in mind that ride height does vary with ambient temperature - Hot day = Higher ride height, Cooler day = lower ride height.

• Leaks - Look at the hood, if it has seams above the side windows, parallel with the sides of the car then this is an early hood & may suffer from leaks. Later hoods are MUCH improved & can be identified by the lack of these seams. Check the passenger & drivers foot well for damp carpet, also check the boot. If the hood is a newer design & the interior carpets are wet then the door cheaters need adjusting (the black rubber triangular wing mirror mounts) as these can block the drainage channel in the rubber seal on the windscreen frame causing a steady drip onto the inner door card & from there onto the carpet. If the boot carpet is damp, get the vendor to exchange the rear lamp cluster gaskets for the thicker ones.

• Seat Belt recall - Pre-1999 (though not all) MGF's were subject to a safety recall. Look at the piece of trim where the seat belts emerge from the rear bulk-head behind the seats. The plastic trim mounted in the rear bulk head should be fixed in place with two screws and has a vertical slot on the lower edge. If this trim has a slot to one side the recall has not been enforced - bring this to the sellers attention. Some VVC models were also subject to an unofficial recall which was supposed to be dealt with the seat belt recall. Basically there was an issue with the torque of the cam bolt with a batch of VVC's that if untreated could lead to severe engine damage. If the seat belt escutcheons are of the vertical slot type then it's a good indication this work has also been carried out.

• Check coolant/oil - Check the level and appearance of both (via service hatch in boot). Coolant should be either translucent green or blue (normally car age dependant) with no sludgy traces - ie. contamination with other fluids. Coolant level is correct when it is level with the expansion tank's seem. Check the oil level and look for traces of what looks like mayonnaise. If there is anything more than a slight deviation in oil/coolant levels or signs of contamination then it could be an indication of HGF (head gasket failure) or previous HGF.

  
  

- Related Articles

• Importing

  
  

2nd September 2001, Copyright © 2001 - Paul Lathwell

Based on personal opinion and discussion on the MGF BBS's.