Identifying a ZR 160.

tonyvitesse · Post by **tonyvitesse** » Sat May 12, 2007 9:24 am

Hi guys, hope you can help. Going to look at this car today...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2003-MG-ZR-GREY-B ... dZViewItem

When I have gone to get an insurance quote, that reg number is coming up as a 120+.

The engine bay looks identical to a 160 though. Is there any way of finding out 100% if it's a 160? Is there anyone able to do a history check for me?

Much appreciated.

southside · Post by **southside** » Sat May 12, 2007 9:40 am

Its hard to tell. Its deffinatly a 160 engine, It has the 160 badge on the back although i cant be sure so dont quote me on this but i thought all 160's came with passenger airbag as standard and also the union jack/checkered flag badges are missing off the rear quaters just back from the rear windows.

Post by **Fordimus Prime** » Sat May 12, 2007 9:41 am

i put the reg through rac vehicle check, and it comes up as:

Make
MG
Year of manufacture
2003
Model
ZR
Engine size(CC)
1796

the 120 can't be a 1796cc, so it must be a 160

Insurance company probably misheard the reg. Happened to me a while ago, my car came up as a diesel!

tonyvitesse · Post by **tonyvitesse** » Sat May 12, 2007 9:41 am

Would a HPI check tell me one way or the other? I hate the thought of having to fork out Â£40 to find out, but if it saves me in the long run.

tonyvitesse · Post by **tonyvitesse** » Sat May 12, 2007 9:43 am

Fordimus Prime wrote:
the 120 can't be a 1796cc, so it must be a 160

Insurance company probably misheard the reg. Happened to me a while ago, my car came up as a diesel!

Thanks matey, 160 and 120 are both on parkers as 1796 though.

MGJohn · Post by **MGJohn** » Sat May 12, 2007 9:52 am

Drive the car ..... there's a BIG difference in performance!

Information on the V5 can be inaccurate if a dozy sales person inputs slightly duff data ... 'appens.

Roboscot · Post by **Roboscot** » Sat May 12, 2007 10:05 am

Shouldnt the 160s have 'VVC' on the plenum?

southside · Post by **southside** » Sat May 12, 2007 10:11 am

Fordimus Prime wrote:
the 120 can't be a 1796cc, so it must be a 160

Why? they're both 1.8's. Just one is solid cam and one is VVC

Not all the VVC's had it stamped on the plenum either.

ti or not ti · Post by **ti or not ti** » Sat May 12, 2007 11:00 am

Tony - only way i would say is under the rear bumper there should be a 2mm id black plastic hose. on a 160 they had a drive by noise butterfly in the right hand pipe of the twin exhaust, this is attached to the ecu, that would be the only way i would check - apart from driving it...IMO the front brakes look small compared to my dad's and flatmates...

HTH

tonyvitesse · Post by **tonyvitesse** » Sat May 12, 2007 11:08 am

I think it was just confused.com being gay.

Put the same reg into elephant and it comes up as a 160 5dr. Gonna go drive it and have a good sniff round. If there is even the slightest hint that it's not right I will walk away.

t220cat · Post by **t220cat** » Sat May 12, 2007 11:21 am

have a look for the vvc mechs/actuators, also they have a 2 cambelts, one on either side

sharky · Post by **sharky** » Sat May 12, 2007 12:35 pm

that is a 160. you can see the vvc control bit by the rear cam cover.

to me it seems a bit dodgy... or maybe a dvla mistake.

me and a mate of mine were going to look at a ZT190 but the insurance quote showed it come up as a 160... so we ignored it and went elsewhere.

glennm255 · Post by **glennm255** » Sat May 12, 2007 12:45 pm

Sounds like it's probably just dodgy data to me. I've had insurance quotes where my reg has brought up details for a 218is (I drive a Coupe VVC) and have heard of a number of similar stories from other VVC owners.

HTH,

Glenn.

Post by **Fordimus Prime** » Sat May 12, 2007 1:32 pm

southside wrote:
Fordimus Prime wrote:
the 120 can't be a 1796cc, so it must be a 160

Why? they're both 1.8's. Just one is solid cam and one is VVC

Not all the VVC's had it stamped on the plenum either.

didnt know that- for some reason i thought the only 1.8 they did in the zr was the vvc lump

Post by **Punx0r** » Sat May 12, 2007 1:37 pm

The second cambelt cover on the right-hand side of the head indicates a VVC to me...

As said, could be an error in the insurance database, or it's possibly been upgraded at some point?

darwin · Post by **darwin** » Sat May 12, 2007 1:52 pm

tonyvitesse wrote:Would a HPI check tell me one way or the other? I hate the thought of having to fork out Â£40 to find out, but if it saves me in the long run.

If I was spending that amount of dosh on a car I would get an HPI check done anyway . Could be other hidden history you dont know about ?

darwin · Post by **darwin** » Sat May 12, 2007 1:54 pm

ti or not ti wrote:Tony - only way i would say is under the rear bumper there should be a 2mm id black plastic hose. on a 160 they had a drive by noise butterfly in the right hand pipe of the twin exhaust, this is attached to the ecu, that would be the only way i would check - apart from driving it...IMO the front brakes look small compared to my dad's and flatmates...

HTH

Looks like an aftermarket exhaust has been fitted anyway (160s came with a twin exhaust did they not ? And its bigger than the standard ZRs single pipe exhaust) , so the hose and gubbins may have been removed ?

darwin · Post by **darwin** » Sat May 12, 2007 1:57 pm

southside wrote:Its hard to tell. Its deffinatly a 160 engine, It has the 160 badge on the back although i cant be sure so dont quote me on this but i thought all 160's came with passenger airbag as standard and also the union jack/checkered flag badges are missing off the rear quaters just back from the rear windows.

Didnt think any of the Mk1 ZRs came with passenger airbags as standard ?
Also I dont think the Mk1s had the additional badges on the rear quarters .

Bikernut · Post by **Bikernut** » Sat May 12, 2007 3:18 pm

Isn`t the 160 the only ZR with rear disc brakes?

jim

C2K · Post by **C2K** » Sat May 12, 2007 3:30 pm

Cambelts left and right = vvc.

gaz200 · Post by **gaz200** » Sat May 12, 2007 3:32 pm

Bikernut wrote:Isn`t the 160 the only ZR with rear disc brakes?

jim

The 1.8 non vvc also has rear disc brakes, not too sure on the diesel? The 1.4 has drums

hth

darwin · Post by **darwin** » Sat May 12, 2007 5:18 pm

The denzils have drums too .

al_roverMG · Post by **al_roverMG** » Sat May 12, 2007 6:04 pm

darwin wrote:The denzils have drums too .

The 101 diesel does but the 115 diesel is discs all round.

In the drivers side door shut there should be a sticker with the build number. I am sure the Zr forum should be able to give you the original spec from that.

Squaddiemodo · Post by **Squaddiemodo** » Sat May 12, 2007 6:41 pm

al_roverMG wrote:
darwin wrote:The denzils have drums too .
The 101 diesel does but the 115 diesel is discs all round.

In the drivers side door shut there should be a sticker with the build number. I am sure the Zr forum should be able to give you the original spec from that.

yep my wifes 115 ZR had discs all round

tonyvitesse · Post by **tonyvitesse** » Sun May 13, 2007 9:45 am

Well, wen tto drive it yesterday and wasn't keen. Don't like the driving position, don't like the way it handles, exhaust was way over the top. Also, wasn't as quick as I had expected.

Also had a look at a face lift Vectra GSI. Very keen on that, seriously thinking about handing over the cash today.

crazy_shifty · Post by **crazy_shifty** » Sun May 13, 2007 9:48 am

for me the link brings up a motorbike?

walshy.walsh · Post by **walshy.walsh** » Sun May 13, 2007 9:51 am

now im confused, clicked the ebay link, and it brings up a CCM?

tonyvitesse · Post by **tonyvitesse** » Sun May 13, 2007 10:27 am

Same guy selling it. He must have got the MG sold, he did say someone else was coming to look at it after me but I thought that was just down to him trying to get my cash out of my pocket.

ti or not ti · Post by **ti or not ti** » Sun May 13, 2007 11:09 am

darwin wrote:
ti or not ti wrote:Tony - only way i would say is under the rear bumper there should be a 2mm id black plastic hose. on a 160 they had a drive by noise butterfly in the right hand pipe of the twin exhaust, this is attached to the ecu, that would be the only way i would check - apart from driving it...IMO the front brakes look small compared to my dad's and flatmates...

HTH
Looks like an aftermarket exhaust has been fitted anyway (160s came with a twin exhaust did they not ? And its bigger than the standard ZRs single pipe exhaust) , so the hose and gubbins may have been removed ?

Twin pipe - cos one has the butterfly on.. the hose is conneted to the ecu muliplug there is a post on xpf - iu'll try to hunt it out.

walshy.walsh · Post by **walshy.walsh** » Sun May 13, 2007 11:13 am

whats the idea of the butterfly then?

C2K · Post by **C2K** » Sun May 13, 2007 11:39 am

Variable exhaust pressure. Under low load the buttefly valve closes, to keep things more efficient/responsive. VAG, BMW etc all have them in the newer TDi engines.

Sheaf · Post by **Sheaf** » Sun May 13, 2007 11:51 am

Confused.com always does that... got quite a few quotes off there where they quote for a different engine'd version of the car you're looking at.

LJ · Post by LJ » Fri May 18, 2007 3:04 pm

I clicked on the link at the top and it comes up as a ccm off road bike!

200coupe · Post by **200coupe** » Sat May 19, 2007 8:31 am

erm ive clicked the link and it comes up with a motorbike!

Post by **Punx0r** » Sat May 19, 2007 7:59 pm

I think this old thread needs another post saying: "I clicked the link at got a motorbike!"