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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - ZT 160+ (turbo) exhaust

The back box on Jan 05 registered ZT160turbo has started to blow.

Clearly one easy alternative would be to go to Kwikfit and get a whole or part system fitted.

Does anyone have any comments on the alternatives such a stainless system or some power liberating after market system?
David Witham

S***Fit you mean. I had two BMW wheels powder-coasted and laquered and they made a fantastic job of them. Took them to S***Fit to get two new tyres fitted, they decided they were 'reverse rims' but hadn't got any plastic protectors for the jaws of the machine and chopped two great chunks of the laquer out. I argued and got a lot knocked off the price of the tyres, but that still left me with the damaged wheels. I'd never go there again for anything. Had the fronts done elsewhere who couldn't understand why they would have thought they were reverse rims so gripped them on the inner rims, but didn't do any damage anyway.

My 180 came with a Peco back box which looks a bit 'blue neon washer jets' for me and just makes more noise - the insurance company wasn't bothered as it made no difference from a performance point of view. The PO had a nylon tie in place of one of the rubber rings, which made a noticeable increase in harshness and vibration. Swapped that for the proper mount, which was still on the peg - and then I found it why it was like that as the tail-pipe bangs on the bumper when I go round left-handers.

Having said that the stainless tail-pipe is a big improvement on the standard replacement systems I have seen, and the original back box was in the boot when I bought the car and in perfect nick so I won't have to bother about that section at least.

I've put full stainless systems on both the V8 and the roadster, and while it is fine on the V8 it sounded very 'farty' on the roadster for many years - nothing like a 'proper' B, which was a disappointment. Eventually it started sounding much sharper and better, whether the sound-deadening material is breaking up or what I don't know. I'd imagine a stainless system would make less difference to the noise of the Z-series than it does on the B, but nevertheless you have to spend the money to find out. For longevity stainless is superb, of course.

To get the best out of a performance system, probably 50% more cost than a stainless, you would need to change the breathing as well at more cost. You might like to contact Roger Parker at the MGOC on that. This would almost certainly have an insurance impact.
Paul Hunt

Thanks Paul.

I have seen on another site that the input pipe on replacement back box will slip over the original pipe. So I assume all I need to do is take the angle grinder though the old pipe and then use a clamp to hold it together. Sounds quicker than going down to an exhaust centre an waiting in the Saturday que.
David Witham

Interesting, which boxes are those? The existing fitting is a flange, of course. Do you cut the flange off with the back box? Or leave it on with a stub of pipe, the replacement back box presumably being a bit shorter?

I did think about putting the original box back on but couldn't get enough leverage with the car just on ramps to undo the nuts.
Paul Hunt

David,
go to Partco in Leamington Spa (North end of town) and buy one of their replacement boxes. They are made for Unipart (who own Partco now) and are a reasonable price and good quality.It is easy to fit it your self...

Best wishes, Brian ZT-T 190
Brian Rainbow

This thread was discussed between 11/11/2008 and 12/11/2008

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