hey mate i have owned both mk1 and mk2 zrs and i have to say there is a difference in build quality but would this have been enough to put me off buying my mk2 NO ! The electrical issue is a concern but the main reasons you get failure in the bcu is water damage and power surges ! So if going for a facelift i always suggest having the supressor fitted and have the bcu moved ! Doing this should stand you in good sted mate.
Mk1 ZR VS Mk2 reliability question
Heya, im looking at getting a ZR diesel (having owned a W reg 25 just over a year ago). Right i am looking to get something with low mileage and 2003 onwards, and having been a member on here for some time i always noticed people advising to go for prefacelift MG's over the facelift versions.
I know the build quality is meant to be fractionally worse thanks to cost cutting etc, but my main concern is the expensive ECU issues i have heard of. Any people out there with Mk2 ZR's suffered many problems that they wouldnt of had in a Mk1? Do i just go for the individual car or would i be better off focusing my search purely on pre 2004 models? (i'm also looking at ZS' but im guessing this carries over for both.)
Thanks, any advice or opinions appreciated.
Cheers, James
I know the build quality is meant to be fractionally worse thanks to cost cutting etc, but my main concern is the expensive ECU issues i have heard of. Any people out there with Mk2 ZR's suffered many problems that they wouldnt of had in a Mk1? Do i just go for the individual car or would i be better off focusing my search purely on pre 2004 models? (i'm also looking at ZS' but im guessing this carries over for both.)
Thanks, any advice or opinions appreciated.
Cheers, James
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mine is speshul 
it's the mk1 with mk2 electrics, seems to be the only one built properly :dunno: seems i'm the only one so far without the usual problems... well, except HGF :lol:
it's the mk1 with mk2 electrics, seems to be the only one built properly :dunno: seems i'm the only one so far without the usual problems... well, except HGF :lol:Interesting stuff, how hard is it (or costly) to move the BCU and fit a supressor? Anybody put up a guide on here?hey mate i have owned both mk1 and mk2 zrs and i have to say there is a difference in build quality but would this have been enough to put me off buying my mk2 NO ! The electrical issue is a concern but the main reasons you get failure in the bcu is water damage and power surges ! So if going for a facelift i always suggest having the supressor fitted and have the bcu moved ! Doing this should stand you in good sted mate.
I probably prefer the looks of the Mk2 and would rather the car was a bit newer, but im not really that bothered. As much as anything i thought it would be a bit different to the 25 i had.
Cheers, James
Mk 1 for me to be honest the ride is better, it looks nicer on the inside and looks more mean on the outside. I have grown to like the Mk2 exterior if it has all the extras, side skirts, back and front bumper add on's are a must. The mk2 interior, to be point blank looks crap, a nice grey slab of plastic with all the buttons mounted into it ... room for improvement ? I think so.
The gear stick surround with the circle plastic part looks pretty poor aswell the one on the mk1 isnt the best but I feel its a step backwords in design ( I understand budgets come into it but could they not have done something similar to the TF ?) Its nice how that design all flows together and looks SPORTY !
The gear stick surround with the circle plastic part looks pretty poor aswell the one on the mk1 isnt the best but I feel its a step backwords in design ( I understand budgets come into it but could they not have done something similar to the TF ?) Its nice how that design all flows together and looks SPORTY !
Contrary to popular belief, the supressor was not fitted to protect the SCU.
It was found that electical noise, generated mainly by motors, was causing the SCU to trigger other circuits.
The solution was to fit a supressor to reduce the electrical noise.
Other than the common issue of water ingress, the SCU suffers from failure of its control relays and also failure of the circuits that drive the relays, this results in things not working (windows) or being on constantly (horn).
These faults are relatively easy to fix, the only snag is that the relay used in the SCU was a component that Pektron had custom manufactured but this can be worked around if you know what you are doing.
There is an issue where the SCU cannot have new fobs coded to it if it is in the armed state and the original fobs have been lost, in this instance I believe that XPart will suggest that the only solution is a new SCU and fobs.
Avon Diagnostics have developed a tool that allows an "armed" SCU to be unlocked without original fobs and thus new fobs can be coded in the normal way.
It was found that electical noise, generated mainly by motors, was causing the SCU to trigger other circuits.
The solution was to fit a supressor to reduce the electrical noise.
Other than the common issue of water ingress, the SCU suffers from failure of its control relays and also failure of the circuits that drive the relays, this results in things not working (windows) or being on constantly (horn).
These faults are relatively easy to fix, the only snag is that the relay used in the SCU was a component that Pektron had custom manufactured but this can be worked around if you know what you are doing.
There is an issue where the SCU cannot have new fobs coded to it if it is in the armed state and the original fobs have been lost, in this instance I believe that XPart will suggest that the only solution is a new SCU and fobs.
Avon Diagnostics have developed a tool that allows an "armed" SCU to be unlocked without original fobs and thus new fobs can be coded in the normal way.
The build quality is worse on the later ones?
Blimey, I thought the build quality of my 2000 25 was appalling (and my biggest gripe with the car).
Blimey, I thought the build quality of my 2000 25 was appalling (and my biggest gripe with the car).
I had a 2000 25 and it was bad, I've had a 2002 25, a 2002 ZR and a 2005 ZR which were good although the 2005 would be in 3rd place.The build quality is worse on the later ones?
Blimey, I thought the build quality of my 2000 25 was appalling (and my biggest gripe with the car).
Probably the wrong section to put this, but compared to a 400/45/ZS I've found the 25 to be shockingly built. Either that or the enthusiast that had my ZS before me fixed everything.
There's no need to move the BCU, just cover it up in a waterproof bag and it will be fine. I LOVE my mk2 and wouldn't go back to owning a mk1 tbh.
i cant really comment on price mate as my mate fitted the supressor for me just cost me i think 5 for the part ! And the bcu just cost an hours labour as the needed to disconect the air con to get to it !Interesting stuff, how hard is it (or costly) to move the BCU and fit a supressor? Anybody put up a guide on here?
I probably prefer the looks of the Mk2 and would rather the car was a bit newer, but im not really that bothered. As much as anything i thought it would be a bit different to the 25 i had.
Cheers, James
i myself much prefer the mk2 interior as it looks more upto date and would not go back to the mk1 but that is just my taste everyone is different !Mk 1 for me to be honest the ride is better, it looks nicer on the inside and looks more mean on the outside. I have grown to like the Mk2 exterior if it has all the extras, side skirts, back and front bumper add on's are a must. The mk2 interior, to be point blank looks crap, a nice grey slab of plastic with all the buttons mounted into it ... room for improvement ? I think so.
The gear stick surround with the circle plastic part looks pretty poor aswell the one on the mk1 isnt the best but I feel its a step backwords in design ( I understand budgets come into it but could they not have done something similar to the TF ?) Its nice how that design all flows together and looks SPORTY !
i always thought it prevented power surges as before i had it fitted i had my boot unlocking and locking ever since then no problem ! Surly this has to help protect the bcu ? I am not trying to be argmentative mate as im sure you know more about the subject !Contrary to popular belief, the supressor was not fitted to protect the SCU.
It was found that electical noise, generated mainly by motors, was causing the SCU to trigger other circuits.
The solution was to fit a supressor to reduce the electrical noise.
Other than the common issue of water ingress, the SCU suffers from failure of its control relays and also failure of the circuits that drive the relays, this results in things not working (windows) or being on constantly (horn).
These faults are relatively easy to fix, the only snag is that the relay used in the SCU was a component that Pektron had custom manufactured but this can be worked around if you know what you are doing.
There is an issue where the SCU cannot have new fobs coded to it if it is in the armed state and the original fobs have been lost, in this instance I believe that XPart will suggest that the only solution is a new SCU and fobs.
Avon Diagnostics have developed a tool that allows an "armed" SCU to be unlocked without original fobs and thus new fobs can be coded in the normal way.
that isnt brilliant mate as the way the water gets in is normally down the wires so to cover it up you would still leave the wires open as they need access !There's no need to move the BCU, just cover it up in a waterproof bag and it will be fine. I LOVE my mk2 and wouldn't go back to owning a mk1 tbh.
Hmmm I thought it went in through the air vents? I would just put some extra sellotape on the wires, use two different bags, one over the BCU and a different one over the wires and I'm sure it will be fine, I wouldn't pay anyone to get it moved!that isnt brilliant mate as the way the water gets in is normally down the wires so to cover it up you would still leave the wires open as they need access !
well if you know what your doing mate im sure you could do it yourself it only needs flipping or with mine i have it pulled to the top for easy access to it ! As long as your happy mate thats all that counts hey !Hmmm I thought it went in through the air vents? I would just put some extra sellotape on the wires, use two different bags, one over the BCU and a different one over the wires and I'm sure it will be fine, I wouldn't pay anyone to get it moved!
That is true bud! Tbh I think I should try and fix mine, my drivers window sometimes judders going up, the mechanism was replaced with a new one so it might be the BCU. Not too bothered though, everything seems okay *touch wood*.well if you know what your doing mate im sure you could do it yourself it only needs flipping or with mine i have it pulled to the top for easy access to it ! As long as your happy mate thats all that counts hey !
my old zr window use to judder going up and down mate to the point where it would stop sometimes ! Turned out to be sticking on the rubbers just a bit of spray sorted it out worked fine after that !That is true bud! Tbh I think I should try and fix mine, my drivers window sometimes judders going up, the mechanism was replaced with a new one so it might be the BCU. Not too bothered though, everything seems okay *touch wood*.
The late mk1is use a mix of both system. They tend to be spot on and give very little trouble.
MK2's on the other hand I would avoid. As Technozen says the supressor was used to reduce electrical interferance. There was an issue where the rear wipers would go off and on, with a mind of there own and as above the locking of the boot.
The Pecktron SCU has many flaws with it. To many to list. If you can get a MK2 cheap enough dont let the electrical gremlins put you off. But pay to much and the car will be as good as scrap when it fails.
MK2's on the other hand I would avoid. As Technozen says the supressor was used to reduce electrical interferance. There was an issue where the rear wipers would go off and on, with a mind of there own and as above the locking of the boot.
The Pecktron SCU has many flaws with it. To many to list. If you can get a MK2 cheap enough dont let the electrical gremlins put you off. But pay to much and the car will be as good as scrap when it fails.
:wooman: i did something right for once :rofl:The late mk1is use a mix of both system. They tend to be spot on and give very little trouble.
MK2's on the other hand I would avoid. As Technozen says the supressor was used to reduce electrical interferance. There was an issue where the rear wipers would go off and on, with a mind of there own and as above the locking of the boot.
The Pecktron SCU has many flaws with it. To many to list. If you can get a MK2 cheap enough dont let the electrical gremlins put you off. But pay to much and the car will be as good as scrap when it fails.
i love my mk1, it's a late one, so it has the one-piece bumpers, mk1 lights, mk2 fob, mk2 body electrics, seems to have mk1 looms elsewhere.
sooo much better built and less rattly than my '98 200 was.
I like my Mk2, it depends on your level of forgiveness although i will be making steps to protect the BCU from trouble as best I can at some point.
Ah, so the early 25's were the worse? I had a succession of Rovers from when Wedgy first came out up until the 25. I thought they learned a lot from Honda with regard to build quality, as all were well designed and well built up until the 25 that was very disappointing. Very poor workmanship.I had a 2000 25 and it was bad, I've had a 2002 25, a 2002 ZR and a 2005 ZR which were good although the 2005 would be in 3rd place.
Although we kept the 25 for her to potter about in, we moved away from Rovers. A brief stink with a Focus (never again!), then onto Omegas. So I kind of lost touch/interest in Rovers. The 25 has been a reliable little runner (silly bits falling off aside, and of course a HG) though
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