Some "Subtle" Mods.... [Archive] - Maestro & Montego Owners Club

G51 NAV

27th October 2003, 21:55

Originally posted by F170 GGT
Anyways here's another.... providing it works this time. :rage: :mad:

Nice grill, but re the second mod I'd rather have seen your car proudly sporting an Austin badge, rather than a Rover one. Maestros and Montegos were never officially badged as Rovers (in the UK), and the Austin badges on the non-MG versions were dropped by AR in 1987 only because Graham Day decided that "young people don't want to drive Austins" (?)

"Wear Your AUSTIN Badge With Pride!"

Austin-Rover

27th October 2003, 22:06

Originally posted by G51 NAV

"Wear Your AUSTIN Badge With Pride!"

Im all for it!

:cool:

D87 SMW

27th October 2003, 22:13

Originally posted by G51 NAV
"Wear Your AUSTIN Badge With Pride!"

Well if the name was dropped, why use it??? :eek: :confused: :rolleyes:

To be honest, it is a temporary arrangement. They are stuck on with blue tack.
They will be glued on properly soon enough though...

Anything else while I'm at it? Want the tyres pumped up some more? Want the idle speed increased a few revs? :confused: ;)

Seems everything I've done today has been wrong. :mad: :o :banghead: :(

G51 NAV

27th October 2003, 22:32

Originally posted by F170 GGT
Seems everything I've done today has been wrong. :mad: :o :banghead: :(

:( Sorry to have caused offense - not intended
I just feel that AR should have kept the non-MG cars badged as Austins, not Rovers, and if I was to buy a late "non MG" Maestro, I'd be looking out for an Austin badge to stick on the tailgate to give it back its rightful identity

Your car is a credit to you - keep up the good work :) :) :)

MGTurbo

28th October 2003, 09:27

Originally posted by F170 GGT
Well if the name was dropped, why use it??? :eek: :confused: :rolleyes:

To be honest, it is a temporary arrangement. They are stuck on with blue tack.
They will be glued on properly soon enough though...

Anything else while I'm at it? Want the tyres pumped up some more? Want the idle speed increased a few revs? :confused: ;)

Seems everything I've done today has been wrong. :mad: :o :banghead: :(

Would have thought you'd calmed down after i spoke to you earlier. As i said, you must have been having a bad day. John's comments Re the Austin badge wasn't slagging you or your car off, i certainly see his point of view, as although the company that made the car was the Rover Group, it was still a product of late-BL/Austin-Rover and should have continued to keep the Austin badge. Certainly nothing wrong with the Rover badge though, most late car's do have 'Rover Group' on the VIN plate as well.

Gareth

H48HPE

28th October 2003, 11:53

I prefere to call my car an Austin, in my oppinion the rover badged cars always had an older driver image, probably the exeption being the SD1 which was a really nice looking car.

im looking for an austin grill for my car and the austin steering wheel badge to try and give it its rightful identity back.

Andy

D87 SMW

28th October 2003, 16:27

Well finding an Austin badge round here is an impossibility. RDGelder keeps whipping away them whenever he sees them! :eek: :banghead: :(

:laugh:

Austin-Rover

28th October 2003, 16:34

.....yes - but only from cars in the scrapyard. :laugh: :laugh:

John S

28th October 2003, 18:08

Sorry, but I'm a sucker for badge snobbery:laugh:, plus my car is actually painted in the same version of Nightfire red that the other Rovers of '93 onwards were painted in e.g. Tomcat coupe, 200, 400, 800....so it's already some way converted. I think the AUSTIN badge looks ugly anyway and just traps all sorts of muck under it further corroding the tailgate.
An MG badge in my opinion however, merely states trim level of the car and not its brand (in the same way as Vanden Plas does). People don't say "it's a Vanden Plas Maestro", they say "it's a Maestro Vanden Plas". To me an 'MG Maestro' is a 'Maestro MG' i.e. engineered by MG. My car is subtly engineered by Rover so I guess it could be a Maestro which is Rover fettled.

Got it? No, thought you hadn't:confused: :laugh:

Alan the Vanner

28th October 2003, 18:12

So, Maestro Vanden Plas, or Vanden Plas Maestro? I would say the latter. It's just like those people who say Robin Reliant instead of Reliant Robin. Don't get me started....!

G51 NAV

28th October 2003, 18:48

Originally posted by M170 RFA
An MG badge in my opinion however, merely states trim level of the car and not its brand (in the same way as Vanden Plas does). People don't say "it's a Vanden Plas Maestro", they say "it's a Maestro Vanden Plas". To me an 'MG Maestro' is a 'Maestro MG' i.e. engineered by MG.
Difference being though that BL used the Vanden Plas name as a trim level, but they used MG as a brand name. I.e.: the cars were sold as "Austin Maestro Vanden Plas" and "MG Maestro" not "Austin Maestro MG"

Vanden Plas was a coach-building firm founded in Brussels in 1884 by Guillaume Van Den Plas. MG was a car-manufacturer founded by Cecil Kimber forty years later which put sporting engines and bodies on otherwise-mundane Morris chassis.

John S

28th October 2003, 19:06

Originally posted by G51 NAV
Difference being though that BL used the Vanden Plas name as a trim level, but they used MG as a brand name. I.e.: the cars were sold as "Austin Maestro Vanden Plas" and "MG Maestro" not "Austin Maestro MG"

Vanden Plas was a coach-building firm founded in Brussels in 1884 by Guillaume Van Den Plas. MG was a car-manufacturer founded by Cecil Kimber forty years later which put sporting engines and bodies on otherwise-mundane Morris chassis.

I understand the tradition of the MG name, I just think maybe Austin Rover should have badged Maestros MG in the same way that they badged Maestros 'Vanden Plas' to avoid criticism about the cars not being 'proper MGs'. I don't feel Austin Rover did enough to diffrentiate the ordinary Austin Maestro from the MG - probably to do with the budget at the time. Maestro GSi could have been a good name, not as attractive as MG though!

PS: If anyone wants an AUSTIN badge for their car I have one in mint condition that I can give away for free.

D87 SMW

28th October 2003, 19:09

Originally posted by M170 RFA
PS: If anyone wants an AUSTIN badge for their car I have one in mint condition that I can give away for free.

Nope.

Anybody got any "mods" to show off?

G51 NAV

28th October 2003, 19:29

Originally posted by F170 GGT
Anybody got any "mods" to show off?
G51 has VP door-cappings, HJW Motorsport wooden dash trim (HJW no longer trading, unfortunately), MGOC wooden gearknob and a Momo 'Fighter' wood/leather steering-wheel. Shame I have no pics. I could show you my custom number-plates, but I don't know how to attach images. The [IMG] button asks for a http address, and unfortunately I don't have a website:(

D87 SMW

28th October 2003, 21:26

Anyway here's the latest "mod," a pair of 100 watt speakers for the rear...

Picture is in surprisingly good quality for one that's been resized... :eek: :cool:

Austin-Rover

28th October 2003, 21:48

Back to subtle mods then.....

I've been doing some experimaenting with new doorhandles. I think it looks quite nice - but would love to know what the rest of you think...

:cool:

Liam

28th October 2003, 22:42

Those door handles look really good on your car, suits the colour well! A nice subtle mod.

tony

28th October 2003, 23:10

needs lowering now and/or bigger wheels:laugh:

SimonR

29th October 2003, 07:36

I'm of the belief that all Maesty door handles should be chrome because they are stronger and look much better than the plastic ones. Then I suppose I would say that, given my choice of Maestro!

All you need now, Richard, is a nice set of chrome plated metal bumpers and a chrome strip in your door rubbing strips :)

Isn't it also odd that although the front door handle is parallel to the scallop line in the door, the rear handle is slightly crooked?! I noticed this on F153 but it's very obvious on the picture above.

My latest subtle mods to F153 are the polished engine components: camshaft covers, plenum, carb dashpot, fuel line and V-shaped thing to hold the plenum in place:

http://pages.zoom.co.uk/wonkeydonkey/F153JUE/Restoration/EngineIn/Small/SunAllThereSideSM.jpg

and

http://pages.zoom.co.uk/wonkeydonkey/F153JUE/Restoration/EngineIn/Small/SunPlenumSM.jpg

John

29th October 2003, 07:46

Both look really nice, make mine look a mess!

Austin-Rover

29th October 2003, 07:49

Subtle Mods is what makes your car special to you, and sets the car apart from others - although the fact its a Maestro or Montego helps alot anyway!

I must say i have never noticed any differance in the rear doorhandles to those on the front. It may juat be the way i have attached it. The handles on the rear door were not easy to swap.

That engine looks like new! you'll have to keep on top of the muck there to keep it shiny!

:cool:

SimonR

29th October 2003, 08:13

That engine is new! It's genuine 0 miles and is probably set to be that way until sometime next week!

You're right - it'll be an hours work every once in a while to keep it looking nice and shiny

On all Maestros, the rear end of the rear door handle is slightly higher, very odd when the front is straight...

Alan the Vanner

29th October 2003, 09:17

Originally posted by F170 GGT

Anybody got any "mods" to show off? [/B]

Well, I've made various switch and dial panels out of sheet aluminium with carbon-fibre effect trim.
In fact I'll have to load up some photos of my work in progress. Simon has already seen them.

John S

29th October 2003, 09:21

I always think chrome handles are the best way to go unless you've got the MG version and suits darker colours plus they're stronger. I had a VDP chrome grille fitted to RFA whith stainless mirrors when it had the metal bumpers on but found it looked far too 'tarted up'. I would be tempted to colour code the mirrors for future mods as the stainless ones stick out too much. A VDP grille could look good, but try finding one without stone chips/scratches on it these days. :banghead: I gave my shiny grille to 'malcsmaesty'.

Alan the Vanner

29th October 2003, 09:29

My starter for ten!

D87 SMW

29th October 2003, 11:32

Originally posted by F153JUE
Isn't it also odd that although the front door handle is parallel to the scallop line in the door, the rear handle is slightly crooked?! I noticed this on F153 but it's very obvious on the picture above.

Reason for this is that the rear of the car is naturally higher than the front. You might have also noticed that the gap between the top scallop line and the rear arch is greater than that of the front arch...

;) :cool: :eek:

SimonR

29th October 2003, 12:20

Yeah, you're right - I agree with that, only it's odd that the rear handle is not parallel with the top of the door, as the front one is.

Odd.
:confused:

D87 SMW

29th October 2003, 15:02

Originally posted by F153JUE
Yeah, you're right - I agree with that, only it's odd that the rear handle is not parallel with the top of the door, as the front one is.

Odd.
:confused:

Yeah come to think of it, it is rather offset. Could feel the difference the other day...

Ricky

29th October 2003, 19:42

Here's a subtle mod, I rather like it purely and simply because it solves one of the many leaks my sieve (I mean maestro!) has, and in my opinion it doesnt look too bad either! Think i've owned too many peugeots.....

steve smith

29th October 2003, 21:34

SORRY FOR BEING SLOW BUT MY MONTEGO (according to the v5 logbook) is a rover and not a austin but some mot people put austin in the make section when i see it i kindly ask them to write a new ticket marked rover as the last one was .

steve

threelitre

30th October 2003, 09:25

Hi there!

Although I like the Rover badges on the rear window of my Rover very much, I considered not to fit them on my Maestro. But a few things made it anyway:

I wanted to have chromed door handles, but did not have enough for a full conversion. So I painted mine silver, as the car is. This looks probably even better then the chromed ones (imo), but they are still of the plastic sort, sadly.
Next was a set of VP/Mayfair mirrors I found in a friends cellar :)
I also tried to fit the top door trims of a Rover GTD (aka Montego Countryman), but the wood did not really look in place on my Maestro LS trim (grey with red piping). So these were left out.
But the steering wheel (leather bound) of the GTD made it into my Maestro, although I changed the Rover badge back to Austin.
On the exterior I repainted my bad looking grille in the same grey as the lower half of the body, using chrome stick-on foils to recreate a similar look as a VP grille. And for the summer time, MG Maestro cheese graters have been on the car. But I had the Rover GTD wheels on it before, and think that they did look even better (larger tyres and nice wheel-trims). Another option for the wheels would be a set of original 13'' Maestro cheese-graters...
On the technical side a rev counter found it's way into the dash. And the anti-roll bar of the Rover GTD was fitted (very effective, but a bit too strong, since the comfort was slightly affected).
The engine received an oil-water heat exchanger (original unipart), and the matching tow-bar is waiting to be fitted.
A cd-changer unit from Blaupunkt replaced the small box under the radio, together with a nice head unit and steering wheel mounted remote control. The original speakers had to go very soon after, since they where really bad.
And the best mod of all was the fitting of an original Maestro cruise control recently :cool:
And, off course, anything can be reverted back to original quite easy...

Regards,
Alexander

E_T_V

30th October 2003, 11:07

Maestro cruise control

Ohh tell me more.....

Beaker

30th October 2003, 11:26

Originally posted by threelitre
steering wheel mounted remote control.

Does anyone know if a steering wheel remote control can be fitted onto a maestro to work with a Rover/Phillips R960 head unit?

Lindz

H48HPE

30th October 2003, 11:50

Cruise control was offered as one of those unipart extras (as were things like the maestro floor mats, imobilisers, flat boot floor maker thingy etc) Ive seen them advertised in an early brochure. I dont know how it all works but id like one.

Id also like one of the boot floor converters, it fits in the boot and raises the level of the floor to the same height as the boot lock striker creating the obvious flat floor and also a discrete place to store stuff well out of site like tools. it would look quite neat and tidy with the carpet over it. I might have a go at making one, i dont supose theres much chance of aquiring an original one

andy

threelitre

30th October 2003, 22:20

Originally posted by H48HPE
Cruise control was offered as one of those unipart extras (as were things like the maestro floor mats, imobilisers, flat boot floor maker thingy etc) Ive seen them advertised in an early brochure. I dont know how it all works but id like one.

Yepp, it's this one... Next one could be the electric tail-gate lock release, a friend must have one flying around his stock :)

The cruise control works via an electronically controlled vacuum-actuator pulling or releasing the throttle as required. Just like all the other after-market cruise controls. The nice thing was, that the kit had all the brackets and joints neccessary for the Maestro 1.3 or 1.6 (R).

The most incredible thing this shop had, where I got all this stuff from, was a Unipart A/C unit for an Austin Metro!

Cheers,

Alexander

PS: Re the radio with R/C - since the only car Austin-Rover delivered with Radio on the continent was the 800 Sterling, there is no 'original' radio for the Maestro over here. But I must admit that my unit is a bit more modern as the Blaupunkt units that most cars would have had when new.

John S

31st October 2003, 09:35

Pardon me for asking but what's so good about an electric tailgate release? Does it allow a person to open & close it from inside regardless of it being locked/unlocked? I think Mercedes have a better idea where you can get the bootlid to flip up on its own via infra-red remote!:cool: The bootlid open function on the outgoing BMW 5 series is useless however - all it does is allow you to unlatch the bootlid and you still have to lift it open. To make things worse - if the rest of the car is locked and you operate the mechanism via the remote it sets the alarm off!:banghead:

F690OTF(RIP)

31st October 2003, 09:41

If you're in the driving seat with the engine running, and you haven't yet had the need to open the boot since you last locked it, and you're picking up someone who wants to put something in the boot (or indeed get something out), then you don't have to stop the engine and get out of the car to unlock it.

I don't think I'd use it for that, though. I don't trust other people to close the boot because they're used to cars on which you have to slam the boot hard from a great height. On our previous Maestro we were always afraid that this would bring back the problem of the button not working to open it from the outside (although depending on the way the electric system worked, this might not be a problem). On our current Maestro, more bits of rusty tailgate fall out if it's slammed. :eek:

threelitre

31st October 2003, 13:20

The electric tailgate release only makes sense if you have a car without central locking. It was offered in the first one or two years of Maestro production only, when it was impossible to get an 1.3 with central locking. It just unlocks (and probably releases the lock) from the driver's seat similarr to the stuff found in moost japanese cars of the time.
With all these new cars opening the boot on the pressing of one button you have to be really carefull when playing around with yourr remote control in a tight place :)

Regards,

Alexander

John S

31st October 2003, 15:11

I don't think I'd use it for that, though. I don't trust other people to close the boot because they're used to cars on which you have to slam the boot hard from a great height. On our previous Maestro we were always afraid that this would bring back the problem of the button not working to open it from the outside (although depending on the way the electric system worked, this might not be a problem). On our current Maestro, more bits of rusty tailgate fall out if it's slammed. :eek: [/B][/QUOTE]

I agree. I always shut my boot using the latch as a handle to pull it down (got a rubber cover on it) and when I have brought it down half way I use the spoiler to shut it and the boot sounds refined enough when shut done this way. Another thing that annoys me is when rear passengers think it's normal practice to slam the back doors (almost shattering the windows in the process) and wondering why they sound so tinny:banghead: - main reason for this is in fact that the back doors are small and were designed to be shut with only a whisper of effort.

G51 NAV

31st October 2003, 19:48

My custom plates...

G51 NAV

31st October 2003, 19:51

...and...

steve smith

31st October 2003, 20:24

plates look good

D87 SMW

31st October 2003, 20:38

Originally posted by G51 NAV
My custom plates...

I assume you got those from Fancyplates.com...
Is the online credit card payment part of it safe enough? Have already sent them a cheque and nothing has happened. And that was a month ago. :banghead: :mad: :rage: :(

G51 NAV

31st October 2003, 20:55

I paid by debit card. I found FancyPlate's website to be no more nor less safe than any other on-line payment system with a secure connection.

Sorry to spook you but paying by cheque is no safer: at some point your bank account details will end up in the same computer system as those people who chose to pay by direct transfer (debit card/credit card); all you've done is lengthen the process. But if it makes you feel safer, then that's fine :)

My plates arrived within two weeks.

D87 SMW

31st October 2003, 22:57

Thanks for that advice...

...here's a better picture of my red/silver grille... (notice the 4 speed gearbox beside him!)

John S

31st October 2003, 23:11

Originally posted by F170 GGT
Thanks for that advice...

...here's a better picture of my red/silver grille... (notice the 4 speed gearbox beside him!)

Nice one. Would you consider fitting fog lamps in the future to GGT? I've noticed the 'angel eye' types are now available too:idea:

John S

31st October 2003, 23:13

Originally posted by G51 NAV
...and...

I can see my new number plates now - "MG Maestro TD ltd. edition No.1 of 500,000:laugh:

D87 SMW

31st October 2003, 23:47

Originally posted by M170 RFA
Nice one. Would you consider fitting fog lamps in the future to GGT? I've noticed the 'angel eye' types are now available too:idea:

Nope. Only going for simple mods which can be reverted back to original easily. i.e. the grille....

Anything else I can spray while I'm at it?

G51 NAV

1st November 2003, 08:44

Originally posted by M170 RFA
I can see my new number plates now - "MG Maestro TD ltd. edition No.1 of 500,000:laugh:
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Re: what else to respray, how about body-coloured bumpers? Or even chromed ones - though to have that done properly would work out VERY expensive

D87 SMW

1st November 2003, 09:49

Originally posted by G51 NAV
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Re: what else to respray, how about body-coloured bumpers? Or even chromed ones - though to have that done properly would work out VERY expensive

Body coloured metal bumpers??? I've seen a green Diesel Maestro (L reg) with body coloured bumpers, and the answer is no. :eek:

How about I paint inside the little grooves of the Austin logo on the wheel trims, green and blue...? ;) :eek: :cool:

John S

1st November 2003, 10:24

[QUOTE]Originally posted by F170 GGT
[B]Body coloured metal bumpers??? I've seen a green Diesel Maestro (L reg) with body coloured bumpers, and the answer is no. :eek:

Tell me about it, I've seen a flame red diesel one like that locally:rolleyes: You could do with another 50 quid maestro purely for modifications I reckon.;)

H48HPE

1st November 2003, 13:05

you could paint the austin rover logo on the wheel trims but if your not carefull youll end up with it looking like a christmas cake! with too much extra non standard paint. your right about the bumpers, i dont like to see the steel ones body colour they dont look right. a set of mudfaps is a good idea and try and find stuff like the maestro floor mats etc, they finish it off nicely, I found my set in an M reg rover 218D and agreed to swap my new set (from the supermarket £10) for the maestro ones, top deal i thought.

andy

D87 SMW

14th January 2004, 16:27

My latest eBay purchase... :p

A set of Rover valve caps. :cool: :D

talkingcars

14th January 2004, 17:55

A lot of reading in this thread for me as a new user.

The MG Maestro, Montego and Metro are as much an MG as any other non sports car MG and over the years there have been many. If you want to argue the point you could say the sports cars are not true MGs as they were not "special" editions of a normal car.

The late maestros and montegos are Rover, but it was decided not to badge them with anything so not to put off buyers of the new rover 2/4/6/800s. I beleive on the continent they were badged Rover, not that it worries me, I've got a MG.

Re electric boot reliese, I am in the process of fitting a cable from a monty estate, they work by having a little lever that undoes the latch, a bit heath robinson but it works. At the same time I am fitting the remote petrol flap reliese.

The plastic handles do break far to easily, the chrome and the colour coded ones are much better.

James
(p.s. where is the spell checker?)

Beaker

14th January 2004, 18:14

Not sure you can integrate a spell checker into php code. But then I know nothing about programming

The best method is to write your post in Word, spell check it then paste it to here.

Lindz

MaestroMatt

15th January 2004, 08:45

Originally posted by F170 GGT
My latest eBay purchase... :p

A set of Rover valve caps. :cool: :D

I like them! A subtle mod if ever I saw them.

G51 NAV

15th January 2004, 11:24

Originally posted by F170 GGT
My latest eBay purchase... :p

A set of Rover valve caps. :cool: :D
I wish you luck with keeping them. Blackpool is not exactly Car-Crime Central (not that I'm complaining of course) but my MG valve-caps lasted all of a week before two went missing, followed by the other two the following week.

D87 SMW

15th January 2004, 12:33

Originally posted by G51 NAV
I wish you luck with keeping them. Blackpool is not exactly Car-Crime Central (not that I'm complaining of course) but my MG valve-caps lasted all of a week before two went missing, followed by the other two the following week.

Well the only valve caps any of those little sods are going to see on GGT are the standard plastic ones. Only going to be using the Rover ones for shows etc. ;) :p :D

:cool:

MaestroMatt

15th January 2004, 13:17

Does anyone know if Vanden Plas ones were ever made? The circular VP logo would rather lend itself to a valve cap.

Maria

15th January 2004, 15:02

Don't know, but http://www.plastengrave.co.uk/ did some VP logos for my wheel centres, so why not ask them. I'm sure they still have the original artwork, as a year ago at the Autosport show I came across the same company, with their PC on the stand with one of the centre logos stuck to the monitor! :laugh:

I'm sure they could do small VP sticker suitable for putting onto standard chrome valve caps. In fact, that's a damn good idea, and if they can do some, I might have to get some to go with my X-spokes!

b466bmf

15th January 2004, 16:24

Originally posted by F170 GGT
My latest eBay purchase... :p

A set of Rover valve caps. :cool: :D
was there no austin caps?
:)

MaestroMatt

16th January 2004, 08:29

Originally posted by Maria
Don't know, but http://www.plastengrave.co.uk/ did some VP logos for my wheel centres, so why not ask them.
...
I'm sure they could do small VP sticker suitable for putting onto standard chrome valve caps.

How very useful that you said that - I am after some replacement wheel centres for my VP and I know F153 and his father would both like a set as well. I shall drop them a line and ask them.

Austin-Rover

18th January 2004, 11:32

My latest - a brand new Rover R960 Radio with 6 CD Changer which happily lives under my drivers seat.

D87 SMW

11th February 2004, 12:11

Here's my latest mod. A new car for my Rover badges! :laugh: :laugh:

;) :cool: :D

D87 SMW

26th February 2004, 16:20

This is what R514 would look like with silver mirrors.

Yes or no? :p

;)

John S

26th February 2004, 17:15

Originally posted by F170 GGT
This is what R514 would look like with silver mirrors.

Yes or no? :p

;)

Not bad, perhaps a bit too 'top heavy' looking as there's no chrome elsewhere to complement it. How about colour coding the mirrors but adding chrome/colour door handles (chrome is much more durable though). I'm thinking of adding colour coded mirrors as the VDP ones look good on the side view but thinking that they stand out too much at the front.

Just my 2p worth.