VP for sale, Breakage/Spares

[topgear]

Dear All.

Im afraid aftter nearly 100K, my S series engine has busted. Firstly the head gasket went, then it started running on 2 cylinders only.. After inspection, number 2 was down on compression badly. thought the head gasket replacement would do the trick, but unfortunately there is major engine damage somewhere, broken piston ring or worn bores etc, and its still the same... Using up far too much petrol, sounding like a VW Beetle, and being lousy in performance.

Therefore, the time has come to say goodbye to my Silver, F Reg, VDP which has serviced me well for over 3 yrs. Its a shame seeing as apart from the engine being broken, theres not much wrong with it. A slight bit of rust near the welds by the rear doors, and a broken wing mirror... but thats it. The interior is superb, and its a very shiny example of a Maestro. I'll be looking for a more reliable friend who will drive me around the country on business in excess of the speed limits, and in the meantime i offer my VDP to any of you for breakage/spares.

Please place your offers. I will provide pics soon. Would any of you be interesting in taking this metal shiner off my hands, leaving a space on the driveway for a younger counterpart? There are lots of spares to be had, including a nearly new exhaust system and complete interior. Doors, bonnet etc all in very good condition.

Let me know, post a message and lets see this VDP kept from the crusher!

Topgear,

[MGTurbo]

Ah yes, the crappy S series, they dont take to well to unleaded fuel and enthusiastic driving it would seem.

I would be interested in the driver's side door's, and the passenger front door. Where are you exactly, and how much would you want?

Gareth

[tony]

hi topgear ,re your car i know some one that badly needs your wing mirrors and grill,me my self have a list of smaller parts inculding the speedo drive,steering wheel,power steering system, dash computer,the list goes on would you like to sell the car a a whole?
.

[H48HPE]

what about someone buying the whole car and putting a recon engine in, if the body is a good one then surly it would be better to save it than strip it down? there are so many maestros with bad bodywork it seems daft to let one with good body work go to waste. As top gear says lets not see this one go to the crusher!:(

Andy

[Maria]

Yes, second hand or new engines aren't too hard to come by, and nor is a complete rebuild exactly difficult if you have time, space and tools, so I would hope it could go to someone with the know-how to rebuild the engine.

[D87 SMW]

I agree. Stick another engine in. ;) Would be like scrapping GGT otherwise...

:(

PS; No I was not online at 2:20am... ;) :o :rolleyes:

[topgear]

Hi all, many thanks for all your messages, and as ever im pleased about your interest and enthusiasm in the Maestro.

I would be wanting to sell tis car as a whole really, so if anyone would like to buy it as a whole and replace or rebuild the engine, please feel free! Im based near Portsmouth, and i'll let you bid offers to me in what you think the car is worth :-) I'll post some pics of the car late monday though so that you know what its like.

ive been told the S series engine is very badly desgined, and has been known to fail at 40K, but this ones done quite well with nearly 100k on, and you cant expect an engine to run forever, specially when its been running on unleades and additive for 3 years.

Anyway, Cheers again.. keep 'em coming! :-)

Topgear.

PS, What were you doing up at 2am?

[D87 SMW]

Originally posted by topgear
PS, What were you doing up at 2am?

Someone please buy that car!

I was up til 3:40am... :o :rolleyes:

[topgear]

Ok, heres some pics! Sorry there are so many, but need one of every angle you know! :)

[topgear]

another

[topgear]

and a third

[topgear]

:)

[topgear]

:D

[topgear]

nearly there

[topgear]

0kay, this is the last one.. Relax! :-)

What do you all think?

:) :) :) :)

[Austin-Rover]

Originally posted by topgear


What do you all think?



It would be a nice little project for someone - It looks really good in the pictures, so it wouldn't take much for someone to get it back to best!

[H48HPE]

yes it would make a really good restoration project, all it needs is a bit of TLC, a recon engine frome somewhere, then new suspension and bushes etc, from ledbury (to give it the new drive feeling if desired) a bit of spray work to get the wheel arches finished and it'll look really good and it'll be a new engine so you'll know its history.

It just cant be broken for spares it needs restoring. remember the ultimate aim of the club is to prevent as many of these cars going to the crusher as possible. I know I bang on but I feel quite strongly, and *if* I had any room for it, i would take it, but sadly theres only enough room for 1 car belonging to me here.:(

Andy

[Jonathan]

No, you're not going to get away with scrapping that one ;)

I'm only 40 minutes away but the garage/drive are full otherwise I'd not hesitate. I've been having similar trouble with the MG recently and I'd say it's overall condition is quite a bit worse, but despite a lack of time and very little knowledge of anything engine related I'm still giving an engine replacement my best shot (a bit cold out there at the moment though!).

[MGTurbo]

Originally posted by D428CHO
No, you're not going to get away with scrapping that one ;)

I'm only 40 minutes away but the garage/drive are full otherwise I'd not hesitate. I've been having similar trouble with the MG recently and I'd say it's overall condition is quite a bit worse, but despite a lack of time and very little knowledge of anything engine related I'm still giving an engine replacement my best shot (a bit cold out there at the moment though!).

Why are you replacing the engine?

Gareth

[SimonR]

Shame on you Topgear!

That car is in far better condition than F153 was in a little while ago and is faaaar too good to scrap.

I've heard it's possible to replace the S-Series engine (!) and contrary to what others have said I think it's a good lump. F153's original engine did 116,000 miles and only died because I allowed the oil breather to get blocked and that broke the oil seals. The last 40K of that was using unleaded fuel (new cylinder head) and I was regularly driving it hard to London and back.

Furthermore yours is the only other mk. 2 Maestro VP that I know in the club besides mine. Certainly the only other one with grey leather interior.

As far as I can see that car would be back in fantastic condition for about £500.

Sadly, without a working engine your car is probably worth about £50, even with that lovely interior. It would be a real shame to allow it to end up in the srapper where the rest of the Mk 2 VPs seem to have gone :(

Go on lad, either restore it yourself of give it to someone who can do it justice! If I hadn't just spent aged with F153 I'd get it like a shot....

[Jonathan]

Originally posted by MGTurbo
Why are you replacing the engine?

Gareth

Acquired a Gold Seal recon unit recently, and the existing 105k engine's leaking oil badly (pretty sure the crankshaft oil seal has gone for a start). There are things I want to do that will be much easier with the engine out anyway, so it seems to make sense to put the 'new' one back in.

There have been other problems like an uneven idle, and the manifold gasket failing every two miles down the road (that might just be an uneven surface). Engine hadn't been quite right for some time and it's difficult to put a finger on why so it's coming out until I have the time/knowledge to investigate further / rebuild it. I may be wrong but I suspect something more sinister internally.

[MGTurbo]

Make's sense to me. If you hear of any more goldseal engines going cheap, i'd be interested, doesn't have to be a turbo.

Gareth

[E_T_V]

Well as Tony said there is always demand for shiny wing mirrors and grilles in our garage with the new VP (Geoffry) in residence if you do decide to break it. An engine swap for even a scrap unit isn't too difficult, I did mine in a day. I'd suspect a warped head on your old engine which isn't difficult to fix, but look for a low milage scrap unit. As for their longevity, ours did 220k and 180k respectively with only a minor amount of maintainance. The don't like LRP though. Additives are a must.

[Simon]

I think the S series engine is okay myself. Are the front and rear bumpers crack free? they appear to be the same colour as my car(pulsar silver/hurricane grey)

[Beaker]

Put a new engine in it, it wont cost that much and should only be a weekend job.

Its scandalous to break a maestro that has a solid shell and doors.

Would it not be possible to put a 1.3 engine in it, as I know new ones of these can be bought cheaply. Ours was £50 for a 12,000 mile engine (or something like that) from the scrappy. IIRC ledbury had some 1.3 engines for sale as well.

Skatie

[H48HPE]

A complete new 1.3 engine is about a hundred quid from ledbury according to whats been said on the forums. I would think it wouldnt be too hard to put one in, just new mountings and possibly a bit of wiring.

Come on Topgear, its your duty as a final gesture to this piece of automotive ecellence to ensure it goes somewhere it will be kept on the road, we're relying on you.

Andy

[MGTurbo]

Originally posted by Skatiechik


Would it not be possible to put a 1.3 engine in it, as I know new ones of these can be bought cheaply. Ours was £50 for a 12,000 mile engine (or something like that) from the scrappy. IIRC ledbury had some 1.3 engines for sale as well.

Skatie

Forget that, put a proper engine in, the O series ;) A 2 litre Maestro VP would be very nice.

Gareth

[H48HPE]

id agree with that, power with style. that would be a really good one to do. the best way to look at it is the chance to do an off road restoration with the choice of 3 different engines to put in.

Andy

[SimonR]

Originally posted by MGTurbo
Forget that, put a proper engine in, the O series ;) A 2 litre Maestro VP would be very nice.

Gareth

Agreed! But, if someone takes this car and wants to know where they can get the parts to replace the engine with a later-spec unleaded S-Series I know where all the parts could be found - I was thinking about it in the shower this morning. I know of a 45,000 mile leaded engine on an auto, I have an unleaded head (with 40K behind it), I also know where to get the other parts that I required for F153 - later spec sump and oil breather system. Methinks it would not be that expensive either.

I anyone wants help with this then let me know!

For God's sake don't let it get scrapped :(

[topgear]

Hey all, thank you for all your messages :) and dont worry, if at all possible this VP will be saved from the crusher.

Glad to ehar my car is so rare in the club and that there is indeed only one other like it. The leather seats are in excellent condition, having been treated with neatsfoot and kept clean where possible.

The bumpers are completely crack free, and are indeed the Silver leaf metallic / Hurricane Grey colour. The rear one had a repsray lot long ago as the paint looked a bit tired.

The only faults with this car as it stands are:
1. The engine problems, running on 3 cyclinders, doing around 15mpg.
2. Heater only works on position 3
3. Elderly radiator, but not leaking!
4. Faulty rear wiper motor, jammed and overheats.
5. a few patched of rust near the rear sill welds, but not major
6. Slightly sagging of the headlining, but not drastic.

If i had the time and the patience i would be renovating this car, but im afraid time and space is something i am short of, and therefore it'll have to go when i have procured a replacement. Is there anyone in my direction who would be willing to place me an offer for the whole car? You'll be surprised how fast this beaty can be with the engine in good condition, ive had 110mph out of it, and a 0 - 60 of 10 secs using Optimax... Maybe thats why the engine has broken, but hey, we had fun! :)

If you need more pics, or more info... just ask.. and i'll do the honours.. im willing to keep this car from the scrap yard for as long as possible. I also have a 1.3 City X, but thats not past it just yet.

Cheers :-)

[H48HPE]

I also have a 1.3 City X, but thats not past it just yet.

so at least we havnt seen the last of you on the forum then. like VPs there arent many city models left, so its well worth looking after that if its in nice condition.

Andy

[topgear]

:) dont worry, im not going anywhere from the forum guys... Even if i was Maestro-less id still be here. Im a big fan of the cars!

The City X isnt in a very good condition im afraid, it has rust in all the common places, and thanks to an attempted break in the steering has been damaged. Other faults included are the usual heater problem, the sagging headlining, and the gear linkage pops out at regular intervals. Nevertheless, it still drives well from A - B and is very economical, and like the rest of the Maestro family, its not exactly slow either :-)

[topgear]

:rolleyes:

[topgear]

new fault to update you on.. The VP now had a useless boot.. it wont open! :(

[E_T_V]

If you are still stuck it is dead easy to get into them. let us know if you haven't managed to get into it yet.

[topgear]

Hi ETV, Many thanks for your reply. Im afraid im still having probs with the boot, so if you can let me know how i get in there, without breaking things that would be great.

Cheers :-)

[E_T_V]

Ok if you are still bootless, then fold your seats down so you can get into the boot. Carefully prize off the plastic trim on the hatch (Read that as give it a good yank and get sprayed by those trim clips hitting you from all angles)

Then you can see the mechanism clearly. All you need to do to actuate the mechanism is give the vertical bar which connects the push button on the outside to the clasp a tug toward you. What can happen is there is that it becomes detached I think.

If that doesn't work then you'll have to start prizing bits of the actual mechansim which I've luckily not had to do before. It is all pretty obvious what does what when the trim is off and you can get a good look. Hope that is of some use.

[talkingcars]

Hi Topgear

What is the lastest on the VP?
I am very intersted, especially if there is a bit of MOT left as I will have to park it on the road.

I have an engine that will go in.

My patner is still on L plates and her son son will be, she is insuired on the MG Maestro but not on the V6 espace, I dread to think what cost insuring a 17 year old learner on either will be.

James

p mail me on james@babelfish.demon.co.uk

[Ed]

Does anyone know if the VP found a good home? Just read all the history, would be heck of a shame if it met the crusher!

[mikesmaestro]

Talking about Engines I am sure I remember someone mentioning in one of the club forums that a chap in Birmingham had a batch of new or reconditiond engines for sale for around £100 each.
Does anyone remember who it was who had them.
Mike