MG ZR 1.4 ‘04 - Emissions?

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Wed 6 Feb 2019 20:16
MG ZR 1.4 ‘04 - Emissions? - Meatiness
I drive an ‘04 MG ZR 1.4 and everything was fine until about 12 months ago when I had to get a new exhaust fitted. After then I noticed that the fumes being emitted from the car had gone up by a really noticeable amount - and then when it went for its MOT in summer it passed absolutely fine (as it always has), but the guy said that as the rules are changing it’s going to fail next time because of the emissions.

While the new exhaust seems to me to be the likely suspect somehow, nobody whom I’ve spoken to, including mechanics, can think of why. It’s been checked and it is fitted properly. It was quite a cheap exhaust I had put on - could an upgrade to a better one fix the issue?


I know it’s an old car, and it has done a fair few miles, but I really like it and it’s so incredibly reliable I’d hate to have to scrap it because of something like this.

Many thanks.
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Thu 7 Feb 2019 08:16
MG ZR 1.4 ‘04 - Emissions? - andrew bairsto

Nothing wrong with the exhaust a lot wrong with the engine.

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Thu 7 Feb 2019 09:06
MG ZR 1.4 ‘04 - Emissions? - elekie&a/c doctor

Cheap exhausts are cheap for a reason. Made of low rent materials that only just do the job. I suspect the cat is not quite up to spec ,but just good enough to satisfy the mot regs. Don't think there will be any new emissions specs for a car of this age next year. Not too sure what the garage is talking about. Ref the above post, What is wrong with this engine?

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Thu 7 Feb 2019 10:20
MG ZR 1.4 ‘04 - Emissions? - Meatiness
Yes please elaborate on what could be wrong with the engine?

It’s been serviced twice since the MOT (I get it in every 5000 miles or so which tends to be 3 times a year).

Although a different garage to where i had the MOT - reason being that the MOT guy also sells second hand cars and I was getting the feeling that he’d tell me anything to try to get me to buy one. Which might be where I have this apparently false info about new emissions rules?

Anyway, so while the preventive service has found nothing wrong with the engine, my new mechanic also couldn’t tell me what was causing these (I’m fairly sure) new emissions. I did mention the new exhaust but he didn’t think it was that either.

Although I am quite tempted now to just go to kwik fit and get a decent stainless steel exhaust put in or something. Maybe?

Thanks for the replies so far.

Edited by Meatiness on 07/02/2019 at 10:21

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Thu 7 Feb 2019 17:32
MG ZR 1.4 ‘04 - Emissions? - John F
.... It’s been serviced twice since the MOT (I get it in every 5000 miles or so which tends to be 3 times a year).

Wow - that's a bit OTT! The engine should be almost pristine. Was the MoT emissions print-out really that borderline?

Although I am quite tempted now to just go to kwik fit and get a decent stainless steel exhaust put in or something. Maybe?

Maybe not. A quick search on 'kwik fit problems' will help you decide. Here is an example of the many threads concerning this outfit.

www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=125852

Edited by John F on 07/02/2019 at 17:33

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Thu 7 Feb 2019 12:00
MG ZR 1.4 ‘04 - Emissions? - paul 1963

Nothing wrong with the exhaust a lot wrong with the engine.

Are you a professional idiot Andrew, not really my place to say but if you haven't got anything truly helpful to add can I politely suggest you keep quiet?

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Thu 7 Feb 2019 16:24
MG ZR 1.4 ‘04 - Emissions? - andrew bairsto

I am not idiot by any means but you are entitled to your own opinion,if you think an old Rover with the description provided does not burn oil you are bit loopy.

Edited by andrew bairsto on 07/02/2019 at 16:28

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Thu 7 Feb 2019 16:47
MG ZR 1.4 ‘04 - Emissions? - Meatiness
I’m hardly using any oil though. I only need to top it up every few months.
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Thu 7 Feb 2019 16:57
MG ZR 1.4 ‘04 - Emissions? - skidpan

but the guy said that as the rules are changing it’s going to fail next time because of the emissions.

Emission rules change over time for new vehicles but they are not applied to older vehicles. The rules that applied when the vehicle was new are the ones applied during the test.

The guy at the garage is a liar, avoid at all costs.

Edited by skidpan on 07/02/2019 at 16:58

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Thu 7 Feb 2019 17:37
MG ZR 1.4 ‘04 - Emissions? - Falkirk Bairn

A tank of Shell V-power + an Italian tune-up will cost you a few pounds more than a tank of Supermarket petrol & might just get the car running sweeter.

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Fri 8 Feb 2019 06:23
MG ZR 1.4 ‘04 - Emissions? - Meatiness
I’ve been using premium fuel exclusively since the problem started but to no avail.

Seriously looking into this burning oil possibility as the most likely cause now.

Head gasket? I know that this is a pretty well known issue on these cars. But would it have run well for a year, and over 20k miles, with a knackered head gasket?
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Fri 8 Feb 2019 08:41
MG ZR 1.4 ‘04 - Emissions? - RT

Some head gasket failures can take several years and 10s of 1,000s of miles to develop - my Hyundai Santa Fe first showed signs of HGF at 18 months / 18,000 miles but took another 24 months / 24,000 miles to get bad enough to be diagnosed by dealer, difficult to ignore as it had blown big-time!

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Fri 8 Feb 2019 12:07
MG ZR 1.4 ‘04 - Emissions? - RichardW

It's not clear from your original post what the problem actually is. Is it smoking, or do you just think it smells a bit more?

HG failure on this engine is usually rapid and catastrophic due to the design of the engine, you would know about it if it had gone!

The MOT regs changes in May last year, so if yours was tested after that, then it should pass again this year (if it has not deteriorated).

I suspect that if you just think it's got a bit more smelly, and the exhaust replacement included a CAT, then the new CAT is not very good - cheap aftermarket ones are cheap for a reason....

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Mon 11 Feb 2019 10:20
MG ZR 1.4 ‘04 - Emissions? - Meatiness
Thanks for the reply.

Yes, to clarify, it just smells more - there is some smoke - white in colour - but not an excessive amount.

Is there any way to check the exhaust to make sure that it is actually the problem?
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