Hello from Dorking!

Wow, that is very red!😁
Overheating wise, as well as already mentioned, check the fans operation, and  buy a new pressure cap.

Thanks @Cobber - thermostat check was my next point on the list, before it blew up again yesterday. Now with the 2 pretty catastrophic overheats behind me, I think head inspection is a must at this point, even to make sure there is no lasting dammage to the head or block..

David Aiketgate wrote:

Wow, that is very red!😁
Overheating wise, as well as already mentioned, check the fans operation, and  buy a new pressure cap.

Fan (singular) appears to switch on fine, the caps have been cleaned and appear to work fine, thermostat was next on the list but now I'm seriously worried about what the overheats might have done to the head so need to get to it and check as otherwise it won't let me sleep at night..

I agree that with all the extra stress on that engine, you will probably be best to check the head but I myself would like to find the source of the over pressurisation first before pulling the head

As impressive as the steering wheel is, it’s never going to have an airbag, which, although it can be a bit of a life saver, it’s not a legal requirement. Retrofitting both ABS & steering assist shouldn’t cause a problem, providing the hubs have sensor mounts & the rotor castellations.
I would guess that the support cabling will be in.
The first job away from the car is to download the RAVE CD or the workshop, wiring & electrical manual.
Over the past twelve months a number of folk have joined us, & along with them have come some interesting cars & an oblique view of things. It never was an old farts club; it’s less likely to drift that way now with such as the Kid & his yellow car & now with The Red Fetish.
It’s interesting to note that you picked it up in Clitheroe, that next to my parish & I was unaware of its existence.
M

I'm with Cobber on this one.  Whip the head off before finding the major problem and you risk checking the head & block. Changing the gasket and, eventually, finding it has not cured the problem. 
I'd start with removing all the hoses and checking for a blockage. Then the pipes.  
I had a Firenza which exhibited the same strange behaviour.  Thash bejabers out of it all day. Get on a motorway and soon as it hit 70 the gauge started to climb.

Turned out to be a design flaw in the system.  Under certain circumstances - i.e. cruising at a steady rate, one of the small bipass hose would try to reverse flow and partially block the main circulation.  What a pig that was.

Welcome BTW!   I'm looking to achieve a measure of stealth in my (eventual) TF.  I take it that is not your aim? 

When you have the engine cover removed check you don't have the same rare blockage that mine had. Remove both hoses from the coolant outlet metal housing at the front of the engine ( the bit that also has the temperature sensor) With a suitable picking tool check inside the metal spiggot for the half inch hose to look for a build up of crud. Although this outlet is for a bypass hose it messes up the whole coolant circulation and becomes a real problem only once the engine gets up to normal temperature. In short it goes to an overheat condition shortly after the point the thermostat should open. A careful look will show it actually creates a vacuum in the front radiator hoses at this point.

Another odd symptoms is that it won't show exhaust gasses present in the coolant resevoir (making you think the head gasket must be fine). The reason for this is that this fault isolates the coolant resevoir until the system is overheating hence there's nothing to test.

VinceR wrote:

I'm with Cobber on this one.  Whip the head off before finding the major problem and you risk checking the head & block. Changing the gasket and, eventually, finding it has not cured the problem. 
I'd start with removing all the hoses and checking for a blockage. Then the pipes.  

thank you  both for the suggestion - agree it makes sense and in fact was the plan as I knew I still had the thermostat and couple other elements to check and reflush anything I can, off the car where possible. 

I had a Firenza which exhibited the same strange behaviour.  Thash bejabers out of it all day. Get on a motorway and soon as it hit 70 the gauge started to climb.

Turned out to be a design flaw in the system.  Under certain circumstances - i.e. cruising at a steady rate, one of the small bipass hose would try to reverse flow and partially block the main circulation.  What a pig that was.

Thanks for that - one place I wouldnt have thought to check!

Welcome BTW!   I'm looking to achieve a measure of stealth in my (eventual) TF.  I take it that is not your aim? 

I like the brash external styling: makes it unique and the right level of aggressive look vs the standard MGF which i find a bit..meh.. On the inside though, I'd like to make it a bit more civilised and nicer place to be in..

More pictures please, especially of those areas which step outside the norm, such as the engine & the Gofasterspinnything & pipe work.

Here's a couple of  pictures of the TT kit through the engine opening before I start disassembly. And the car is now o  stilts, prepped for coolant system check and engine drop later..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s quite the master class in the repackaging of something that’s already tucked snuggly into a “just enough space to begin with” space.
From my perspective it’s a shame you bought it in Clitheroe & took it Dorking & not the other way around, I would like to see it as is & observe progress first hand.
M

Welcome !
I think you are going to need these, very stylish they are too.
https://shop.mg.co.uk/products/mg100-sunglasses

Wow!  What a car!  

Concerning the overheating and overpressurisation, I notice that a replacement expansion bottle cap was mentioned but, as a new owner, you may not realise what a critical piece of equipment the coolant cap is.  They are notoriously unreliable, with even new ones sometimes not working properly.  Replacing it is cheap and I'd have thought should be the first priority.

Having said that, (touch wood) I haven't had a problem yet but I carry TWO new ones in the boot, just in case