MGTF LE500 Digital Water Temp Gauge Faults

Hi, I’ve just purchase a MGTF LE 500 No 135 from Trophy Cars, MG TF specialists.
i would like to know if the water temp gauge is working correctly. It seems to go about half way in under a minute, way before the engine could have reached its working temperature, which seems odd. When it’s reached its normal operating temperature it’s stays constant at about half way which seems perfectly normal. However, is it normal for these digital gauges to show half way on the gauge long before the engine could have possibly warmed up. The car is registered in 2010, and has covered 28,000 miles with 14 service stamps. New cambelt and water just replaced by Trophy Cars.

 Hi . Hmm , not sure about this as I have no experience with the LE500 . My 05 plate MG TF does warm up quickly but I I dont think it warms  up so fast . I dont think the later LE500 differs much from the one I have , apart that is from the possibility of the  engine being the later 'N' series type. Some of the more knowledgeable folks on here might give a different view or maybe someone who owns the later LE version. I did own an MG ZR with the K series engine and that did warm up quick due to the fact that the cooling system capacity was small but you can't say that about the TF . 
John  

Thanks John.
The later TF with the N Series engine does have the later digital reading water temperature gauge unlike the earlier models which I believe have the more traditional type temperature gauge. It may well be the digital gauge works differently to the older type gauge.

In that case I wouldn't be too concerned . Being a recent purchase and if you haven't had a TF or F before , do please keep a check on the coolant level . The 'N' series engine has the more resilient gasket but the cooling system is quite complex and has hoses that if not checked fail just like any vehicle. Your LE will have the low coolant level warning system to give advanced warning of coolant loss so you have some comfort in that. 
Enjoy your purchase . I'm still loving mine. 
John 

The warm up time shouldn’t be all that different between on iteration & another after the fitting of the PRT. Mk1 f with the block mounted thermostat were faster, but as that isn’t the car in question it is somewhat irrelevant.
M

Is that "under a minute" with a completely cold engine, e.g. car left overnight. I am often amazed at how long the car can retain some residual heat and hence seem to warm up quicker. Also you could check the cabin heater to give an indication of coolant temperature, assuming its the same with the LE500. I'm no expert though just an original 2003 TF owner.

Of course it depends on where you are….a car that is started from cold  here in Australia is going to need much less effort in getting up to a normal operating temperature than one sitting outside in a pomgollian winter 

Hi Bentleyboy1,     My car on an average UK day, on open road driving at about 40mph as I leave home on cold engine will be 1 bar in 200 yards, 2 bars in 1/4mile and 3 bars in about a mile. So pretty quick.  I have a digital oil temp gauge and that shows <20c , 35c and 45c at those points. Normal oil temp is 100-105 and that takes 4.5 miles.