New Member Intro

Good afternoon everyone, I just wanted to introduce myself to the forum. My name is Jez and I have recently purchased a Black MGTF 1.8 135 (Registered April 2005). Apart from a new Kenwood CD / radio upgrade (the last one just packed up), it's pretty much 100% original with no mods. I think I heard someone say that these cars 'put a smile on your face' when you start them up and take it onto the road - and that's exactly how I feel when I get (my not so youthful self) into the seat. I think the history of this car and engine - is an amazing story.
These cars (along with their faults) are totally amazing and I just regret not getting hold of one sooner.
I have had a few Triumphs in my time (Dolomite Sprint, TR7, Spitfire 1500) but this MG I own is one fantastic car.
Anyway thanks for listening to me ramble on, All the best

G'day and welcome,
I have a TR7 as well as a MGF.
You should have a look at this: https://www.the-t-bar.com/forum/54-how-tos/99326-a-check-list-for-new-owners#210408

Hi Burns welcome to the forum and well done for your choice of TF. These cars really get under your skin, they have a soul and they have character.
Like yourself Ive owned a number of classic cars over the decades and it was actually because of frustration with slow progress on a project car that I ended up with a TF as a weekend car to cheer myself up. Well 2 of them at one time, a blue 2002 115 which i impoved and sold on and my black 2003 135 which I still have. For a modern-ish car they are not too difficult to work on which is handy when i bought both needing some work.
A car dealer friend of mine has tried to wean me off TFs by just happenning to turn up in a sucession of comparables including a Mazda MX5 then a 2.8 BMW Z3, a 2.5 litre BMW Z4 and lastly a Honda S2000 he urged me try out. Though all were thoroughly excellent in their own right and the Honda especially ran like a proverbial Swiss watch, none had sufficient character to tempt me away from the TF.
How did you find your TF, did you go out intentionally looking at a few before settling on the one or did it just catch your eye out of the blue ?

Hi and thanks for the welcome. I had been looking for a long time and found a gent in chesterfield who had pretty much taken the car to bits. Subframes off engine and gearbox out and lots more besides.
The car has been lovingly restored to how it would have been originally. I did mention no mods but it has underfloor pipes and and SS exhaust. This particular TF came with a factory fitted coolant alarm too.

Thank you for the link. Very helpful and will certainly use it

Hello Burns. Well done. I have exactly the same car as you. Same month too.
I would strongly recommend the KMAPS remap. It changes the drive to a much smoother take-up.
A little more power but not really noiceable.
I also invested in Mike Satur heater knobs. Might appear trivial but I can now actually adjust the fan, heat easily. The plastic knobs are hard to grasp with my fat fingers.

Tell us more about your car.

lol! That all sounds great. I’ve heard of kmaps (isn’t it got something to do with a guy that actually worked in the development of the k series engine?) I do think that’s worth doing and I have Trophy Cars nearby that can add that mod. Thanks for the advice it’s appreciated

That's right about the guys in Kmaps being involved with the original ECU setup for Rover. Several forum regulars have had their exchange ECUs, it makes the car dive that little bit better all round and surprsingly improves the economy by allowing the engine to cope with running at lower speeds in a high gear. Less need to drop into a lower gear each time you  slow to 20mph in urban traffic, it will just pick up as smoothly as anything staying in 4th gear. You can either send Kmaps your ECU for exchange or it only works out about £ 10 more if they send one out and then you return your original one to recover the deposit.  Aside from Kmaps there is another mapping company called SAWS who are regarded as highly but work slightly differently by uploading a new file to your existing ECU.

Well done to the PO for fitting a low coolant level alarm. A very sensible addition indeed.

Welcome to the Tbar.😎

The ECU is held in place with 4 screws and is a 5 minute job to remove. No need to involve Trophy if you are willing to swap it yourself and post. They are a designated KMAPS supplier but it is quite a good thing to visit Mark and have him do the work while you wait. He plugs into the OBD2 socket in the dash. Very nice guy, deeply knowledgeable and you will know exactly what has been done. Took aobut 15minutes. He is near Warwick. Good luck.

Hi Burns. Welcome to the forum from John in Yorkshire. I have a TF 135, 05  plate registered in March. I was very keen to buy a car like yours that had not been messed with , if you get my drift. 
With regards your remap, if it were me as has been suggested I would take the car to have it done. Reason being is , a friend of mine sent his away exchange but didn't get an ECU returned for a TF! This resulted in the car having multiple issues and fault codes not relating to his car. I  had SAWS tuning do mine at a car meet some years ago and, it is well worth it. Enjoy your car .
John .

Thank you!