MG ZS Fuel Filler Pipe Protection

The MG ZS has many attributes and owners today are concentrating on being able to maintain their cars in good condition. However, the ZS has not become a production model in China, while the ZR and ZT are being built as the MG3 and MG7 respectively. As a consequence there is no ready supply of new ZS parts available from that direction.

In addition the cost saving measures carried out by MG Rover especially from 2003 have added to the problem. One very exposed area are the fuel filler pipes that run at the back of the left rear wheelarch and up to 2003 these were given decent protection by a plastic cover, but this was then deleted. The cover is also an item that has long since fell by the wayside as far as being available as a new spare so the only route to finding one is to raid the breakers yard and remove one along with its four fixings from any earlier Rover 400 (post 1995 ‘bubble’ shape), Rover 45 and MG ZS up to VIN 3D 611296.

1. Models from 2003 onwards had factory specification exposed filler pipes, shown here after a jet wash

2. Plastic cover fitted to cars up to 2003. Red = Clips CYC100410, Green = ‘Lokut’s CYH10002 and self tapper screws DYP10035 Yellow = M6 bolt FYG10007

3. Lokut fitting positions already present and waiting

4. Lokut’s fitted

5. The M6 captive nut is also in place but several years of exposure to much dictates a tap be run through the thread to ensure it is free

6. One clip fitted in a hidden position

7. Plastic cover fitted
The images show how exposed these pipes are on this 2003 ZS following jet washing to remove caked on muck that would over time be guaranteed to rust out the pipes. Fitting is really as simple as it looks and whilst the plastic cover may no longer be available, the fixings are, if those on a donor car are rusted or broken. These fittings are two plastic ‘lokut’s (square hole fillers which receive the self tapper threads) part number CYH10002, two clips, part number CYC100410, two self tapping screws, part number DYP10035 and a single M6 x 10 bolt, part number FYG10007.

Applying a coat of Waxoyl before fitting the cover will help long term rust protection even further.

Follow the images and note that this should be a task that takes less than an hour to fit. The extra protection gained is well worth the effort required.