New MGs – Christmas Cracker or Quality Cars?
MG ZT sporting one new rear light assembly on the right hand side
Few MG enthusiasts will not be up to speed on the emergence of the MG brand into China, and the re-introduction of the MG brand into the UK by Nanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC). The former MG Rover built cars were generally good, but not without some quality problems and NAC have been quite vocal in pledging to beat the previous quality levels. However, in some people’s minds Chinese quality is what drops out of Christmas crackers, a out dated view which is completely inaccurate.
Those journalists that have had the opportunity to see and experience the pre-production cars and have commented quite favourably on what they have found. Further, NAC has indicated that these pre-production cars will be subject to yet further quality improvements before the production examples arrive and that many of the cost cutting measures seen in the latter years of MG Rover will be reversed.
The clear objective of NAC is to build quality into the cars and not go for rock bottom sale prices. There is, though, a continuing expectation that the pricing of the re-launched TF will be at bargain basement prices, which is unfounded. Cars will be built to reach high standards of quality and whilst pricing may seem to be too high on paper to compete with the mainstream rival Mazda MX5, there will be considerable added value in the standard specification list to make the new MGs competitive.
Those few usually critical UK journalists and their positive views is very encouraging since the model attracting most attention has been the Chinese built MG 7, based on the Rover 75 and MG ZT ranges. It must be remembered this is a BMW designed and developed car that retained a strong reputation all the way to the end of MG Rover production, which it retains to this day. It is therefore easier to get things wrong when changing a proven product, but this has not happened.
Original rear lamp
New lamp installed
New unit on the left and original on the right
Reverse side with the old unit on the right new on the left
Most MG enthusiasts will not yet have had any opportunity to get close to a NAC built MG, with the possible exception of the Longbridge built pre-production TF, so can only see cars in pictures, and we all know how a picture can flatter the subject in the image! That said the images of MG 7 models indicate subtle changes to the car rather than the slightly heavy Volvo style panel changes seen on the SAIC rival. It also showed stylish new rear lights that appeared to be exactly the same overall shape as the 75/ZT which provokes the obvious question, ‘will these fit existing MGs’?
Through our close links with NAC I have been able to obtain a pair of the new MG 7 rear lamps to evaluate and also to give some extra exposure, plus the opportunity to try out these rear lights on the 260 was too tempting to miss. Lights on a car are like wheels as they are visual focal points and whilst they may only occupy a relatively small percentage of the car’s visible surface they have a much greater visual impact, very much like wheels where a smart set of wheels can transform the look of any car. Personally I feel that the design of the MG 7 rear lights is modern, tasteful, suits the car’s style and makes the view of the rear of the car more attractive. Beyond that, the quality of the part, fitting, compatibility with the LED aspect was unknown, but testing would provide a small window to perhaps answer these and a number of wider questions.
Firstly the units are of a very good quality and the fit in place of the original lamps is as good as it gets. The lamps have been widely reported as being LED lamps, which gives the impression that all lighting elements are LED, which is untrue. The LED aspect applies to the rear tail lamp only and is the larger of the inset rings in the centre of the lamp, with the indicator occupying the centre of that ring. The reversing lamp occupies the other lower inset ring with the brake and fog lamp functions being separated by the reflector and occupying the remaining upper and lower sections. All these other functions bar the reflector of course use standard bayonet type bulbs.
Aside from the fit and finish aspects one restriction delaying alternative rear lights for the 75/ZT range has been the need to consider the car’s bulb failure monitoring system. This is controlled by the Light Switch Module that is integrated behind the lighting switch, and when a bulb fails it goes open circuit which is detected by the LSM that then sends the information to the instrument pack to display a bulb failure warning. Changing from filament bulbs to LEDs can upset this monitoring, but pleasingly on the 260 it has not. Quite whether this will be the same for all other cars is currently unknown, and some feedback from China indicates some of the shipped over FWD cars were sensitive to the change.
MG branding on the light unit
Intense brake lights
Overall the styling differences will be something for the individual to decide upon, but the quality of the pair of lamps shown here is certainly as good as any standard 75/ZT lamps and much better than many premium aftermarket lamps. There is also a pleasing detail with the moulding in of an MG logo into the lamp body, a very pleasant touch, and of course common to many subordinate parts of old MGs.
The images provide some interesting comparisons and naturally there will be many 75 and ZT owners looking at these and wishing to obtain these lights. There is currently no plan to make these available in the UK, unless the MG 7 does enter the UK (and other EU) markets, but if there is a demand for them then NAC may well look to satisfying such a demand.
Comments and feedback please to RogerP@mgownersclub.co.uk or ring the main Club telephone number.
Roger Parker