75ZT Community

rang round the usual companys today as i need to get a new exhaust for the oil burning tourer.they cant get them and there is no date for delivery so have ended up going for a timax one from a specialist mgrover garage for £150 all in.s/s systym was 394 so gone for the cheaper option this time.

I had a similar issue last year. Couldn't find a back box for my 1.8t Tourer for love nor money, even the exhorbitant xpart ones were out of stock. Still running with a back box for a 2.0 V6 tourer as that was all I could get.

24 June - MG Rovers show strength in numbers

MG Rover cars are still alive and well on the UK's roads as DVLA figures highlight a slow decline in MG and Rover models, reveals XPart. The figures produced by the DVLA show that the vehicle parc for MG Rovers produced post-2000 has only declined marginally in the past 12 months. The MG parc (ZT, ZS, ZR and F/TF) has reduced by 3.1 percent, and the Rover parc by 3.7 percent (75, 45, 25, Streetwise and City Rover). In total, there are still more than one million MG Rover vehicles registered for use on the UK's roads, over 50 percent of which were built post-2000. Parts specialist XPart has supplied MG Rover parts since August 2004 and has continued as the brand's sole supplier of genuine parts following the manufacturer's collapse in April 2005.

"MG Rover owners have become increasingly confident that genuine parts and high quality servicing for their vehicles are still available," comments Barry Smith, UK Sales Manager, XPart. "Rover cars remain popular choices as family and first cars, while MGs continue to attract a strong following among motoring enthusiasts. Thanks to the hard work of our 250 MG Rover AutoService centres and to initiatives such as our write-off avoidance programme Close Call, we have been able to slow the decline and offer MG Rover owners dealer-level support in the absence of a manufacturer."

XPart's purchasing and supply teams have worked tirelessly over the past five years to ensure the ongoing supply of genuine parts from original MG Rover suppliers. The company has also forged a good working relationship with the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), new owners of the MG brand, and continues to source parts made from MG Rover original tooling from its China-based factory. In 2008, XPart agreed a deal with MG Motor (UK) Ltd to distribute replacement parts for the new MG TF car.

"We will continue to support MG Rover owners with genuine parts and servicing over the next five years, and will become increasingly involved in the heritage scene, as MG and Rover cars gradually become classics," concludes Smith.


News Source: XPart

see below!

XPart PR could perhaps check that their factory/parts suppliers are on message - An exhaust is a basic bit of kit and surely is a basic requirement if as they say "We will continue to support MG Rover owners with genuine parts and servicing over the next five years"

It'll be good if XPart themselves could comment on this thread, and the now worrying lack of some basic parts for the V8's.

Cheers

Mike

You wouldn't be referring to handbrake cables by any chance....................

Ragman wrote:You wouldn't be referring to handbrake cables by any chance....................

Me? Was actually thinking of springs and discs etc. but spot on, handbrake cables should definitely be included it's a bit difficult to use a car at all if you haven't got a working handbrake, yet by all accounts XPart have chosen not to supply them! If it wasn't for the efforts of members..................................

Mike wrote:

Ragman wrote:You wouldn't be referring to handbrake cables by any chance....................

Me? Was actually thinking of springs and discs etc. but spot on, handbrake cables should definitely be included it's a bit difficult to use a car at all if you haven't got a working handbrake, yet by all accounts XPart have chosen not to supply them! If it wasn't for the efforts of members..................................

But certain things, such as hand brake cables can be made by specialist companies. With V8s perhaps people need to think about parts availability when buying a low volume production car - and production car is probably the wrong word as kit car parts can be difficult because the manufacturer goes out of business or drops the model and it is uneconomic to produce parts.

I also own a TR7 and belong to a forum for them whose members are mostly based in the US. The members have commissioned various items to be made, the latest being power steering pipes for the V8s (again fairly low volume production).

Perhapos this is where members need to get together and have parts produced and buying them on the basis that one day I might need one.

XPart is a commercial organisation to they will also be looking at the bottom line - i.e. can we get our investment back.

Hi Paul,

All useful info and thanks The point I was making about XPart is a different one; namely that their PR and media relations fails totally because what is being claimed bears no relation to reality. I, and am sure you, could list 100's of key parts NLA for the 75, a car that numbers production in the hundreds of thousands. So why do XPart issue press releases claiming they are something that owner experiences say they aren't? Instead they should stick to being open that they are a solely commercial organisation don't you think?

(Also this thread began because XPart won't ensure supply of exhausts for Rover 75's - not a 'short run' car at all)

260 members are already commissioning parts production, due to XPart not doing so. XPart could however co-operate with V8 owners by helping with tech and spec data that in turn will help owners get parts made - to date afaik they haven't. A position that perhaps gives the lie to their press release content?

Ultimately the issue is about corporate reputation and generating sales. I don't see how XPart's stance with owners, when compared with its PR statements, can help either in the long term.

all imho of course

Mike

I appreciate your point but, partially playing devils advocate, exhausts are available from other companies and stainless steel was mentioned, and if anyone is contemplating long term ownership then this would make sense (even though my 75 exhaust is 9 years old) but choose the right company so it sounds right.

As I have a Tourer XPart did commission new tooling for the plastic retainers for the rear lights (what a hideous design).

John (dot com) did serve as a link to XPart - do you still John? Would be good if you got XPart on this site as a member.

Perhaps a strong community of owners is very important in giving a company, XPart in this case, confidence to invest. However, I know from experience of classic cars that some people are not prepared to pay reasonable prices.

Is the other problem that there are a lot in scrap yards?

Hi I have been away since last Friday and only been back a hour or so.
Yes we have contact with XPart and have sent an Invite to various people to log on and also reply to queries.
I have a direct contact and will put the above comments across to them.
We now have full access to EPC (Electronic Parts Catalogue) for members enquires and up to date prices on a monthly basis.
More information on other areas to follow as soon as we can get things in place.

I must add that XPart have commissioned several new parts to be made that are no longer available from the original suppliers.
Although I am not so well informed on V8 models at present, several other parts are now available from third party suppliers,
this now includes Discs, Pads, Coil Springs, Shock absorbers. etc.

A problem often relaid is that when they have a minimum run made to fill a shortage people won't purchase or moan about the price.
Getting parts made form scratch isn't always a cheap solution for a major company.
A British windscreen manufacturer wanted over £600 + VAT Cost to XPart for tourer and saloon rear screens,
They were of course told where to go and supplies now come from China.