Used MG ZS review and buying guide (2001 to 2005): which one to buy and what to check

Which used MG ZS should you buy?

The ZS180, with Rover's 2.5 litre V6, is the ZS to hunt for, because the head gasket warning on the K Series covers the four-cylinder engines in the ZS110 and ZS120, not the V6. Those smaller cars aren't off limits, but you'd only buy one with paperwork showing the head gasket has been rebuilt with the full uprated kit.

The 2004 facelift brought a much improved interior and a new bodykit, so it's the nicer car to sit in, but it doesn't change what to watch for underneath. A ZS built between 2003 and 2005 can develop Security Control Unit faults, so a facelifted one still needs every electrical item tried before you hand over any money.

Which MG ZS engines are the safe choices?

The 2.5 litre KV6 in the ZS180 is the pick, since the head gasket trouble that hits Rover's K Series is pinned on its four-cylinder engines, not the V6. It's still a ZS, though, so a ZS180 built between 2003 and 2005 carries the same Security Control Unit risk as the smaller cars, and its electrics need the same going over.

Both four-cylinder options are K Series units: the 1.8 in the ZS120 and the 1.6 in the ZS110, which arrived in summer 2003. They hold so little coolant that a small leak turns into overheating fast and the head gasket goes, with the gasket on the coolant-heated inlet manifold the weakest spot. The bore liners can drop as well, so treat either as the riskier buy.

An LPG version of the ZS120 was sold from July 2002, and it's the same 1.8 K Series underneath, so it's got the same head gasket weakness. Whichever four-cylinder ZS you look at, it's only worth having if the gasket's been done with the full kit: a multi-layer steel gasket, a beefier oil rail under the block and replacement head bolts together, never a gasket on its own.

What should you check when viewing a used MG ZS?

On a ZS110 or ZS120, the coolant tells you the most: check the level's right and look for weeps around the inlet manifold. Keep an eye on the temperature gauge for the whole drive, because the K Series carries so little coolant that a minor leak sends it climbing quickly, and that's how the head gasket fails.

Ask for receipts if the head gasket's been replaced, and check they list the whole kit (the multi-layer steel gasket, the uprated lower oil rail and fresh bolts for the head) rather than a gasket alone, which isn't the proper repair. A low coolant warning fitted afterwards is a good sign too, since it tells you when the level's dropping.

Try every electrical item on a ZS built from 2003 to 2005, as the Security Control Unit on these MG Rover models can fail. Owners have reported a dead horn or an electric window that won't work, and it can also upset the central locking, alarm and immobiliser until the car can't be driven. Press the horn, run each window and lock and unlock it several times.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What do MG ZS owners like about them?

One owner covered 255,000 miles in a ZS 180, and the V6 stayed reliable and a joy to drive the whole way. That's a huge distance to cover in one car without growing tired of it, and it shows a ZS 180 can be the car you use every day, not just one you save for a good road at the weekend.

The 2004 facelift made the cabin much better, so a later ZS is the nicer place to sit. It's far better looking outside too, thanks to a new bodykit, and that's what lifts a facelifted car over an early one when you've got the choice of both.

• One ZS 180 V6 achieved an impressive 255,000 miles, demonstrating excellent long-term reliability for its owner.
• The ZS180, featuring a 2.5 litre KV6 engine, offered strong performance and received praise for its handling characteristics.
• A 2004 facelift significantly improved the car's appearance, bringing a much better interior, wider track, and new bodykit.
• MG models generally exhibited below-average warranty repair costs in 2003, indicating good reliability for the brand.