Replacing just the rear window rather than the whole hood is a significantly more economical route when the original plastic window has become cloudy, yellowed or cracked but the surrounding hood material is still serviceable. MGOC Spares catalogues the full range of replacement windows covering every MGF and MG TF production period: the early MGF zip-out vinyl windows with colour-matched bindings, the later MGF and MG TF windows, the three-piece pre-1997 arrangement, and the glass heated rear window that brings the car up to late-MG TF specification in one upgrade.
Early MGF, V846 Series with Mohair Binding
For MGF cars to VIN WD024604, the V846 series provides vinyl replacement windows with mohair binding colour-matched to the original hood material. Black (V846A), Green (V846G) and Red (V846M) are catalogued, along with V836A for black canvas-bound bindings.
The original factory hood on these cars uses a specific binding shape and attachment method that differs from later cars, so the correct V846 variant must be matched to the existing hood rather than using a later window.
Later MGF and MG TF, V851 Series with Mohair Binding
For MGF cars from VIN WD024605 and MG TF cars to VIN 5D639630, the V851 series provides the corresponding vinyl replacement windows with later-style binding. Colours available are Black (V851A), Green (V851G), Navy (V851N), Beige (V851X), Grey (V851P), Red (V851M), and for the 1997-on MGF/TF one-piece variant, a black version (V851A). V837A covers black canvas-bound bindings. The V851 range is not interchangeable with the earlier V846 range, binding shape, attachment method and aperture profile all differ between the two generations.
Glass Heated Rear Window, V852A
The V852A glass heated rear window replacement with black mohair-style binding brings any MGF or MG TF hood up to the late-MG TF glass HRW specification, delivering markedly improved rear visibility and practical winter demisting capability. The original plastic rear window is removed and the glass panel fitted in its place within the existing hood, no complete hood replacement is required.
For cars not already wired for a heated rear window, one of the electrical installation kits (V642 for MGF to XD511058, V643 for MGF from XD511059 and MG TF to 4D620548, V644 for MG TF from 4D620549) must be ordered alongside to feed current to the heater element. The V852A is the most valuable single upgrade available to any earlier MGF or MG TF from a winter-use and rear-visibility perspective.
Pre-1997 MGF Three-Piece Window, V840A
For the earliest MGF cars, the three-piece rear window arrangement used on pre-1997 cars, the V840A replacement window is the correct item, supplied in black. Unlike the later one-piece windows, the pre-1997 three-piece window uses a rivet-fixed attachment that requires the V800PK rivet kit for correct installation. The three-piece arrangement has a central panel and two side panels that together provide the full rear screen area; replacement requires care to ensure the panels align correctly with each other and with the surrounding hood material.
Rivet Kit, V800PK
The V800PK rivet kit is specifically for the pre-1997 MGF three-piece window system. It contains the rivets used to attach the window panels to the hood structure and should be ordered alongside any V840A replacement. The rivet kit is not needed for the later one-piece V846 or V851 windows, which use a zip-out attachment rather than rivets.
Ordering Considerations
Four pieces of information make rear window ordering straightforward: the car's VIN (to determine which generation window applies), the hood's original binding material and colour (mohair in specific colours, or canvas-bound), whether a direct replacement in the original material is wanted or a glass HRW upgrade is preferred, and, for the glass HRW option, whether the car is already wired for a heated rear window or requires the matching electrical installation kit. For most owners, the decision is between a like-for-like plastic window replacement (lowest cost, restoring original specification) and the glass HRW upgrade (higher cost, significantly better winter capability). For pre-1997 MGF cars, the three-piece system with rivet kit is the only correct answer.