MG4 First Impressions...err Foibles

[MelanieMoxon]

Lol! I'm sure you'll be fine, I like honest complaining just everything was working well with the Leaf while not quite with this.. for the price (compared to others) it's an overall good car, just need to get used to how it works

Yup, I am treating the use of the demo car as an extended test drive, doing most of my normal journeys and so far so good with regard to range an useability. The range is going to get pummeled at this time of year but I managed 2.6miles/kwh at the weekend on a 60 mile round trip involving lots of fast A roads, the heater being on all the time and use of the heated steering wheel and seat.

It will also comfortably swallow a 6ft Christmas tree.

 

[Deleted member 10041]

I’m picking my new car up today. Shouldn’t have read this thread!

Remember and give it a good look over, enjoy

 

[bowfer]

Remember and give it a good look over, enjoy

Be prepared to get down on your knees to check for the bulging undertray and oil leak.
And then to pray.

 

[siteguru]

Be prepared to get down on your knees to check for the bulging undertray and oil leak.
And then to pray.

As they'll already be on their knees then they'll only need to determine the direction of Mecca*

* not the bingo hall

 

[Shengis]

Be prepared to get down on your knees to check for the bulging undertray and oil leak.
And then to pray.

Soooo…

I’ve driven it about. It looks great, easy peasy to drive. Handling the snow and ice surprisingly well!

Media system is working beautifully unlike my previous car, Seat Arona which never worked properly, particularly Bluetooth connection to phone trying to play music.

The app appears to work and I’ve tested the heating which seemed to work although switched off earlier than 10 minutes. Is it because it reached desired temp maybe?

But….
I’ve just been down on hands and knees and there is a bulge. Well a double bulge actually. One to the left side and one to the right so at least it’s symmetrical!

 

[bowfer]

Soooo…

I’ve driven it about. It looks great, easy peasy to drive. Handling the snow and ice surprisingly well!

Media system is working beautifully unlike my previous car, Seat Arona which never worked properly, particularly Bluetooth connection to phone trying to play music.

The app appears to work and I’ve tested the heating which seemed to work although switched off earlier than 10 minutes. Is it because it reached desired temp maybe?

But….
I’ve just been down on hands and knees and there is a bulge. Well a double bulge actually. One to the left side and one to the right so at least it’s symmetrical!

Whether the bulge bothers you or not is up to you, some report it causes whistling and other noises.

 

[Shengis]

Whether the bulge bothers you or not is up to you, some report it causes whistling and other noises.

Well it does look annoying but at least it’s hidden. So far, so good on the noise front. Almost silent at low speeds and no sign of any whistles or creaks. Delighted so far!

 

[Ayoull]

...I’ve just been down on hands and knees and there is a bulge. Well a double bulge actually. One to the left side and one to the right so at least it’s symmetrical!

So you have the upgraded double air scoop undertray

 

[Deleted member 10041]

If that was their showroom car, they new about the bulges on it

 

[Fossil]

I wish all of you good luck with your cars, I have just cancelled my order. Pity because I really liked the look of the trophy, if only they had thoroughly tested it first.

 

[Shengis]

If that was their showroom car, they new about the bulges on it

Yes Leni, you are of course correct! I’m going to email them about it and see what they say, however like some others I don’t see the point in making a big fuss about it until they’ve actually got a plan to fix it. No point in having it in to the garage for a look if there’s not a lot going to happen with it. Although they really should have at least tried to address it since they’ve had the car sitting there for months!

 

[Ian Key]

Yes Leni, you are of course correct! I’m going to email them about it and see what they say, however like some others I don’t see the point in making a big fuss about it until they’ve actually got a plan to fix it. No point in having it in to the garage for a look if there’s not a lot going to happen with it. Although they really should have at least tried to address it since they’ve had the car sitting there for months!

That's why it might have two smaller bulges instead of one because they've tried to fix it.

 

[Shengis]

So you have the upgraded double air scoop undertray

Yep!! Photo doesn’t show it as well as reality. The bulges actually look the same. The picture makes it look like the one on the right is smaller but it’s not.

 

[Shengis]

That's why it might have two smaller bulges instead of one because they've tried to fix it.

I did think that. They’ve maybe put an extra fixing in the middle.

 

[Shengis]

Yup, I am treating the use of the demo car as an extended test drive, doing most of my normal journeys and so far so good with regard to range an useability. The range is going to get pummeled at this time of year but I managed 2.6miles/kwh at the weekend on a 60 mile round trip involving lots of fast A roads, the heater being on all the time and use of the heated steering wheel and seat.

It will also comfortably swallow a 6ft Christmas tree.

Sorry for hijacking your thread, Melanie!

 

[BarryH]

It seems quite common now to deliver incomplete cars, I think even Polestar is doing that. And I get it, it's not a critical part, and it can be retrofit once available, so it's better to deliver the car without it than having to wait many more months. Although delivering a car with a fault is very poor (and even worse, the dealership knew about it but they didn't tell me, nor offered me anything for it!)! Can I even sell the car with a fault on, should I need to??

It's a good car to drive but sadly it's full of bugs (every day we discover one basically, last being the heated steering wheel turning itself off when turning on the car - our only hope is that, being all software, they'll fix it soon), and with a bad infotainment system.
We're not happy with that but for less fussy people it would be just fine (and V2L is handy for those who like camping!)

All the cars I've had with heated steering wheels have reset to off when I've switched the car off - that's a good thing isn't it? Heated steering and heated seats you might only need when you drive first thing in the morning. I bet if they did remain on there would be people on the forum saying what's the matter with MG leaving steering wheel and seat heaters on when I don't need them!

 

[MoDolph]

I think he might mean after getting in. On my MG4 it boots up into ready when you sit in the seat and starts running the heating. If you switch on the heated seats and wheel it turns them on, but, when you put your foot on the brake to start the car they turn off again.

It is slightly irritating when you forget the correct order and have to turn them on again.

 

[Hallix73]

So you have the upgraded double air scoop undertray

Yeh it's the Trophy Edition to match the spoiler!!

 

[Malcolm Anderson]

Honestly, it might sound like I've a grudge, but my conversation with the service manager was a true eye opener. Their policy seems to be based on ignorance and apathy. I listed many of the issues and got a very defensive line of "MG will know about that", but when asked about specific faults such as internal temp causing air con to blow cold they were totally unaware. I also enquired as to how MG will know about such things if dealers don't report them, offering to send an email with all known faults. The response was that "MG will know everything, so there's no need". Then when I informed them that other dealers were performing updates they said "they shouldn't be because there aren't any yet. Maybe they're using 3rd party updates?", again showing a cluelessness on another level.

In essence, such dealers will trash the brand even if MG don't manage to. If anyone can refer me to a competent dealer in the east Midlands I'd be very interested.

I think I may have had an a hard time with the same guy, Unity Balsall Common/Coventry? I've never experienced such bad customer service in all my years as a main dealer mechanic and I will not return to this dealer.

 

[Simler51]

I picked up my Orange MG4 Trophy on the 25th of November, Initially all was well (I missed the Driver Alertness System Fault when I first picked it up). Less than 20hrs later I was back at the dealer, not in the best of moods, I not only had the Driver Alertness System Fault displaying on the dash, but an AAC System Failure and the car wouldn't respond to either key nor the lock button, the car also refused point blank to power down. I didn't notice the car also displaying the Android Auto "Pre-Production Hardware - Not For Resale" message as I didn't have the right cable; USB-C to USB-C, rather than the required USB A (Really MG!).

A rather inauspicious start, after what was already a stressful acquisition process.

I nearly got the car back on Wednesday after a master re-set at the dealer (initial thoughts of "it's just a knackered 12v battery" were disappointingly not the case). But it's still at the dealership now as the driver alertness system fault is still being displayed (as is the pre-production hardware message). The user manual was no help, and disabling the system was no help, the message persisted and the system remained non-functional. I left the dealer in the dealers MG HS PHEV for the second time. I am not ashamed to say that with other stresses in life I broke down that evening.

On Friday I messaged the dealer and said I was considering rejecting the car if it is not sorted. I wouldn't accept a used car with a fault, why should I accept a new one. He immediately said I could have the demonstrator car, which is fine but it doesn't fix the problem, it is currently in the garage and I have done more miles in it than my own car.

The dealers demo car has the same "pre-production hardware - not for resale" message so I know it doesn't have the latest software in it. But the driver alertness system works.

It's not a good advert for MG; the cars are clearly not tested when they leave the factory, nor when they arrive in the UK and it is evident that the dealers miss these things.

Mel

I must admit - I generally shy away from forums because you get to hear about quite a few problems. Especially about the car you have just ordered and are jumping up and down like a kid getting the best toy in the shop. But then I suppose that’s the whole idea of forums so you get an insight…perhaps I should have read further before jumping!! I will keep reading