New MG ZS LR initial frustrations

[LittlePluggers]

We've had our new MG ZS LR Trophy for a short while now and thought I would share a few frustrations we've found.

1. The car forgets settings when you turn it off and back on again. For example Kers, Driving Mode etc. The worst is the speed limiter as you have to go way down into the settings and turn it back on.

2. The front windscreen is always fogging up on AC Auto. I can prevent it only by configuring the AC to only blow out of the front window vents with a fan speed of at least 6.

3. The speed limiter and ACC only go in steps of 5mph. For the ACC you can press the middle button on the ACC stalk to get the current speed but not on the speed limiter.

4. Turning on/off the heated seats is a faff without a dedicated button. Especially if you are using Android auto or Apple carplay.

5. The navigation on the screen is counter intuitive, I keep find myself trying to swipe backwards or press a backwards button that doesn't exist. There is also a weird menu you can pull down from the top but there is barely anything useful in it.

6. The 360 cameras have a blind spot on the front corners of the car, without front sensors it's hard to actually judge if the big nose will hit things.

7. Lack of customisation for the home screen on the main display and the drivers display. Would love to see more ways to show that information I want to see.

Having not owned an MG before are these pretty much on par with other models and do you think there is any chance some will be fixed by over the air updates?

 

[Merry]

Can't say I've noticed the settings thing as I'm happy with the defaults! The windscreen is fogging up because it turns the recirculation on in Auto. I noticed that fairly early on. You can increment the acc in units of 1 if you hold the stalk up or down.

Agree about the heated seats and lack of customisation. Doesn't really bother me though. Can't say I've used the inbuilt nav yet so no comment on that either!

Not noticed an issue with the 360 view, other than its a bit pants at night.

What sort of efficiency you getting?

 

[Alan]

1. The car forgets settings when you turn it off and back on again. For example Kers, Driving Mode etc. The worst is the speed limiter as you have to go way down into the settings and turn it back on.

This is the same as the Gen1 ZS EV, You can set the * button on the steering wheel to go straight to the speed limiter page (car settings I think) to make it a bit easier.

3. The speed limiter and ACC only go in steps of 5mph. For the ACC you can press the middle button on the ACC stalk to get the current speed but not on the speed limiter.

Try holding the stalk up (or down) to go in 1 mph increments (instead of just pressing up/down once). This is how the Gen1 ZS EV works.

 

[LittlePluggers]

Can't say I've noticed the settings thing as I'm happy with the defaults! The windscreen is fogging up because it turns the recirculation on in Auto. I noticed that fairly early on. You can increment the acc in units of 1 if you hold the stalk up or down.

Agree about the heated seats and lack of customisation. Doesn't really bother me though. Can't say I've used the inbuilt nav yet so no comment on that either!

Not noticed an issue with the 360 view, other than its a bit pants at night.

What sort of efficiency you getting?

Ah, very good spot regarding the AC. I had assumed Auto would be more intelligent but clearly not.
The front windscreen doesn't fog up now, thanks.

Efficiency-wise 2.9m/kWh for trips but 2.8m/kWh overall. (see photo)
I tried a short 10 mile ECO run today with just myself in the car but with AC etc on. I got to the dizzying heights of 3.0m/kWh.

How about you?

 

[LittlePluggers]

1. The car forgets settings when you turn it off and back on again. For example Kers, Driving Mode etc. The worst is the speed limiter as you have to go way down into the settings and turn it back on.

This is the same as the Gen1 ZS EV, You can set the * button on the steering wheel to go straight to the speed limiter page (car settings I think) to make it a bit easier.


Try holding the stalk up (or down) to go in 1 mph increments (instead of just pressing up/down once). This is how the Gen1 ZS EV works.

Ah thank you for the tip yes, holding the stalk does work.

For the * there are only 3 options: Show the Quick Menu, Carplay/Android Auto, 360 one-touch.
Unfortunately the quick menu is mostly empty and doesn't even have a link to settings it in. Unless there is someway to add things to it.

 

[Merry]

Ah, very good spot regarding the AC. I had assumed Auto would be more intelligent but clearly not.
The front windscreen doesn't fog up now, thanks.

Efficiency-wise 2.9m/kWh for trips but 2.8m/kWh overall. (see photo)
I tried a short 10 mile ECO run today with just myself in the car but with AC etc on. I got to the dizzying heights of 3.0m/kWh.

How about you?

No problem. Mine was pretty bad for the first few days, probably had been stood for a while which doesn't help.

2.8-3.2 kwh at the moment. The realisation the recirculation was on was a bit of a revalation as it meant I could turn the AC off. Ideally I'd like a bit more but I'd guessed it'd be about that.

Really happy with it to be honest.

 

[LittlePluggers]

No problem. Mine was pretty bad for the first few days, probably had been stood for a while which doesn't help.

2.8-3.2 kwh at the moment. The realisation the recirculation was on was a bit of a revalation as it meant I could turn the AC off. Ideally I'd like a bit more but I'd guessed it'd be about that.

Really happy with it to be honest.

Awesome. I think I will be doing some more journey's with the AC off aswell now.

One additional thing you might want to check your tyre pressures. After reading the manual I've discovered they should be 2.8bar (41 psi) all round, mine are currently 2.6bar (37.7 psi) going to fix that tomorrow and see how much impact it has.

 

[Merry]

Yeah mine are too. I'll sort that one out

 

[LittlePluggers]

I thought I would use the 12v tyre inflator from the boot. Tldr: Don't do it

With the wheel covers on you can just about get the dust caps off but there isn't enough room to screw the tyre inflator on. So I had to remove the covers which was tough and painful.

Will definitely go to a public air pump in future to avoid all the faff.

I did notice one wheel had large number of weights on it to keep it balanced. Seems a lot for a brand new alloy/tyre.

 

[Mg5van]

That does seem rather excessive. With a Michelin tyre as well I normally Find they don't need balancing.

 

[Whooo]

I thought I would use the 12v tyre inflator from the boot. Tldr: Don't do it

With the wheel covers on you can just about get the dust caps off but there isn't enough room to screw the tyre inflator on. So I had to remove the covers which was tough and painful.

Will definitely go to a public air pump in future to avoid all the faff.

I did notice one wheel had large number of weights on it to keep it balanced. Seems a lot for a brand new alloy/tyre.

Just a quick suggestion - if you’ve already got some Makita kit, their tyre pump is very compact and handy. Does everything from push bikes to lorries

 

[LittlePluggers]

Just a quick suggestion - if you’ve already got some Makita kit, their tyre pump is very compact and handy. Does everything from push bikes to lorries

Brilliant idea, thank you will look into that.

 

[Mg5van]

Just been talking to my brother and he has told me it's not unusual nowadays he sees brand new Mercs with more on them.

 

[Lovemyev]

I thought I would use the 12v tyre inflator from the boot. Tldr: Don't do it

With the wheel covers on you can just about get the dust caps off but there isn't enough room to screw the tyre inflator on. So I had to remove the covers which was tough and painful.

Will definitely go to a public air pump in future to avoid all the faff.

I did notice one wheel had large number of weights on it to keep it balanced. Seems a lot for a brand new alloy/tyre.

Can I ask, what are the wheel covers made of ?. Are they plastic ?.
How are they held to the wheel and what did you use to remove them ?.
Thanks !.

 

[LittlePluggers]

Just been talking to my brother and he has told me it's not unusual nowadays he sees brand new Mercs with more on them.

Thank you!

 

[Vipar]

You can get valve extensions I found them very handy on my Motorhome as the hub caps were very deep

 

[Vipar]

Look at this on eBay
Pack Of 4 Metal Schrader Tyre Valve Extensions

 

[Mg5van]

I used to have them on my DRW truck they help massively

 

[LittlePluggers]

Can I ask, what are the wheel covers made of ?. Are they plastic ?.
How are they held to the wheel and what did you use to remove them ?.
Thanks !.

The wheel covers are plastic. They have with 5 plastic clamps which have some metal on the inside to help keep them tight when mounted. Sorry I thought I had taken a photo but looks like I forgot.

I pulled them off by hand as per the manual, you can get your fingers in the gap and pull to release a clamp and then repeat for each one. You have to use quite a bit of force so gloves are essential pulling the last clamp is the worst as the wheel cover or yourself generally goes flying. Could be opportunities for some kind of prying tool but the gap isn't very big.

 

[LittlePluggers]

Look at this on eBay
Pack Of 4 Metal Schrader Tyre Valve Extensions

Brilliant idea, thanks