Love the MG4, dealer network - not so much...

[FunkyWorm]

A few weeks ago my facelift 2023 SE LR started alerting that the airbag module had a fault. Initially it raised a fault (in the app and as a text & email message) every thirty seconds which quickly got tedious, but disconnecting the yellow multi-way connectors under the front seats, squirting in some contact cleaner and re-connecting got it down to every few days (amazing what you can find on YouTube!) - so, called Glynn Hopkins in Mill Hill (North London - conveniently near my wife's work) and the best they could offer was six weeks before an appointment.
My local independent garage who I'd used a lot in the past was happy to investigate but neither of his scan tools could make any sense of it and since cleaning the connectors had got it down to merely an annoyance I tried three other MG dealers in/around North London; the best offer was three weeks (and it would mean taking a day off work to sort it).
So my observation is - six weeks for service essentially means the car is out of support; who can afford two cars if one is a month-and-a-half away from being fixed? Although I'd happily have another MG in the future this has become something of a deal-breaker for me. Any thoughts? Should I just book speculative service appointments in case I need them?!

 

[tsedge]

Try going further afield. London seems like it is overloaded with MG owners vs customers. No problems in some other areas. Locally I can normally get an appointment in a few days.

 

[FunkyWorm]

But that’s a day off work to do that and then possibly another after they’ve had to order a part.
As I say, love the car but the very poor after-sales support (where I can actually get to) will probably stop me from buying another MG.

 

[MG Clive]

But that’s a day off work to do that and then possibly another after they’ve had to order a part.
As I say, love the car but the very poor after-sales support (where I can actually get to) will probably stop me from buying another MG.

There aren't really very many MG Dealers in the UK, and they all tend to work the same hours as the majority of workers in the UK, so the unfortunate reality for most of us, is that we'll need to take time off work to visit an MG Dealer.

 

[tsedge]

But that’s a day off work to do that and then possibly another after they’ve had to order a part.
As I say, love the car but the very poor after-sales support (where I can actually get to) will probably stop me from buying another MG.

I'm not saying it is good, I'm just trying to help out.

MG have expanded sales enormously and the after-sales experience "needs works" for sure.

 

[JonnyG]

.. but the very poor after-sales support (where I can actually get to) will probably stop me from buying another MG.

It already has for me . I’ve gone back to VW as despite liking my Xpower the :-

• poor MG after sales.
• high cost of annual servicing.
• high cost and availability of parts.
• long wait for booking car in for any work.
• MG UK response to some issues calling them “characteristics” of the car and not faults.
• the poorly implemented ADAS systems.
• no free software updates and no OTA updates.
• the battle to get warranty issues fixed without having to pay a deposit first etc.

have all contributed to me deciding to stick with European manufacturers and dealers for now who I trust.

 

[Rookery]

It's the same for me, although I liked my MG5 LR the after sales service was appalling
I now have a Kona and enjoying the car and a better Hyundai service experience.

 

[DYWLC]

I won't be getting another MG. But you

It already has for me . I’ve gone back to VW as despite liking my Xpower the :-

• poor MG after sales.
• high cost of annual servicing.
• high cost and availability of parts.
• long wait for booking car in for any work.
• MG UK response to some issues calling them “characteristics” of the car and not faults.
• the poorly implemented ADAS systems.
• no free software updates and no OTA updates.
• the battle to get warranty issues fixed without having to pay a deposit first etc.

have all contributed to me deciding to stick with European manufacturers and dealers for now who I trust.

I won't be buying another MG either but you ntrust Volkswagen, even after they conned the world with their fuel consumption / emissions scam. Think again dear Sir

 

[siteguru]

It's the same for me, although I liked my MG5 LR the after sales service was appalling
I now have a Kona and enjoying the car and a better Hyundai service experience.

You should update the Driving part of your forum profile then.

 

[Rookery]

Having said that I do like the IM5 however I want to keep an eye on what is happening with MG which will influence my decision whether to to return to MG.

 

[tsedge]

It will be interesting to see if MG/IM service improves. I'm told MG are investing in it, but they don't go into specifics. Time will tell.

Service with established marques is better, but they need to make cars I like (that's you VW and Kia!) and they need to make enough cars that I can buy the ones I do like without an enormous wait time (that's you Renault).

 

[Snorky]

It already has for me . I’ve gone back to VW as despite liking my Xpower the :-

• poor MG after sales.
• high cost of annual servicing.
• high cost and availability of parts.
• long wait for booking car in for any work.
• MG UK response to some issues calling them “characteristics” of the car and not faults.
• the poorly implemented ADAS systems.
• no free software updates and no OTA updates.
• the battle to get warranty issues fixed without having to pay a deposit first etc.

have all contributed to me deciding to stick with European manufacturers and dealers for now who I trust.

our update was free , as longas we did it at the same time as the service

 

[JonnyG]

The only update I was offered for free was the service campaign SC077 which they were obliged to do after a a damming Which Report on the LKA.

Maybe you have one of the better dealers

 

[Doug C]

Ah! That's why MG called my software update a recall issue on the recent annual service.

 

[Buster72]

I bought my MG4 from North Bristol and the salesman was good. But on both occasions of taking it there for the year 1 and year 2 service, I found the guys who book the car in on the day incredibly arrogant. They think it is perfectly acceptable to dictate to you what they are going to do and expect you to just nod and accept it. Like telling you that you HAVE to arrive by 08.00 and then not even start to work on the car till after 1pm and then don't carry out the software updates they told you were necessary and tell you that you will have to come back again for them to be done.
Well not this time. I will take it to Bath and hopefully they will be a bit more customer focused.