MG4 in Australia

[leonkernan]

I've done Melbourne - Sydney return in my 51. It takes a bit longer but it's doable.
Pushing it along at 110kph is certainly a way to drop the range quickly though.

 

[davemc]

TOCWA has a list of people who done the lap a few early model RWD Model 3's I know done it which just over 50kWh.

Around Australia trips in a pure EV

DriverStart/End pointCompletionVehicleNew Usable Capacity1. Glen GeorgePerthNov 20111956 MG converted Blue32 kWh2 Richard McNeallSydneySept 2016Tesla S Blue82 kWh3. Jeff JohnsonSydneyNov 2016Nissan Leaf Blue * 21 kWh4. Sylvia WilsonGladstoneJuly 2018Tesla S Blue69 kWh5. Steve & Keita...

www.tocwa.org.au

Has a MG4 51kWh found a link on facebook.. So doable if you plan

Around The Block with Moulin Rouge

Around The Block with Moulin Rouge. 144 likes. This is my travel blog, attempting to drive around Australia in my base model MG4 Excite 51 kWh EV. And other EV adventures and uses.

www.facebook.com

I'd like to do it before too many DC chargers open up and there is no planning
Someone in a Gen1 Leaf did it which amazes me.

 

[decrep]

We have driven our 51 to Canberra (from Sydney) which is about 290kms. You can't do it on a single charge at highway speeds.

We use my 77 for the long trips. My wife uses the 51 around town. It's brilliant for that.

The sweet spot for a 51 are 150-175km legs with half hour 20-80 charging sessions, 200km legs absolute tops IMHO.

We did the Canberra trip just to give my wife experience with DC fast charging in case she ever needs to go on a long trip herself. She only ever uses the Tesla wall charger in the driveway in real life...

My bad, it's only 200km from Mandurah to Margaret River, not the 300 I thought.

 

[wattmatters]

So doable if you plan

It's definitely doable. It's more a matter of whether one could be bothered.

 

[wattmatters]

Dropped the car in this afternoon for its 2 year service tomorrow. Will see how it goes, hoping for a bit of a software update but I'm not holding my breath. An improved LKA is the main thing, or at least an easier way to disable it.

 

[wattmatters]

Dropped the car in this afternoon for its 2 year service tomorrow. Will see how it goes, hoping for a bit of a software update but I'm not holding my breath. An improved LKA is the main thing, or at least an easier way to disable it.

Got the call, car is ready but I'll pick it up tomorrow.

The are going to need it back for the under tray fix which has deformed since I last checked it and also they identified the fault with the driver's seat (I reported a bad squeaking) which they've submitted a quality control report to MG and apparently some part is needed for that. They'll book it in for those to be corrected when the parts arrive.

They've updated software for head unit and also software related to LKA. Other than that, routine service stuff including new cabin filter.

$421, which is a bit more than the originally advertised $296 from back when we bought the car. I'll reserve my judgement of course on the improvements with software changes but I'm OK with that sort of service cost provided the other fixes are warranty items. It's considerably less than I used to pay to service our previous cars.

 

[ReintjeWA]

$421, which is a bit more than the originally advertised $296 from back when we bought the car. I'll reserve my judgement of course on the improvements with software changes but I'm OK with that sort of service cost provided the other fixes are warranty items. It's considerably less than I used to pay to service our previous cars.

And you can spread this cost out over two years (or at least 20,000kms)

 

[Corindikev]

Got the call, car is ready but I'll pick it up tomorrow.

The are going to need it back for the under tray fix which has deformed since I last checked it and also they identified the fault with the driver's seat (I reported a bad squeaking) which they've submitted a quality control report to MG and apparently some part is needed for that. They'll book it in for those to be corrected when the parts arrive.

They've updated software for head unit and also software related to LKA. Other than that, routine service stuff including new cabin filter.

$421, which is a bit more than the originally advertised $296 from back when we bought the car. I'll reserve my judgement of course on the improvements with software changes but I'm OK with that sort of service cost provided the other fixes are warranty items. It's considerably less than I used to pay to service our previous cars.

 

[Kenno]

Got the call, car is ready but I'll pick it up tomorrow.

The are going to need it back for the under tray fix which has deformed since I last checked it and also they identified the fault with the driver's seat (I reported a bad squeaking) which they've submitted a quality control report to MG and apparently some part is needed for that. They'll book it in for those to be corrected when the parts arrive.

They've updated software for head unit and also software related to LKA. Other than that, routine service stuff including new cabin filter.

$421, which is a bit more than the originally advertised $296 from back when we bought the car. I'll reserve my judgement of course on the improvements with software changes but I'm OK with that sort of service cost provided the other fixes are warranty items. It's considerably less than I used to pay to service our previous cars.

Looks like they charged you for the software update. Is it in the itemised bill? I paid the advertised $296 without a software update. Trying to get that done as part of the charging light fix, though they are being very unhelpful e.g. promising to call back and don't. Will call them again today and perhaps every day!

 

[EVentropy]

Seems to be a bit of discrepancy between countries. I paid $153 as they gave me a 100$ discount for returning to dealer. No time for update, but they said book it will be foc, and with a courtesy car.
I have checked the reduction box cover and breather periodically , nothing amiss there I don’t mind if they just checked the car and did nothing for that $. No car I’ve owned has had a brake fluid flush in first 40k km.

 

[wattmatters]

Looks like they charged you for the software update. Is it in the itemised bill?

It is itemised. Just collected it and the car today.

The software updates for lane assist, emergency braking and the head unit were all listed as "Warranty Repairs/Service At No Charge."

Primary service (24 month/ 40,000 km)	$245.83
Some consumables: Brake fluid, windscreen washer additive, pollen filter	$ 53.62
Sundries/environmental levy	$ 16.00
Investigation of driver's seat issue	$ 68.00
GST	$ 38.35

I just got a follow up call from the service centre not long after getting home, the warranty driver seat repair and under tray warp fix has been approved by MG and parts ordered. I am booked in mid-November for that work.

Not sure if I get the $68 back for the seat investigation. I'm not stressing it, it will just be nice not to have that squeaky seat.

As to car's condition.

Brakes pads:
Front 8 mm, rear 4 mm

Tyres:
Front 7 mm, rear 7 mm (all good condition)

Measurements approximate.

No report on the battery condition but I am unconcerned with that. It's fine.

Bit surprised at the rear brake pads but they said it'll be fine through to next service.

I noted on way home the adaptive cruise now operates in 1 km/h increments, while I left the LKA function active and got no alerts or steering wheel tugs on the way home. I would definitely have experienced that previously on both the freeway and our local roads. It's only one drive but already it's better and I'm happy with that.

Will be doing a longer drive this coming weekend to Brisbane and back, ~ 1,000 km return trip.

 

[AlC]

It is itemised. Just collected it and the car today.

The software updates for lane assist, emergency braking and the head unit were all listed as "Warranty Repairs/Service At No Charge."

Primary service (24 month/ 40,000 km)	$245.83
Some consumables: Brake fluid, windscreen washer additive, pollen filter	$ 53.62
Sundries/environmental levy	$ 16.00
Investigation of driver's seat issue	$ 68.00
GST	$ 38.35

I just got a follow up call from the service centre not long after getting home, the warranty driver seat repair and under tray warp fix has been approved by MG and parts ordered. I am booked in mid-November for that work.

Not sure if I get the $68 back for the seat investigation. I'm not stressing it, it will just be nice not to have that squeaky seat.

As to car's condition.

Brakes pads:
Front 8 mm, rear 4 mm

Tyres:
Front 7 mm, rear 7 mm (all good condition)

Measurements approximate.

No report on the battery condition but I am unconcerned with that. It's fine.

Bit surprised at the rear brake pads but they said it'll be fine through to next service.

I noted on way home the adaptive cruise now operates in 1 km/h increments, while I left the LKA function active and got no alerts or steering wheel tugs on the way home. I would definitely have experienced that previously on both the freeway and our local roads. It's only one drive but already it's better and I'm happy with that.

Will be doing a longer drive this coming weekend to Brisbane and back, ~ 1,000 km return trip.

Did you have to request the updates for LKA/AEB? I had mine serviced last week and didn't get any updates. Just a change of pollen filter, check (flush and replace?) of the brake fluid and then basically they eyeball the rest of the car as best I can tell.

I was hoping for at least the software updates that were covered by recent service campaigns but no such luck. Perhaps I should have asked.

 

[Corindikev]

When I booked my MG4 in on line the first available date was 15 September, then I got a call to say that date was booked out & the earliest was 2nd of October. The on line quoted cost is $360.00. The drivers window failure will be warranty & software updates were included in the quoted cost.

The LKA & reversal of the ACC button function has been well publicised. The problem is that I am used to the original & the reversal will annoy me till I get used to it.. Whether they charge me for rotating the tyres I don't know but each wheel TPMS has to be reset for its new location as I understand it.

I finally have the electricity switched over & will continue in the interim with the Powershop EV day plan. Re-installed my ZJBeny charger & even though my garage is not part of the house , the WiFi has coverage without creating a mesh network which is what I thought I may have had to do.

The solar here is an old BP/SMA system with 8 panels producing a maximum of 1 kW. At midday yesterday on a sunny Spring day it was reporting 890 watts.

I have organised a new 8.8kW system with 20 x bi-facial panels in a 7 East, 7 West & 6 North orientation on my sheds with a 10kW inverter & 18.64 kWh battery with full blackout functionality. Based on our average use so far I will never need grid power. I'll see how it goes. Cost is $11,616.00.

 

[wattmatters]

Did you have to request the updates for LKA/AEB?

When I booked it in a couple of months ago I provided an email with a range of things I wanted checked aside from the regular service items. I noted those earlier in the thread and it included the erratic and brown pants behaviour of the LKA. I did not ask for software update, just asked them to review the performance of the system and explained what it was doing.

Mine had two spots on local drives where it pretty consistently attempts to steer me to the right over the centre line and into oncoming traffic. On any local road here it was abysmal, always trying to drag me off the road. On the freeway it would try to pull me off the road when I passed a rest area or an exit. Hence why I always turned it off.

Then when I took the car in we went through them all plus I added a reminder to check the rear under tray as I had forgotten to include that in my original email. Get them to note it all in writing and reconfirm when you drop it off and check the car in.

They tell me they applied software updates, to what I can't say exactly but I know the ACC works differently and the LKA is no longer attempting to drag me off the road.

On a short drive yesterday afternoon I did get a couple of warning beeps on my local country road but nothing like I used to get when it would constantly tug the steering wheel for no reason. It did nothing on the freeway home. It was a refreshing change.

I thought there was supposed to be an easier/quicker way to disable LKA but I see no evidence of that. But if it continues to operate without the constant annoyance it has been, then I probably won't need to be concerned with switching it off every time I get in.

I have a long drive coming up this weekend so it will get a good test of how it performs.

When I booked my MG4 in on line the first available date was 15 September, then I got a call to say that date was booked out & the earliest was 2nd of October.

Yeah they have a pretty long wait time. I marked in my calendar a reminder to book it in a couple of months out, I always had that habit with my last cars. One of the guys in the service dept used to work at a local independent service shop that worked on my old Golf and so knew me.

I actually think they did a good job. They communicated well, followed up on everything I asked about and we got a quick response from MG Australia about the under tray and my driver's seat issue.

I do not see evidence they took it for a test drive though as my data recording shows no odometer change while there. It does show some brief battery discharges at various times, moving the car in/out of the garage or doing service stuff, perhaps software updates.

I suspect they have now had the benefit of working on enough of these cars now to have familiarity with the issues and process. While us earlier buyers are just passing the 2 year mark, there will be some I guess who have done more mileage and been through it earlier.

 

[wattmatters]

I finally have the electricity switched over & will continue in the interim with the Powershop EV day plan. Re-installed my ZJBeny charger & even though my garage is not part of the house , the WiFi has coverage without creating a mesh network which is what I though I may have had to do.

Nice.

I have organised a new 8.8kW system with 20 x bi-facial panels in a 7 East, 7 West & 6 North orientation on my sheds with a 10kW inverter & 18.64 kWh battery with full blackout functionality. Based on our average use so far I will never need grid power. I'll see how it goes. Cost is $11,616.00.

It's insane how much solar and battery we can get nowadays for the $.

Having been through winter now we did use some grid power but mainly to ensure the battery was fully charged from the free energy period.

Solar installed in late May, battery in early July. With the battery we have all but eliminated paying for grid energy. Still need to experience a summer in our new place so it will be interesting to see how it goes. I'm banking on being closer to the ocean meaning less aircon demand than our last place.

the Powershop EV day plan

I buy their future powerpacks as a way to offset the daily charge. Each $10 bonus is like dropping the daily charge by 33c.

 

[siteguru]

The easier/quicker way is via the pulldown menu ... in my SE (Excite for you) it is called LDP On; light up in blue = LKA available, in grey = LKA turned off.

 

[wattmatters]

The easier/quicker way is via the pulldown menu ... in my SE (Excite for you) it is called LDP On; light up in blue = LKA available, in grey = LKA turned off.

I see no option for that. That is if you mean when you swipe down from the top of the Home screen.

 

[siteguru]

What's your Infotainment software version? Maybe they haven't added that feature to the Aussie software variants yet?

 

[Jamesrr]

What's your Infotainment software version? Maybe they haven't added that feature to the Aussie software variants yet?

I've had the "pull down" menu since we bought our MG4s in October and November last year.

@wattmatters You need to have the infotainment screen on rather than Android Auto or Car play displaying and then swipe from about 3/4 to the right down.

An overlay menu will pop up that allows you to disable LKA/ELK.

 

[wattmatters]

@wattmatters You need to have the infotainment screen on rather than Android Auto or Car play displaying and then swipe from about 3/4 to the right down.

An overlay menu will pop up that allows you to disable LKA/ELK.

I've always had the pull down screen but there's no option to disable LKA/ELK.

What I have used it for is changing screen brightness.

Which reminds me of a pet hate - driving this car in the dark. Even at the lowest settings the interior light level is ridiculous and the headlights are crap for our local country roads. On any curve to the right all they do is throw a big shadow on the road ahead.