MG4 X Power Vibe/Hum 65 to 75mph

[mGizmo]

pretended to be "completely clueless" more likely

Hanlon's razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by incompletence.

 

[blueman671]

I’ve made a separate post asking for advice on getting a used xpower, so apologies for another one here!

Reserved a car, due to collect in a couple of weeks. 23 reg, 3k miles.

Knew about the vibration issue but didn’t see this thread. Spent hours reading it (still haven’t got through most pages!).

Seems like:

• no fix, never likely to be a fix
• later models aren’t affected as much
• early models are definitely affected

Some advice - stay clear of a 23 reg, or does it make no difference?

Will test drive the car but it’s an 8hr round trip to do so. Don’t want to get there and have to walk away ideally. Do I save my time and train expense and pull out?

Tia

 

[unbornidentity]

I’ve made a separate post asking for advice on getting a used xpower, so apologies for another one here!

Reserved a car, due to collect in a couple of weeks. 23 reg, 3k miles.

Knew about the vibration issue but didn’t see this thread. Spent hours reading it (still haven’t got through most pages!).

Seems like:

• no fix, never likely to be a fix
• later models aren’t affected as much
• early models are definitely affected

Some advice - stay clear of a 23 reg, or does it make no difference?

Will test drive the car but it’s an 8hr round trip to do so. Don’t want to get there and have to walk away ideally. Do I save my time and train expense and pull out?

Tia

It’s more likely to have it than not and how bad it is or how much it will bother you seems to vary. I think it’s worth test driving it to find out if it’s one that doesn’t do it or it’s subtle.

Definitely don’t buy it without test driving it. I’ve got a 25 and it has it so it’s a lottery no matter the year.

Mine was horrendous when I first got it but it’s improved over time and is very mild now (to the point if it had been like it is now when I collected it and wasn’t aware of the issue I’d not think anything was wrong). I think others have had the opposite and found it to get worse over time.

A test drive is the only way to be sure. Make sure you get on the motorway and drive between 60 and 75 for at least a few minutes as it builds up and try to include a hilly section as that tends to make it more noticeable on mine.

 

[salty]

Doesn't really help you, but you really won't know, until you test drive it. And I mean a good test drive. Not just around the block. And also include motorways if possible or at least a good fast road.
If it's a good un you'll love it. An 8 hour round trip is a lot. Is there none closer?
It's really up to you. For reference mine's a 24 reg and is perfect, in fact it's been faultless in the 12 months I've had it. To be honest, even if it had it, and you where not aware of it, you possibly wouldn't notice.
Good luck.

 

[blueman671]

It’s more likely to have it than not and how bad it is or how much it will bother you seems to vary. I think it’s worth test driving it to find out if it’s one that doesn’t do it or it’s subtle.

Definitely don’t buy it without test driving it. I’ve got a 25 and it has it so it’s a lottery no matter the year.

Mine was horrendous when I first got it but it’s improved over time and is very mild now (to the point if it had been like it is now when I collected it and wasn’t aware of the issue I’d not think anything was wrong). I think others have had the opposite and found it to get worse over time.

A test drive is the only way to be sure. Make sure you get on the motorway and drive between 60 and 75 for at least a few minutes as it builds up and try to include a hilly section as that tends to make it more noticeable on mine.

What does ‘bad’ look like in this context?

I know it’s subjective, but is it something in the background that you as the owner only notice or is it like my old clio RS that rattled and shook plastic trim over ever pebble?

Would you buy it again if you went back in time?

 

[blueman671]

Doesn't really help you, but you really won't know, until you test drive it. And I mean a good test drive. Not just around the block. And also include motorways if possible or at least a good fast road.
If it's a good un you'll love it. An 8 hour round trip is a lot. Is there none closer?
It's really up to you. For reference mine's a 24 reg and is perfect, in fact it's been faultless in the 12 months I've had it. To be honest, even if it had it, and you where not aware of it, you possibly wouldn't notice.
Good luck.

There are, but they’re all an additional £4K+. Not expecting this to be a great ‘investment’ and depreciation to be hefty, so I don’t want to spend much more than £20k as it poses more of a risk. It’s pcp anyway purely so I can hand back if I’m negative equity.

Logic is, at £20k it surely can’t lose ‘too much more’ money - I mean, I honestly can’t see these ever being sub £10k without silly miles being put on them purely for the performance. Vibrations or not, people will pay purely for the 0-60. You’re hard pressed to find a used golf r for sub £15k that isn’t a Bradford spec cat N. Fast cars usually don’t lose too much money past the £15k mark from my experience, especially the seriously fast ones!

Anyway, once we’re into the £25k territory I’d have to look at more premium cars purely because im buying car with known issues and snags - £20k is my ceiling for accepting those issues

 

[unbornidentity]

What does ‘bad’ look like in this context?

I know it’s subjective, but is it something in the background that you as the owner only notice or is it like my old clio RS that rattled and shook plastic trim over ever pebble?

Would you buy it again if you went back in time?

Mine was a bit like driving over a cattle grid, you could feel it through the floor (it made my calf muscles feel weird and my fingers almost numb), the seat, steering wheel and the whole car would shake. If there was nobody in the passenger seat you could see that shaking. They had it back for nearly a month, said they didn’t do anything to it but it was miles better (so they clearly did do something) and has continued to improve over time.

Now it’s a very light high frequency vibration though the steering wheel, a sound a bit like it’s got an engine and occasionally feels like a wheel is slightly out of balance.

As it is now I’d buy it again with the discount I got but I’d still not be happy if I’d paid full price for it.

 

[salty]

Only going off what I've read on hear, some of the vibes are really bad. I'm sure one said they would end up with vibration white finger or similar, it was that bad.
Some say they are aware of it but doesn't bother them, and probably wouldn't know, if they hadn't been pre warned.
And some haven't got it at all, even the earlier ones.
So it seems it's literally pot luck.

 

[LenEV2016]

What does ‘bad’ look like in this context?

I know it’s subjective, but is it something in the background that you as the owner only notice or is it like my old clio RS that rattled and shook plastic trim over ever pebble?

Would you buy it again if you went back in time?

I took a test drive in one that was that bad it made my hand tingle after a while from holding the steering wheel.
Not going to lie the acceleration was still fun though even in that one.
They range from that bad to barley noticeable, the problem is that it's a fault and no one knows for sure the long term impact/wear on the parts that are causing the issue.

 

[LenEV2016]

There are, but they’re all an additional £4K+. Not expecting this to be a great ‘investment’ and depreciation to be hefty, so I don’t want to spend much more than £20k as it poses more of a risk. It’s pcp anyway purely so I can hand back if I’m negative equity.

Logic is, at £20k it surely can’t lose ‘too much more’ money - I mean, I honestly can’t see these ever being sub £10k without silly miles being put on them purely for the performance. Vibrations or not, people will pay purely for the 0-60. You’re hard pressed to find a used golf r for sub £15k that isn’t a Bradford spec cat N. Fast cars usually don’t lose too much money past the £15k mark from my experience, especially the seriously fast ones!

Anyway, once we’re into the £25k territory I’d have to look at more premium cars purely because im buying car with known issues and snags - £20k is my ceiling for accepting those issues

Current final payments (GFV) on a brand new X Power after 4 years is only £12k now

 

[blueman671]

Mine was a bit like driving over a cattle grid, you could feel it through the floor (it made my calf muscles feel weird and my fingers almost numb), the seat, steering wheel and the whole car would shake. If there was nobody in the passenger seat you could see that shaking. They had it back for nearly a month, said they didn’t do anything to it but it was miles better (so they clearly did do something) and has continued to improve over time.

Now it’s a very light high frequency vibration though the steering wheel, a sound a bit like it’s got an engine and occasionally feels like a wheel is slightly out of balance.

As it is now I’d buy it again with the discount I got but I’d still not be happy if I’d paid full price for it.

Wow. Cattle grid. That wouldn’t be tolerable whatsoever. Was it like that on the test drive? Surely you noticed it straight away being that bad, or did it get worse over time until they fixed something?

If it’s similar to an engine running in the background I could live with. I’ve got a hybrid now and the engine runs at 2k rpm at motorway speeds so I can always hear it if I listen. Based on how it is currently Is it similar to that sensation or much more irritating?

Aaaaaaaa I can’t decide! Do I just get a Tesla or a polestar for the same money? They’re not green though….

 

[blueman671]

I took a test drive in one that was that bad it made my hand tingle after a while from holding the steering wheel.
Not going to lie the acceleration was still fun though even in that one.
They range from that bad to barley noticeable, the problem is that it's a fault and no one knows for sure the long term impact/wear on the parts that are causing the issue.

Did you buy one in the end?

I haven’t read any stories of people with moderate vibrations getting to that stage over time. Big worry would be test driving it, it being ok, then in a year it rattles my teeth loose and I end up driving it into a wall out of frustration

 

[blueman671]

Current final payments (GFV) on a brand new X Power after 4 years is only £12k now

I have seen that - absurd in my opinion. I’m sure most people on here even with the fault would buy one for £12k with just 32k miles on the clock. I certainly would!

People drive with stripped out interiors chasing sub 5 second 0-60 times. Not having to pay for petrol and just putting up with a vibration, I could see most people snapping these up without second thought if they ever get to that point. Time will tell…

 

[salty]

In the end, it's up to you. No matter what we say. Like I and others have said a really good test drive is a must. If it's ok. Buy it. You won't be disappointed. IMO if it's not got it now, it won't ever get it.
Decisions, decisions.

 

[unbornidentity]

Wow. Cattle grid. That wouldn’t be tolerable whatsoever. Was it like that on the test drive? Surely you noticed it straight away being that bad, or did it get worse over time until they fixed something?

If it’s similar to an engine running in the background I could live with. I’ve got a hybrid now and the engine runs at 2k rpm at motorway speeds so I can always hear it if I listen. Based on how it is currently Is it similar to that sensation or much more irritating?

Aaaaaaaa I can’t decide! Do I just get a Tesla or a polestar for the same money? They’re not green though….

It was brand new so didn’t get to test drive the one I actually bought.

If it’s like mine is now and you are used to a hybrid then it’s probably not going to bother you at all. The vibration is no worse than the sensation of an engine running.

 

[unbornidentity]

Did you buy one in the end?

I haven’t read any stories of people with moderate vibrations getting to that stage over time. Big worry would be test driving it, it being ok, then in a year it rattles my teeth loose and I end up driving it into a wall out of frustration

As @salty says. On a 23 plate if it’s okay now it’s unlikely to develop.

 

[JonnyG]

Definitely have a test drive IMHO, however far .... you'd never forgive yourself if you bought a bad one. They do seem to vary a lot from hardly noticeable to "cattle grid" !!

My 73 plate has it very mild, and I only notice it occasionally when cruising uphill on a motorway at around 67-70mph. Just feels like a slight wheel imbalance through the steering wheel.

Mine is going back to the PCP finance company at the end of this month ... I see you're based in Hull so your'e very welcome to it if it meets your spec

 

[Tuareg]

I bought mine new, no test drive, no vibes. The internet magnifies any issues for all sorts of products, only those with a complaint tend to post on forums not those who are very happy and I'm convinced most don't have any issues. If it's used then just take a test drive. Awesome machines, absolutely no regrets buying mine new (equivalent to about £24,500), utter bargain and exceeds my expectations.

 

[LenEV2016]

I bought mine new, no test drive, no vibes. The internet magnifies any issues for all sorts of products, only those with a complaint tend to post on forums not those who are very happy and I'm convinced most don't have any issues. If it's used then just take a test drive. Awesome machines, absolutely no regrets buying mine new (equivalent to about £24,500), utter bargain and exceeds my expectations.

So the folk saying they have the issue are now liars makes a change from being trolls!

You really do take defending MG to another level.

You are right on one point though most do come to forums to look for answers to faults, they won't if they are happy but according to you they are making it up! Which is it?

You seem quite happy to constantly tell everyone how great your car is, and as I've said before I'm glad you've got a good one as no one deserves the hassle and stress getting a bad MG 4 can cause and the fights to get things fixed that go along with it, there are too many examples for them all to be liars!! As you call them.

The group legal case must be full of liars also according to you.

The thing you can't do though and was pointed out only yesterday by another member is preach to someone that is having issues with UK customer service and on UK roads, you don't even live here and have no experience of it.

 

[MG Clive]

To be honest, to me @Tuareg's post was saying that the majority of XPower owners don't actually suffer from the vibes, not that the owners who do suffer the vibes are liars.

And I also have no vibes and no regrets.