New MG4 owner - newbie tips

[OzricEV]

That's unusual ... lease cars have historically come with both.

I didn't care that much, considering how cheap the lease is. I did get a 7kW charger installed at my partners house as part of it (I have a flat so not much point for me) and my insurance, which independently was over £1200. Work also let me charge for free, so I haven't had to pay to charge in weeks.

All in all, it outweighed the cost of having to buy my own granny charger.

 

[Slipstream]

Hi folks (and fellow MG4 owners),

I picked up my very first new car today ever at the ripe old age of 54. It's an MG4 Trophy LR. After moving on up from a 15-year-old Seat Exeo Estate, my impression is very favourable indeed. So, I imagine this has been asked many, many times before (and I'll search for and read those threads too), but what would be the main tips you'd give to a total newbie MG4 driver. Also, the car came with no charging cables at all, not even the granny charger for charging up tired grannies - is this normal practice? I have also worked out how to switch off lane-assist -the dealer guided showed me - and I'm getting the software update to help with that messthe next tome I can get to the dealer.

Worth getting a home charger to save on charging costs. Most energy suppliers do off peak cheap charging. E.g. Octopus Go 7.5 pence per kWh, 12:30 to 5:30am.

 

[Corindikev]

The MG4 will automatically run a balance charge if the level is set anywhere between 60% and 100%. You do not have to run a specific balance charge & anyway there is no option to do this. LFP models (51kWh battery) can be charged to 100% continuously without issue. NMC models (all the rest) should be charged to 80% for normal daily driving. MG call this "Battery Health mode". Charging to 100% is called "Long trip mode".

Charging to 100% once a month is recommended for NMC battery models & this will also balance all cells at peak.

The only proviso is not to charge either battery type to 100% and then leave the vehicle sitting for several weeks at that level as this will promote battery degradation.

There is an excellent youtube clip by Dr Euen Mcturk renowned Electrochemist & founder of Plug Life Television on all this.

 

[aardvark5]

This bloke has done around 15 videos and I watched them all before I bought my MG4.
I know the dealers I bought my car from also hand out his You Tube Channel after I told them



We also only ever run the car in ECO Mode, it's still like poo off a shovel.
Like people have said get a proper charger, we have a Zappi on Octopus Intelligent Go.
The beauty is you can plug in at anytime, it gives a schedule and that's when the wife uses the washer and tumble dryer so it could be in the afternoon.

 

[extendedrangeMG4]

I charge mine purely by the granny cable. 13000 miles later it has worked perfectly and no need to spend loads on a charger.

Enjoy the car and just get your head around the fact that the fuel economy is shite on the motorway and brilliant in stop start traffic (probably opposite of your old car) but don’t sweat it as you’ll never run out of charge unless you’re one of those people that runs out of charge on your phone and runs out of petrol in your old car!

 

[PerthPete]

Charging: don't spend money on a 7kw charger until you have lived with the car for a couple months. I was all set to get one but the granny charging is fine for my needs. If I get my percentage up a bit, I don't even charge for a few days [I have a 51].
Some public chargers don't have cables. I bought a type 2 to type 2 cable for $150 Aussie dollar from Amazon, 22kW. Excellent product, well made, in a bag and everything. You can also get discharge plugs, dash mats, floor mats etc. at Amazon.

I had some difficulties with charging when I first got the car. Plugged in, blue lights came on, then nothing. The problem was I had scheduled charging switched off in the app BUT it was still set in the car. You need to switch off scheduled charging in both places [unless you want to set a schedule].

When you open the driver's door make sure you don't accidently hit the window buttons. Early on I came back to the parked car to find passenger windows open. The buttons on the driver's door are in a bad position because your fingers tend to rest on them when you push the door open. I now push the door open with the hand grip where the door opener is, it's not ideal but it means your windows will stay up.

Other than that, everything is good.

 

[aardvark5]

Charging: don't spend money on a 7kw charger until you have lived with the car for a couple months.

Good advice and I lasted 4 weeks on a Granny (ooh err) before I decided on a 7Kw however I need to point out what may be differences in charging between the UK and Australia.

In the UK we have Octopus, OVO, EON, Tomato etc who will give you charging at around 7p/Kw if you plug a 7Kw charger in with a Smart Meter.
Octopus Go will let you charge with a Granny for 8.5p/Kw from 12:30am to 5:30am but you need to setup some kind of timer to do it at that time which I did.
With the 7Kw charger OVO will let you have electricity for 7p/Kw at any time of the day.
I'm on Octopus Intelligent Go which means when I plug the EV in I get a schedule when I can have cheap electric.
eg Plug in at 13:00
I may see a schedule saying
14:00 to 15:30
18:00 to 19:00
21:30 to 05:30

At these times electricity is 7p/Kw for the whole house and that's when the washer/tumble dryer and dishwasher go on.
So in the UK it isn't just about the EV, using a 7Kw charger we can get very cheap electric for the house.

Something I'm also considering is buying a house battery so that can be charged at those scheduled cheap times and then you run your house off it during the day/evening.
Solar does work to a point in the UK but the outlay for a 67 year old doesn't add up for me.

 

[salty]

Charging: don't spend money on a 7kw charger until you have lived with the car for a couple months. I was all set to get one but the granny charging is fine for my needs.

Totally agree with that. I bet there's quite a few, who have splashed out on, let's face it, quite a bit of money on a 7kw charger. Only to think, later on, i didn't really need that.

 

[siteguru]

I "splashed out" -£160 for mine.

 

[salty]

I "splashed out" -£160 for mine.

Nice one! But on average, about a grand, fitted.

 

[siteguru]

For once in my life I had a convergence of good fortune. £600 in grants (£350 OZEV, when it existed, and £250 Energy Trust Scotland) plus £500 contribution from Volvo, on the basis that I had a Volvo V60 PHEV company car on order (that was eventually cancelled by Volvo - COVID parts shortages) that came with a free EVSE - the supplier was way behind schedule so Volvo offered a £500 contribution instead.

My Wallbox Pulsar Plus was £940 installed, so I made £160 profit on the transaction.

 

[aardvark5]

For once in my life I had a convergence of good fortune. £600 in grants (£350 OZEV, when it existed, and £250 Energy Trust Scotland) plus £500 contribution from Volvo, on the basis that I had a Volvo V60 PHEV company car on order (that was eventually cancelled by Volvo - COVID parts shortages) that came with a free EVSE - the supplier was way behind schedule so Volvo offered a £500 contribution instead.

My Wallbox Pulsar Plus was £940 installed, so I made £160 profit on the transaction.

That's better
I was going to say I was offered a £200 workaround but he sounded like he worked on cannabis farms in an attic

 

[Tuareg]

I had a 22kw charger installed before I received my car. The car charges at 7kw but I decided to future proof in case I Move to a different car in a few years. Fantastic piece of equipment, would not want to use a normal cable to domestic plug at all. The 'granny' charger I received with the car is still brand new and unused in its factory bag, can't see using it at all, far too slow.

 

[trurodentist]

I went on the OVO app to apply for a 7kw charger since the install price was quoted circa £1k. The attraction was the 7p/kw hr anytime tariff. I’m paying 24p/kwhr on my current tariff using a granny charger. When the charger install company got back to me they were talking an install figure of over £2k which is at least a 5 year ROI for my useage. I’m now researching how to install myself. Meanwhile the granny charger will have to do.

 

[aardvark5]

I went on the OVO app to apply for a 7kw charger since the install price was quoted circa £1k. The attraction was the 7p/kw hr anytime tariff. I’m paying 24p/kwhr on my current tariff using a granny charger. When the charger install company got back to me they were talking an install figure of over £2k which is at least a 5 year ROI for my useage. I’m now researching how to install myself. Meanwhile the granny charger will have to do.

That's shocking.
I'd ring OVO up and say the quoted 1K is now 2K with the company you put me in contact with and ask for another fitting company.
You could ring up a few electricians local to you because this is something a lot of electricians know they need to get into now.

 

[salty]

I had a 22kw charger installed before I received my car. The car charges at 7kw but I decided to future proof in case I Move to a different car in a few years. Fantastic piece of equipment, would not want to use a normal cable to domestic plug at all. The 'granny' charger I received with the car is still brand new and unused in its factory bag, can't see using it at all, far too slow.

But absolutely perfect for some.

 

[JerryMG]

If it's a brand new car (rather than just new to you) then it should have come with at least a Type 2 charging cable. (Mine came with the granny cable). I'd get back on to the dealer and say "Hey! Where's my charging cable?"

Yes absolutely. Took delivery in November. Salesman initially forgot to give me the cable bag but remembered just before I left. Haven’t needed it yet!

 

[SBJames]

With the 7Kw charger OVO will let you have electricity for 7p/Kw at any time of the day.
I'm on Octopus Intelligent Go which means when I plug the EV in I get a schedule when I can have cheap electric.
eg Plug in at 13:00
I may see a schedule saying
14:00 to 15:30
18:00 to 19:00
21:30 to 05:30

At these times electricity is 7p/Kw for the whole house and that's when the washer/tumble dryer and dishwasher go on.

Are you sure about that bold bit?

I am getting my MG4 Trophy ER on Thursday - not been as excited as this for quite some time!

I justified the ER because I'm moving from a 520d which will do 600-1000 miles depending if I drive it like I stole it or like a grandad. The real reason I went for this is the 0-60 is faster (and quicker than my 520d), but we won't mention that again

I'm contemplating moving to Intelligent Go (got the Electroverse card etc already), but am conscious that as I don't do that many miles it might not actually save me much giving the higher rate. The blurb says that it is 6hrs cheap leccy for the whole house and any extra is just for the car. But if that's not true and it is the whole house that's a bit of a game changer! Tumble drier, washing machine, dishwasher etc etc can go on then... as the wife moans about washing overnight sitting there.

 

[salty]

SBJames. Congrats on your new motor.

 

[aardvark5]

Are you sure about that bold bit?

I am getting my MG4 Trophy ER on Thursday - not been as excited as this for quite some time!

I justified the ER because I'm moving from a 520d which will do 600-1000 miles depending if I drive it like I stole it or like a grandad. The real reason I went for this is the 0-60 is faster (and quicker than my 520d), but we won't mention that again

I'm contemplating moving to Intelligent Go (got the Electroverse card etc already), but am conscious that as I don't do that many miles it might not actually save me much giving the higher rate. The blurb says that it is 6hrs cheap leccy for the whole house and any extra is just for the car. But if that's not true and it is the whole house that's a bit of a game changer! Tumble drier, washing machine, dishwasher etc etc can go on then... as the wife moans about washing overnight sitting there.

100%, we rang them up but if you can link to the blurb I'm interested to see it.
I'm also on another forum where all the iGo users also confirmed it.
Pretty sure I asked the question on an Octopus Facebook post and that also confirmed it.

Good old Google:

AI Overview
Learn more

Yes, when using the "Intelligent Go" schedule, the cheap electricity rate applies to your entire house during the scheduled charging times, meaning you can use appliances throughout your home at the discounted rate while your electric vehicle is charging.

Key points about Intelligent Go:

• Whole house benefit:
  The low charging rate applies to all electricity usage during the scheduled charging window, not just your car.
  
  
• Smart scheduling:
  Octopus Energy's system automatically selects the cheapest times to charge your car, which can also include daytime hours depending on grid conditions.
  
  
• Nighttime cheap rate:
  Regardless of the smart charging schedule, you will always have a set period each night where the cheap rate applies to your whole house.

This is a schedule we had yesterday