Next Podcast: We need your help!

[tsedge]

Hi,

We're preparing to pre-record our next podcast early next week focusing on IM5/6 experiences and the MG ownership / servicing / warranty experiences.

As it will be pre-recorded, we cannot take questions live, so we need your help in advance here.

Please can you add to this thread:

1. Your questions and early impressions of the IM5/IM6.

2. Your comments and questions on MG ownership, including servicing and warranty repairs, specifically:
How does MG compare to other marques in your experience?
What has worked for you to get things fixed?
What would you like to be improved about your MG ownership experience?
What don't you understand that you that you would like to know about?
If there was one thing MG could do for you, what would it be?

Many thanks to everyone that contributes. Look out for the podcast release in the near future.

 

[LenEV2016]

A couple of points!

Every car can have issues it's how they are resolved that can build repeat custom!

The aftersales experience has been poor in our case.
It is unnecessarily drawn out (waiting on permission on MG to authorise repairs, often after insisting on numerous tests by the dealer, despite us telling them we have checked all these different X,Y & Z things and it's not them.

MG need to support their dealers more, dealers shouldn't be forced to charge/customers shouldn't have to pay for software updates for what is at best flaky and unstable software.
Other makers OTA updates don't cost anything.

There is no comparison in aftersales between MG, Cupra and Renault (all EVs) in my experience. I have had reason to contact all three and Cupra and Renault are on another level to MG.

Example being issue with relatives Mégane, rang Renault UK first for advice (initial release alarm issue) who then rang me back having arranged for the car to be booked in, picked up from the house, courtesy car dropped of and after resolved £150 Renault voucher given as compensation.
Compensation aside, that is how an issue should be dealt with.

Aftersales is ruining a good car and you only have to look on the forum how many people it has put of having an MG again, they really need to work on getting the aftersales right especially with the launch of the IM cars.

 

[DaveIJ]

Over the air software updates or more attention paid to software fixes

 

[JohnV6]

OTA

 

[Ian Key]

It would be interesting to hear about not only owners customer service experiences with EVs from the legacy manufacturers but how MG compares to the other Chinese manufacturers.

 

[Bam Bam]

What are the pros, cons and risks of getting a service plan? Is it worth it?

It seems that they have the prospect of saving a lot of money. However, some people have been burned by these if the dealer changes/goes bust and perhaps had other issues too.

How are we to choose? Who the plans for (risk-takers? Penny pinchers?)

 

[LenEV2016]

What are the pros, cons and risks of getting a service plan? Is it worth it?

It seems that they have the prospect of saving a lot of money. However, some people have been burned by these if the dealer changes/goes bust and perhaps had other issues too.

How are we to choose? Who the plans for (risk-takers? Penny pinchers?)

Good point, it would be better if this was a MG UK service plan that can be used at any MG dealership, just in case, as you say, a dealer loses the franchise or closes.

My relative has a service plan for their Mégane etech bought direct from Renault UK, can be used at any approved dealer.

3 years 48000 miles £9.99 a month

Less than £360 for 3 services and can be used at any approved Renault dealer.

 

[Data]

Have seen the IM5 at everything electric. First impressions are it's a great car. Good spec & good quality build. Like the look of it.

I'm a relatively new MG owner since January this year. So far so good. I have a great dealer looking after me. I love my MG ZS EV LR car as does my wife who also drives it.

Unfortunately, the car had paintwork issues requiring spray work under warranty. This was a fairly big job but both my MG dealer & MG handled the whole thing seamlessly.

However, fixing the paintwork problems inadvertently appeared to cause software issues. It's believed a technician probably inadvertently disconnected the cars 12v battery with the car in its switched on running state. This caused some minor software corruption. Getting it fixed wasn't easy at first as MG customer support were very slow to respond to emails & appeared to talk gibberish when eventually replying. With pressure from my dealer the problem was eventually resolved & everything sorted. This in fact was good as the exact cause wasn't ever fully & categorically established but MG footed most of the bill anyway but probably shared cost with the dealer.

The point here is MG can be so good at warranty repairs one minute. The next time, so poor at customer communication & very slow to act.

Compared to other manufacturers I don't think there is too much difference, in my experience, between MG & quite a few other car manufacturers regarding warranty service etc. My dealer is superb & superior to my VW/Skoda dealers. I've bought new cars from all the major players over the last few years & all of them were far from perfect. So far MG are probably just ahead by a little over other makes like Peugeot, Citroen & definitely VW/Skoda who were hopeless. My ZS EV is a brilliant car & I'm very pleased with it. So far it's a keeper!

Thanks & keep up the good work with these podcasts please. Very good & informative.

 

[Rolfe]

I would like MG to be more responsive with software bug fixes. They have pretty much sorted the MG4 SE, but there are still two bugs that I doubt if they are ever going to fix and one has been driving me mad since day one. (The other has a fairly easy work-round.) But it took them two bloody years to get as far as they did. And their communication is pathetic. Constantly being told that obvious bugs are intended features (before they finally fix them) is just infuriating.