Servicing costs are very confusing between dealers and MG - no consistency in prices or descrption

[ptw]

My MG3 Hybrid is due its first service at the start of September, it has done 5,348 miles. The first dealer quoted me £192.32 for a low mileage service or £298.07 for a full service - he said the difference was the full service included an oil and filter change. The second dealer (the one where I bought it from) quoted my £234.42 for a regular first year service and said it included the oil and filter change - they said it would need a major service in year 2. The latter couldn't explain the difference in the price or description given by the first dealer. So, can anyone shed some light on this. I have searched online with MG and can't find any prices or explanation; all I have found is that a service is required at 15k miles or 12months whichever is the soonest.

I'll put names to the quotes as it may be helpful to others. The first Dealer is the Drive Group (Leicester) I have just rung them back to ask them and they said the price was £182.85 and included oil and filter change and that the second year major service was £437.82 - which is completely different to what they told me before - he said he thought I was quoted for a petrol MG3 not a hybrid and that the prices He quoted have just gone on the system! (Weird or bullshit - you choose). The second dealer is Sandicliffe in Loughborough. I have also just rung Spirit MG in Corby (I saw in another post someone said they were inexpensive) and guess what they quoted £336.38 for the first years’ service - when I queried the price, they said it was likely to be labour rates! I think all of them are just clutching at straws and really don't know what they are doing. So, at the moment I'm going to use my local dealer that I bought the car from - Sandicliffe, Loughborough, at £234.42 unless someone comes back with more info or explanation

 

[Aitch1]

I think you're being well and truly ripped off. I have a 3-year service plan with Holdcroft MG in Warrington. 1st. Year £120.19, 2nd. year £197.39, 3rd. year 333.76, MOT £45. Just had my first year done. Very efficient, great customer service and a free wash & vac. Aitch

 

[Vipar]

First service at Ancaster a Dartford service quoted £133 plus filter cost me £190 they didn’t mention the VAT

 

[mgpooter]

Here are the Maintenance Check sheets attached (found hunting around)
Had the 1st service at 3.5K miles - on a 2 year plan with Richmond MG here in the south. This amounted to £173 for the low mileage service, scheduled to be just a half hour service to change engine oil £30, filter £20.46(!) & sump washer £1.89(!) and carry out checks, wash & vac. £91.88 for labour. All plus VAT.
Good business this - and we pay it!

 

[ptw]

Prtces are crazy, the Drive Group (Leicester0 now quoted £168.32 when I tried to book it in but then rang back to say they made a mistake and that it was £182.85, so I rang MG Stonacre in Derby and they quoted £227.75. I know hourly rates can be different but we have price variations from £120.19 that Aitch was charged to my local dealer £ 234.42 which is more than double - I think Aitch was right when he said we are being ripped off. Shame really, the car would be great if it wasn't for the dealers

 

[ptw]

I think you're being well and truly ripped off. I have a 3-year service plan with Holdcroft MG in Warrington. 1st. Year £120.19, 2nd. year £197.39, 3rd. year 333.76, MOT £45. Just had my first year done. Very efficient, great customer service and a free wash & vac. Aitch

I phoned Holdcroft to get a price, I thought it would be worth driving over for the day, but I really got the run arround. There is a seperate post just for this dealership on the forum so I posted full details their but in a nutshell this is what I wass told: I was quoted £151 and that included oil and filter, I asked if they were sure (it was their call centre) she checked and said sorry it was £339, I queried it and she went off to discuss and came back and said it was £151, I said I didn't want to get there and they charge me more, she said she would get the service department at the garage to call me. They called by the following day but it was the call centre (starting to go round in circles) she eventually gave me the first line to their service department: 01925 231231 (Option2 for service). She told me it was £331.51! when I queried it and told her of the prices given by their call centre, she said and I quote: " The prices are fixed by MG and they have to charge those prices by Law" What??? when I said I had been told that by another dealer (minus the by Law bit) and that their price was cheaper, she then said prices were by region and perhaps I lived in a cheaper area - I live in the East Midlands. So, what a load of rubbish. I have spoken to several MG dealers and they all gave loads of waffle about their prices. So, back to square one, I'll just use my local dealer which as you say is probably ripping me off

I think you're being well and truly ripped off. I have a 3-year service plan with Holdcroft MG in Warrington. 1st. Year £120.19, 2nd. year £197.39, 3rd. year 333.76, MOT £45. Just had my first year done. Very efficient, great customer service and a free wash & vac. Aitch

Just in case I did get the direct service department number whihc you may have already: 01925 231231 (option 2 for service)

 

[Aitch1]

I phoned Holdcroft to get a price, I thought it would be worth driving over for the day, but I really got the run arround. There is a seperate post just for this dealership on the forum so I posted full details their but in a nutshell this is what I wass told: I was quoted £151 and that included oil and filter, I asked if they were sure (it was their call centre) she checked and said sorry it was £339, I queried it and she went off to discuss and came back and said it was £151, I said I didn't want to get there and they charge me more, she said she would get the service department at the garage to call me. They called by the following day but it was the call centre (starting to go round in circles) she eventually gave me the first line to their service department: 01925 231231 (Option2 for service). She told me it was £331.51! when I queried it and told her of the prices given by their call centre, she said and I quote: " The prices are fixed by MG and they have to charge those prices by Law" What??? when I said I had been told that by another dealer (minus the by Law bit) and that their price was cheaper, she then said prices were by region and perhaps I lived in a cheaper area - I live in the East Midlands. So, what a load of rubbish. I have spoken to several MG dealers and they all gave loads of waffle about their prices. So, back to square one, I'll just use my local dealer which as you say is probably ripping me off


Just in case I did get the direct service department number whihc you may have already: 01925 231231 (option 2 for service)

ptw. I'm sorry to hear about the runaround you've had. Just out of curiosity try emailing this lady...Nicola Warburton on [email protected]. Better still, when you phone on 01925 231231, ask for her. You can mention my name and service costs if you want to. My plan was set up by a bloke called Stevie Baldwin. I was surprised at the price, so much so that I queried with him that he wasn't quoting for the old MG3. Which he confirmed was for the MG3 Hybrid+. After my first service, and free wash&vac, i received an email saying they had done a Health Check. All the figures were there for brake lining thickness and tread wear, with spaces for any concerns. There were none, btw. Best of luck. Aitch

 

[ptw]

ptw. I'm sorry to hear about the runaround you've had. Just out of curiosity try emailing this lady...Nicola Warburton on [email protected]. Better still, when you phone on 01925 231231, ask for her. You can mention my name and service costs if you want to. My plan was set up by a bloke called Stevie Baldwin. I was surprised at the price, so much so that I queried with him that he wasn't quoting for the old MG3. Which he confirmed was for the MG3 Hybrid+. After my first service, and free wash&vac, i received an email saying they had done a Health Check. All the figures were there for brake lining thickness and tread wear, with spaces for any concerns. There were none, btw. Best of luck. Aitch

Hi Aitch,

I took your advice and did get to speak to Nicola Warburton but the price was £331.51, she couldn't say why it was so much, just that's the price unless I took out a service plan whihc would be a little bit cheaper. So crazy money, I'm staying with my local dealer, but thanks for your help.

 

[krzycho]

I've just completed my first MG3 service.
It cost me... £265.50 (!) (conversion).
Very expensive!
In addition to the oil service, I also had the door and trunk locks adjusted, and the TPMS sensors adapted.
The service took 2 hours.

 

[ptw]

I've just completed my first MG3 service.
It cost me... £265.50 (!) (conversion).
Very expensive!
In addition to the oil service, I also had the door and trunk locks adjusted, and the TPMS sensors adapted.
The service took 2 hours.

Yes,crazy prices. It still makes me smile when I was told they had to charge those prices by Law

 

[Onlyme]

The 4th year service is very expensive will be attaching video and invisible indicators to make sure they carry out the service correctly

 

[ptw]

The 4th year service is very expensive will be attaching video and invisible indicators to make sure they carry out the service correctly

How will you do that?

 

[Onlyme]

There are invisible markers online to buy plus other ways.
The camera will be hidden not saying where.

 

[ptw]

I didn't know there were such things, I'd appreciate your guidance as if sounds like a very good idea

 

[Onlyme]

I didn't know there were such things, I'd appreciate your guidance as if sounds like a very good idea

Google will help

 

[ptw]

Google will help

I'm being stupid, you mean a UV pen to mark the components they should replace. I'm already going to mark my filter and photograph it

 

[keithy]

Recently had 1st service (5300 miles) by Vertu (formerly Bristol Street Motors) main dealer in Carlisle.
Cost £303.

 

[johnbristol1966]

Although I had a pre paid plan, the cost of my first service at Drive Vauxhall in North Bristol would have been £186.

 

[ptw]

Just shows you how crazy the pricing is

 

[AutoHillHold]

I've just completed my first MG3 service.
It cost me... £265.50 (!) (conversion).
Very expensive!
In addition to the oil service, I also had the door and trunk locks adjusted, and the TPMS sensors adapted.
The service took 2 hours.

thats more expensive than my other car (bmw iX and 218i)....
bmw includes valeting service both inside and outside, change the key batteries too.