Washing the MG4 - useful tip - place the wipers in the service position - here's how

[FiferMG4]

I think in all honesty, the safest and easiest way to wash is leave the wipers in situ and carefully wipe underneath them. So long as you’re not using an old school ‘jumbo sponge’ then there’s more than enough room to clean underneath and around the blades without causing the wiper arms to touch the bonnet.

If you use a modern wash mitt, it’ll clean below the wipers quite easily with them in place, just by lifting them a small amount and you won’t have the worry of needing to remember to place them flat on the window again before getting into the car.

Edit simply to say that it’s still a good idea to warn users not to lift the wipers too high when washing though

Yes, there is enough space if you just want to wash the windscreen underneath the wipers, but I like to clean the blades themselves with a cloth, so not having long arms it helps me to take the blades right off the windscreen (when in the service position).

 

[Diggsy]

Yes, there is enough space if you just want to wash the windscreen underneath the wipers, but I like to clean the blades themselves with a cloth, so not having long arms it helps me to take the blades right off the windscreen (when in the service position).

Yeah, maybe I didn’t factor in needing longer arms

 

[Deleted member 10041]

Yes, there is enough space if you just want to wash the windscreen underneath the wipers, but I like to clean the blades themselves with a cloth, so not having long arms it helps me to take the blades right off the windscreen (when in the service position).

Proper Fifer "Short Arms Deep pockets"

 

[jonno58]

Does this also work for mg5 long range 72 plate (not facelift)

With the mg5 long range 72 as I have the same it's a lot easier with out going into menus just switch off and with in seconds flip the wiper stalk down and wipers are parked up right. When finished lay wipers back on screen and switch back on they should disappear.

 

[dickturpin]

Gave my wife’s MG4 it’s first clean yesterday I must say it is not the easiest car I have ever washed.
There are lots of nooks and crannies to get your sponge into, and the black at the bottom of the doors
on the sills and the sills inside the the door frame apertures, where pretty dirty plus the front and rear black trims also, but I have done others almost as bad over the years black is not the easiest colour to keep clean in my opinion

So now for the word of warning, some of you that have been reading this forum for some while will remember that when the MG5 came, back in 2020, that a few people damaged the paint work on the rear edge of the bonnet, this happen by trying to lift the wiper blades off the screen while washing their cars, without first putting the wipers into the service position.

Well the MG4 is the same you need to place the wipers in the service position if you want to lift them off the screen to clean it, the wiper blades or the wiper arms.

I know a lot of you will know this, especially if you have had the MG5 for a while but, there will be new owners out there both new to the MG4 and to MG cars also, who may not so that is why I have done this posting.
Les

In the hand book page 301 it attempts to tell what to do but just in case your unsure here is what you need to do
Sit in the car touch the brake pedal to wake the car up and the home screen will light up.
View attachment 12238
So now you press the Car icon bottom right see my pointer

View attachment 12239

Press that and the drive mode screen will come up.
View attachment 12240
At the top you will see the Saftey icon on the right hand side. See my pointer again.

View attachment 12241
Press the saftey icon and then the saftey screen comes on
View attachment 12242
So on the saftey screen press the power off button

View attachment 12243
And then push the wiper control stalk down once within a few seconds and the Wipers will come up to the drivers side and stop there vertical on the screen, and then in that position you can lift the wipers off the screen for cleaning or changing if you need too.

Now just one other warning be sure to lay the wipers back down on the screen before you get back into the car reason being when you get in if you just touch the brake pedal the car will wake up and the wipers will go down again to there rest position and very probably damage the paint on the bonnet and probably the wiper arms as well so wipers flat on the screen be for you do a thing else.
You have been warned.

But I Hope this might be of some help to some of you.
Les

Spot on with your advice as usual les

 

[JonsMG4]

Gave my wife’s MG4 it’s first clean yesterday I must say it is not the easiest car I have ever washed.
There are lots of nooks and crannies to get your sponge into, and the black at the bottom of the doors
on the sills and the sills inside the the door frame apertures, where pretty dirty plus the front and rear black trims also, but I have done others almost as bad over the years black is not the easiest colour to keep clean in my opinion

So now for the word of warning, some of you that have been reading this forum for some while will remember that when the MG5 came, back in 2020, that a few people damaged the paint work on the rear edge of the bonnet, this happen by trying to lift the wiper blades off the screen while washing their cars, without first putting the wipers into the service position.

Well the MG4 is the same you need to place the wipers in the service position if you want to lift them off the screen to clean it, the wiper blades or the wiper arms.

I know a lot of you will know this, especially if you have had the MG5 for a while but, there will be new owners out there both new to the MG4 and to MG cars also, who may not so that is why I have done this posting.
Les

In the hand book page 301 it attempts to tell what to do but just in case your unsure here is what you need to do
Sit in the car touch the brake pedal to wake the car up and the home screen will light up.
View attachment 12238
So now you press the Car icon bottom right see my pointer

View attachment 12239

Press that and the drive mode screen will come up.
View attachment 12240
At the top you will see the Saftey icon on the right hand side. See my pointer again.

View attachment 12241
Press the saftey icon and then the saftey screen comes on
View attachment 12242
So on the saftey screen press the power off button

View attachment 12243
And then push the wiper control stalk down once within a few seconds and the Wipers will come up to the drivers side and stop there vertical on the screen, and then in that position you can lift the wipers off the screen for cleaning or changing if you need too.

Now just one other warning be sure to lay the wipers back down on the screen before you get back into the car reason being when you get in if you just touch the brake pedal the car will wake up and the wipers will go down again to there rest position and very probably damage the paint on the bonnet and probably the wiper arms as well so wipers flat on the screen be for you do a thing else.
You have been warned.

But I Hope this might be of some help to some of you.
Les

That’s a great tip and many thanks. Also I agree the MG4 is quite hard to wash especially around the boot and the split spoiler. And why do the door sills get so dirty. Every time I open door my trouser brushes the inside sill

 

[bowfer]

That’s a great tip and many thanks. Also I agree the MG4 is quite hard to wash especially around the boot and the split spoiler. And why do the door sills get so dirty. Every time I open door my trouser brushes the inside sill

I don’t think the sills get any dirtier than any other car.
It’s just that they are significantly wider than most cars and you’re more aware of the dirt hitting your trousers.

 

[Ian Key]

That’s a great tip and many thanks. Also I agree the MG4 is quite hard to wash especially around the boot and the split spoiler. And why do the door sills get so dirty. Every time I open door my trouser brushes the inside sill

Quite a few of us have fitted the after market mud flaps from Ali Express which helps.

 

[Gav]

I so wish I’d read this before washing my brand new Tri coat red MG4 Trophy this morning as I’ve just made the error you describe and scraped the paint off the bonnet when I lifted my wipers. Really gutted. Why on earth would you design the wipers like this, but also, if you have, why would you not put a clear warning notice on the wiper or screen?

 

[DB00nowthen]

I use to use in-forum bookmarks for that

I’ve looked around the page and can’t see a button for in-forum bookmarks. Can you point it out, please?

 

[Ian Key]

 

[jonno58]

Does this also work for mg5 long range 72 plate (not facelift)

No it's different wake the car up then turn off then flick the wiper arm on steering wheel down once and the blades will go into service position

 

[Gav]

Add "a good dealer" to the "nice to haves"

I think I found the good dealer. After taking the paint off the bonnet with the wiper this morning, I contacted the dealership (Luscombes in Leeds) to say they might want to point out the service status setting to customers at handover. I made clear I wasn’t criticising them as their service was excellent (they even located my car when it was stolen!) and asked them for a quote to repair the paintwork. They called me back within the hour and offered to do the repair free of charge along with a free valet. It’s booked in for Monday morning. Fantastic service.

 

[Naveen]

Gave my wife’s MG4 it’s first clean yesterday I must say it is not the easiest car I have ever washed.
There are lots of nooks and crannies to get your sponge into, and the black at the bottom of the doors
on the sills and the sills inside the the door frame apertures, where pretty dirty plus the front and rear black trims also, but I have done others almost as bad over the years black is not the easiest colour to keep clean in my opinion

So now for the word of warning, some of you that have been reading this forum for some while will remember that when the MG5 came, back in 2020, that a few people damaged the paint work on the rear edge of the bonnet, this happen by trying to lift the wiper blades off the screen while washing their cars, without first putting the wipers into the service position.

Well the MG4 is the same you need to place the wipers in the service position if you want to lift them off the screen to clean it, the wiper blades or the wiper arms.

I know a lot of you will know this, especially if you have had the MG5 for a while but, there will be new owners out there both new to the MG4 and to MG cars also, who may not so that is why I have done this posting.
Les

In the hand book page 301 it attempts to tell what to do but just in case your unsure here is what you need to do
Sit in the car touch the brake pedal to wake the car up and the home screen will light up.
View attachment 12238
So now you press the Car icon bottom right see my pointer

View attachment 12239

Press that and the drive mode screen will come up.
View attachment 12240
At the top you will see the Saftey icon on the right hand side. See my pointer again.

View attachment 12241
Press the saftey icon and then the saftey screen comes on
View attachment 12242
So on the saftey screen press the power off button

View attachment 12243
And then push the wiper control stalk down once within a few seconds and the Wipers will come up to the drivers side and stop there vertical on the screen, and then in that position you can lift the wipers off the screen for cleaning or changing if you need too.

Now just one other warning be sure to lay the wipers back down on the screen before you get back into the car reason being when you get in if you just touch the brake pedal the car will wake up and the wipers will go down again to there rest position and very probably damage the paint on the bonnet and probably the wiper arms as well so wipers flat on the screen be for you do a thing else.
You have been warned.

But I Hope this might be of some help to some of you.
Les

Thank you good post

 

[ok86]

I made this quick video in case anyone was struggling with this. As other have said be careful when sitting back in the driver's seat if you haven't completed the work.

 

[dsr]

Collecting my 4 (ER) today. No prior knowledge of such wiper “issues”. SO GLAD for this thread. Thank you Les - and ok86.

 

[gredie]

Hmm, I usually put the wiper into service mode overnight in winter to avoid they're freezed onto the window.
Is there a more comfortable way to put the wipers to service mode? Like it is at other ICE cars just tip onto the wiper stick short after turning off ignition.

 

[leonkernan]

Quite a few of us have fitted the after market mud flaps from Ali Express which helps.

I've done that, you just have to be especially careful of speed humps and kerbs afterward.
There's not a lot of clearance for them.

 

[Marktomohawk]

Good post! Good to know, just picked up my MG4 yesterday! Thanks Les.

 

[GreyPeter]

Very good information. Thank you.