MG4 in Australia

[tsedge]

In fact having a screen on a DC charger is a big negative here - they just end up getting vandalised.

Way better to just make them plug 'n' charge. Have the charger network recognise the car when its plugged in and as long as you have an account with that network, that's all that's required.

That's how Tesla cars charge with Tesla Superchargers, and now the Evie network has that feature with their newer charge stations and compatible vehicles.

I would recommend against forcing charge stations to have screens. It adds complexity/cost where it's not needed and results in lower levels of availability and reliability.

If universality of access is to be legislated, then making them compatible with plug 'n' charge combined with a universal payment system for all networks would be better IMO, so that only one payment account need be set up.

Yes, I agree. But over here the government decided to force all new chargers to be contactless payment because they think that is "best" and mandated live display of pricing, which requires some kind of screen.

So this is what we get.

 

[T1 Terry]

Hoping my repairable write off MG4 arrives this week or next. Finally bit the bullet and organised to have it trucked over .... and they are holding it in their Melbourne yard until we arrived home with our "new to us" motorhome .... another project, V10 Ford Super Series with at least 2 dead cyls, probably more now after driving it 1600kms cross country to get it here.

T1 Terry

 

[Rolfe]

How are you getting on generally, Terry? Any news on rebuilding etc?

 

[Evgen K]

Looking at the bulletin number AS-TEC-02112023-01, I'd say 2nd November 2023

Does anyone know about similar bulletin but for EU market?

 

[amaroocars]

Here in Australia MG has something called "Precise Price Servicing". Basically a fixed price service that any MG dealer has to offer, I assume as part of their contact of being MG dealerships. https://mgmotor.com.au/owners/mg-service/

One of the items listed in the service schedule is:

• Check software version of electronic control units and upgrade to latest version if available.

When I take in my 2022 ZS EV for its first service in a few weeks that's exactly what I will request to make sure it actually happens.

Apparently they make it hard for third party workshops to get hold of the software updates, despite a legal obligation to make them available.

Peter,
Just bought my wife an MG4 and pick it up next week, as an avid EV head and an Electrical Eng, who worked on Electric Vehicle for many years have a real interest in the servcing especailly OTA upgrades and will be looking into this with much fevour.

 

[Peter WA]

Peter,
Just bought my wife an MG4 and pick it up next week, as an avid EV head and an Electrical Eng, who worked on Electric Vehicle for many years have a real interest in the servcing especailly OTA upgrades and will be looking into this with much fevour.

Congratulations!

We've just picked up my partner's MG4 yesterday morning. The current special was too good to not do it, especially in WA, where we still get a government rebate. $27,490 drive away after rebate.

What dealership did you go with? After travelling interstate to get my 2021 ZS EV to avoid them, and 80km to a different dealership when I upgraded to my 2022 ZS EV, we finally bought one from John Hughes, and already regret the choice of dealership...

 

[Spider036]

I posted this on the main forum, but has anyone in Australia had the problem of the bluetooth connection to the phone dropping out randomly? I’ve had the car just over 12 months now and have had to pair it to the phone at least 8 times - no repeatable pattern that I can work out.

 

[decrep]

Is there any alternative to John Hughes, our closest is the Rockingham branch, which are less than inspiring! I've been told that the main branch in Perth is better. I hope so!

 

[DerekH]

I posted this on the main forum, but has anyone in Australia had the problem of the bluetooth connection to the phone dropping out randomly? I’ve had the car just over 12 months now and have had to pair it to the phone at least 8 times - no repeatable pattern that I can work out.

I never had issues with the wired connection but the regular plugging in and out and forgetting phone in the car had me switch to a wired dongle that is always plugged in and hidden under the platform where gear selector is so totally hidden. Phone connects wirelessly to the dongle so you can leave in bag, pocket etc. No issues with it except sometimes a delay from powering on car to when dongle boots and phone connects but generally no issue. Once connected never had a disconnect. Use it for Google maps vs the useless in car map navigation system that is always out of date anyway. Also use it for music streaming as I find the DAB radio signal drops out pretty quick once out of city areas. Also handy for asking google questions etc.

 

[Peter WA]

There's Melville, Midland and Wangara. All further away, but owned by a different company.

I won't go into the details of our current MG4 purchase, since it is an ongoing thing, and maybe they surprise me by resolving the issues in a professional manner.

But back to January 2021: JH Vic Park was the only MG dealership in the state back then. They insisted to sell at RRP, no discount, no inclusion, not even floor mats. I had heard that in VIC people were getting $2k+ discounts. I got a quote for myself from a VIC dealer. JH was arrogant: just go get that one then. I did. Nice adventure taking it back across the Nullarbor, with COVID restrictions and all. I had a friend pick it up for me and take it across the border to NSW, because I was not allowed into VIC without doing quarantine here in WA on the way back... Lots of great memories, and ultimately a saving of $4k, plus my pride was intact, I did not buy from those arrogant sales people at JH Vic Park.

July 2022: with the new ZS EV out and second hand cars in high demand I was curious. On the phone JH said: we'll give you high $30ks for your old one as trade in, but we'll need to inspect it for a firm offer. After they looked at the car they offered $35k. I asked: that's not high 30s, what's wrong with it? They: nothing wrong with the car, but you'll get $3.5k from the state government for the new one.

By then MG Wangara was open. They gave me $38k trade in without even seeing the car, with the price fixed to be traded once the new one arrived. No matter how long delivery of the new one would take. All arranged just via phone and email. I bought my 2022 ZS EV there. Got it in November 2022. They stuck to the deal, gave me $38k trade in, and without any argument reduced the price of the new car to the new MG retail price ($1k lower than when I had placed the order).

Purchase was great at Wangara. That said: in terms of service John Hughes (Welshpool) was pretty good. I had a minor warranty thing with the 2021 ZS EV that I brought back from over East, and JH took care of it. The annual service took a lot longer than they had promised (apparently the people who pick up the phone have no idea how long software updates take). But the same happened at Wangara when they did software updates for me on the 2022 ZS EV (which they had promised to do before delivery, but had not done).

 

[decrep]

Thanks Peter, we won't need a service for 18months, so hopefully things will improve a bit more by then.

 

[T1 Terry]

I wonder what hoops I'd have to jump through to get an MG4 in WA and get the WA govt rebate? The SA offering isn't particularly impressive ....

T1 Terry

 

[decrep]

probably a plane, but before you jump, look at the re licensing costs

 

[T1 Terry]

probably a plane, but before you jump, look at the re licensing costs

As in, getting a WA licence, would that be essential? I live in SA but I have an NSW Heavy Vehicle License and because I'm often back in NSW, I'm allow to keep it that way. In Sa, I have a "customer number" that allows me to register vehicles in this state.
Would I need to buy a long range MG4 for the trip back across, not sure if the recharging stations are close enough together to buy the LFP 51kwh battery model .... although, if we were to travel over in the Motorhome, I could recharge it that way ....

T1 Terry

 

[decrep]

If you buy in WA it would need to be WA registered.
Drivers license, not a problem.

We wrote off a car in SA, and when we got back to WA had to register it here, had to go over the pits to get approval, forget what the cost was now, but we weren't impressed..
Not sure I'd want to head off across the Nullabor, I had enough trouble when I was running gas.
A mate of mine helped set up one of the charging stations along the way, it's powered by a chip oil guzzling diesel.
You'd need to do some research before leaving. I have a feeling if they had a problem it could be a while before it got fixed.

 

[Coulomb]

We decided to take advantage of the specials on MGs at present, though we ended up paying a lot more than we hoped, as two special offers expired at the end of September, and our money arrived one day late! We got the white long range (77 kWh; I know that LR in the UK means 64 kWh). Our ZS EV Mark 1 is our second car, and we're selling the 2012 Leaf.

It has the undertray sag, despite the salesperson saying that they were doing a lot of these, it's probably already fixed. I can get my thumb into the gap:

Hopefully we'll get that fixed at the one month inspection.

I'm quite happy with it so far, except for the USB music player. What a pain! However, the speakers are heaps better than those in the ZS EV. They might even be good enough too keep, for my old ears. It has infotainment version R11, and the LKA is quite tame. In fact, too tame for me, it doesn't seem to hold the lane at all. Such a shame when the ZS EV Mark 1 does it really well.

I can't get the car to bring up the barcode for binding to the app; I assume that the servers are on the fritz again? I've seen the barcode come up before, so hopefully soon. [ Edit: Sigh. That was me being a binding noob, and not realising that it is a lot more complex than I thought. I managed to get it done now, but it's still not clear to me what were the steps that eventually made it work. ]

 

[clayton4115]

What was the driveaway price for the 77? Looking at getting it as well.

 

[Coulomb]

What was the driveaway price for the 77?

AU$48 420 from Moorooka MG. I believe that's $5000 less than the "normal" driveaway price. Colours other than white add $700.

 

[alans MG]

Picked up our new 2024 Excite last week.Happy with it we will eventually work out how cruise control and other options work.Only annoyance is it wont charge on a fast charger so has to be snail charged at home.Also developed an annoying rattle centre dash area,will contact dealer when they are open and book in for warranty repairs after 300 Klms.Bloke at charging station said his was the same and dealer told him it was a software glitch?Heres hoping for a non contraversial happy ending with MG

 

[clayton4115]

AU$48 420 from Moorooka MG. I believe that's $5000 less than the "normal" driveaway price. Colours other than white add $700.

ok good to know Browns Plains and Moorooka are close to me.