MG4 – ESSEX SERVICING

[rjhfandclf]

I’m looking for any personal experiences/recommendations re the three service centres closest to me in south-east Essex:

• Glyn Hopkin, CHELMSFORD
• Toomey, BASILDON
• Toomey, SOUTHEND

I can seek pricing and plans direct from each online, and via MG central site, but I’m interested to know how helpful/customer friendly and flexible they are for software updates and looking into niggles etc. Any constructive help appreciated. Thanks.

[NB I bought the car from one – I won’t say which – but have no desire to return unless servicing is a very different kettle-of-fish]

 

[Tig170]

just go onto еQuote, you'll find that they are all the same price. Yr 1 ~ £114, year 2 ~ £214 (in yr 1 they dont change anything, and in yr 2 its the air filter ~ 30 seconds to do via the trunk!)

 

[rjhfandclf]

just go onto еQuote, you'll find that they are all the same price. Yr 1 ~ £114, year 2 ~ £214 (in yr 1 they dont change anything, and in yr 2 its the air filter ~ 30 seconds to do via the trunk!)

Yes, many thanks; I started from there, but elsewhere others have said that contacting the dealers direct has produced quite different quotes. But perhaps that's since been superceded by MG centralisation, hence my looking for any more recent local experiences.

NB I did note your other posts on servicing generally - you evidently are very much more knowledgeable about modern car mechanics than I am - who gave up after a 1962 MG Midget!

 

[Tig170]

NB I did note your other posts on servicing generally - you evidently are very much more knowledgeable about modern car mechanics than I am - who gave up after a 1962 MG Midget!

Much with yourself! - sadly a modern EV/car is an appliance rather than a machine - I'm still trying to get my head around this

 

[APMG]

Ive booked in with the main dealer in Chelmsford, Glyn Hopkin later in the month. However did the service plan via MG's site and all were the same price, even if I go to a smaller "service only" dealer.

I would like to presume Glyn Hopkins is more up to speed with things like software etc vs a garage who is signed up to do the services.

 

[YaR]

I had a good experience with GH Chelmsford, although I am on their service plan. I detailed all the bugs I experienced with the software and the undertray issue. They installed all available updates and put in the bar for the undertray.

 

[rjhfandclf]

a modern EV/car is an appliance rather than a machine

I like it! - must remember that one. I stopped fiddling with cars by 1970 ... tempus fugit - oh dear!

I would like to presume Glyn Hopkins is more up to speed with things like software etc

Thanks - one certainly might hope so ...

I had a good experience with GH Chelmsford

That's encouraging to learn - thanks

 

[wrcaston]

I found GH in Chelmsford most unhelpful. First time it went in for some work and I got it back with the response "we couldn't see it so we couldn't fix it". Second time, "we don't do software upgrades if it doesn't need it". On both occasions I had video and/or picture evidence of what the issues are and on both occasions they refused to do anything to it other that recalls.

 

[rjhfandclf]

I found GH in Chelmsford most unhelpful. First time it went in for some work and I got it back with the response "we couldn't see it so we couldn't fix it". Second time, "we don't do software upgrades if it doesn't need it". On both occasions I had video and/or picture evidence of what the issues are and on both occasions they refused to do anything to it other that recalls.

Rather as anticipated; I've read similar coments elsewhere. Was this recent by any chance? And where do you go now?

 

[mystreet]

When we had our MG took it to Perkins in Braintree, was a hike from Rayleigh but worth it.

 

[APMG]

When we had our MG took it to Perkins in Braintree, was a hike from Rayleigh but worth it.

Hmm I may move mine over to them as when I called around about my door trim warranty Perkins gave me an answer over the phone and Chelmsford wanted me to drive it down to have someone look at it.


So either I spoke to a Mechanic who knew off the bat in Braintree and Chelmsford was a service assistant.

 

[rjhfandclf]

When we had our MG took it to Perkins in Braintree, was a hike from Rayleigh but worth it.

Thanks - I've been waiting for an unsolicited Perkins alternative reference! Perkins were always on my list - despite a bit of a trek. I think I will call them first and take it from there. Hopefully an MG4 1st service should be a 'while you wait' from all accounts. Also I want to compare annual with plan prices.

 

[APMG]

Booked via web this morning and booked me in already. Seems they can do whilst you wait but only at 8:30am.

Seemed way better communication that main dealer it seems.

 

[rjhfandclf]

Booked via web this morning and booked me in already. Seems they can do whilst you wait but only at 8:30am.

Seemed way better communication that main dealer it seems.

That sounds good to me - except no way can I get there by 8.30 so have to see what they say. How far ahead did they give you for service? And was it at the online list price £114 for 1st, 217.10 2nd etc?

 

[APMG]

That sounds good to me - except no way can I get there by 8.30 so have to see what they say. How far ahead did they give you for service? And was it at the online list price £114 for 1st, 217.10 2nd etc?

Using MGs service plan indeed its got its second which is £217, £114 etc etc.

Didn't try engage directly so unknown if they offer outside. My guess its perhaps no to keep up good relations with MG?

I cancelled my Hopkins one this morning and got booked in with Perkins same date in a few weeks time. So don't know short term availability

They will give courtesy car if you pay the insurance surcharge of like £18 (so don't have to get in for 8am)

 

[rjhfandclf]

Using MGs service plan indeed its got its second which is £217, £114 etc etc.

Didn't try engage directly so unknown if they offer outside. My guess its perhaps no to keep up good relations with MG?

I cancelled my Hopkins one this morning and got booked in with Perkins same date in a few weeks time. So don't know short term availability

They will give courtesy car if you pay the insurance surcharge of like £18 (so don't have to get in for 8am)

That's great thanks - I can work with that I'm sure.

 

[rjhfandclf]

All now sorted ...

I phoned Perkins servicing first on 05/11 out of curiosity and got rather a confusing conversation where a 1st service price of about £157 (I think) was quoted. When I mentioned I wanted an MG service plan, this didn't seem to feature or be recognised ... 'Don't know how we would get paid from that'! I said I would get onto MG and get back to them.

I thus set-up the service plan, with Perkins as preferred garage, and this correctly included three services at their on-line quoted prices (as discussed above) with the 1st at end Nov, as demanded, with instalments spread over 24 months including a largish 1st instalment of £140. I followed the online links back to Perkins and requested the necessary 1st service. They acknowledged the contact and would get back 'shortly' - but I heard nothing for a couple of days, so emailed the contact address to chase it. Almost immediately, I got a phone call saying that they now had everything in order for the service plan and arranged the service date without a murmer, even recalling our discussion about courtesy cars. All very pleasant and efficient so far.

For some reason MG set the earliest starting on he contract as 1st Dec, so the 1st available service will be a week late. I trust this won't become an arguement over breakdown renewal, next service interval, or MOT date in due course! I must remember to ask them.

 

[APMG]

Had my service today seemed to be mainly physical checks and a video sent. Software versions still exactly the same on r59 from my USB upgrade

Courtesy car I had was an MG4 SE on R16 So I don't think they update often...

 

[rjhfandclf]

Now just had my car's 1st service at Perkins. All extremely proficiently carried out and all queries/niggles explained:

Updated software to latest R63. This has added the LKA swipe-down menu. He also said he had reduced the LKA sensitivity as low as it would go - and was sorry, but he couldn't turn it off (as, regrettably, we all know). At least the swipe menu helps, but I have yet to be brave enough to try it when left on. I will do so one day on an empty, wide, open road! R63 has also sorted out the HVAC issues (certainly seems more accurate/responsive so far).

Re the bizarre TPMS readings and 'fake' warnings issue, he said that this problem occurs when tyre pressures are set too low (I had checked all mine at 250 kpa immediately before the service). He further added that they advise for all Trophy and X-Power cars with the 18"+ wheel sizes to pump them up to 3 bar (300 kpa) or 43.5 psi all round. They did so to mine, however there is still a small issue with this in that although the car now shows 300 kpa on the screen, I have since checked the tyres to see if my pump now agreed with the screen - and it didn't - and neither did the pump supplied in the car's tyre repair kit, nor two manual gauges that I also tried ... all agreeing the reading of 285 kpa / 41.5 bar. Either way, at least the TPMS hasn't so far faltered since, as the pressures stand, so I will leave well alone and just monitor it. The other more important factor from all this is that the service report showed that all the tyres were also 0.5 mm more worn (after only 4,500 miles) along both edges - most likely due to underinflation - so hopefully that should also at least get no worse now.

Re the recently noticed very sharp braking at low speeds he put down to the same as the continually noisy brake disks, and made the very sensible comment that the brakes were very little worn and I evidently used the KERS a lot (correct) so he advised every so often turning regen down low and using the brakes HARD for a while to clean them up a bit, which should improve both issues.

Finally, they checked the rear sub-frame lower guard as I noticed it is beginning to show signs of the typical warping, and they agreed and would order in the support bar fix and repair under warranty.

All-in-all, a remarkably pleasant experience; the only downsides being the ZS petrol courtesy car, and unfortunately (tongue in cheek), no bright ideas about improving the iSmart app as being well beyond their remit!

 

[APMG]

Now just had my car's 1st service at Perkins. All extremely proficiently carried out and all queries/niggles explained:

Updated software to latest R63. This has added the LKA swipe-down menu. He also said he had reduced the LKA sensitivity as low as it would go - and was sorry, but he couldn't turn it off (as, regrettably, we all know). At least the swipe menu helps, but I have yet to be brave enough to try it when left on. I will do so one day on an empty, wide, open road! R63 has also sorted out the HVAC issues (certainly seems more accurate/responsive so far).

Re the bizarre TPMS readings and 'fake' warnings issue, he said that this problem occurs when tyre pressures are set too low (I had checked all mine at 250 kpa immediately before the service). He further added that they advise for all Trophy and X-Power cars with the 18"+ wheel sizes to pump them up to 3 bar (300 kpa) or 43.5 psi all round. They did so to mine, however there is still a small issue with this in that although the car now shows 300 kpa on the screen, I have since checked the tyres to see if my pump now agreed with the screen - and it didn't - and neither did the pump supplied in the car's tyre repair kit, nor two manual gauges that I also tried ... all agreeing the reading of 285 kpa / 41.5 bar. Either way, at least the TPMS hasn't so far faltered since, as the pressures stand, so I will leave well alone and just monitor it. The other more important factor from all this is that the service report showed that all the tyres were also 0.5 mm more worn (after only 4,500 miles) along both edges - most likely due to underinflation - so hopefully that should also at least get no worse now.

Re the recently noticed very sharp braking at low speeds he put down to the same as the continually noisy brake disks, and made the very sensible comment that the brakes were very little worn and I evidently used the KERS a lot (correct) so he advised every so often turning regen down low and using the brakes HARD for a while to clean them up a bit, which should improve both issues.

Finally, they checked the rear sub-frame lower guard as I noticed it is beginning to show signs of the typical warping, and they agreed and would order in the support bar fix and repair under warranty.

All-in-all, a remarkably pleasant experience; the only downsides being the ZS petrol courtesy car, and unfortunately (tongue in cheek), no bright ideas about improving the iSmart app as being well beyond their remit!

Interesting, when I emailed prior about software etc, seemed it was all largely ignored.

I still have a high pitched noise coming from the rear spoiler over 40mph, as well as still on R59.

It could have been however R59 was the latest "stable" when I went in November vs now they have 63. I did read other threads people said R63 was recalled due to it messing with the battery max charge.

I did ask them if they could also swap the weather proofing which I had been sent from the dealer but they wanted £78 to do it.. so I will just do it myself.