MG ZS EV Servicing Costs

[Portgordon]

When I was picking up my car, the dealer did a bit of a sales pitch on the servicing costs. My usual instinct whenever a sales pitch is triggered is to walk away, but on this occasion it seemed to make logical sense - although I still despise these hidden extra costs on the day. "Here's the car you've payed for, now if you want to use it you'll need to pay an additional xx per month to keep it ship shape"

I was informed that in order to keep the warranty intact, you need to keep it services (which of course makes sense), but that each yearly service is £125 (or £115, something like that I can't remember) with the exception of the 4th year service which costs £400+ (as they drop the battery etc.. to check and clean terminals etc..). So I can either pay per service or I can buy a service plan which effectively saves money on the over all cost.

I signed up to it in the basis that I like saving money ? and that I would research it later. I haven't received any of the written details about it yet (I'll chase that today) but am interested to hear others views and experiences with servicing.

Has anyone else signed up to a service plan? Is everyone aware of the servicing costs?

One of the early benefits of EVs I often heard talked of was "Reduced Service Costs" due to the fact there are less moving parts, brakes used less etc.. And I'm sure there is absolutely truth in that as I know that servicing for ICE vehicles often spirals out of control, but this cost still came as a bit of a surprise to me, especially that fourth one. Having said all that, of course I'll be doing it, I want the battery checked etc..

They did specifically state that this service plan does not cover software updates such as the Comfort one.

What's everyones plans for servicing?

 

[Paulie68]

They most certainly will not drop the battery and clean any terminals!! This will never happen at a service, and I doubt any MG dealers will have the skills, or would dare, to do this either. (It's over 400v and would kill anyone incompetent working on it!) In the event of battery failure and needing to have it changed, they'll contact MG for further advice, who I'd expect, will in turn arrange for a specialist team to do it.

As for servicing, the second service includes a brake fluid change, this is why it costs more. The fourth service includes a brake fluid change and coolant change and costs a lot more. Services 1,3,5, are virtually nothing at all, they'll stare at parts of the car and plug in a diagnostic which will tell them if anything is faulty.

My plan for servicing is to begrudgingly pay my local dealer for the service each year in order to maintain the warranty. This is the downside of long warranties, you get screwed into dealer servicing rates for much longer!

 

[Mark Holmes]

I was quoted this
ZS ELECTRIC 15k/1 year Service
ZS ELECTRIC 30k/2 year Service
ZS ELECTRIC 45k/3 year Service
ZS ELECTRIC 60k/4 year Service
Service Date
Jul 2021
Jul 2022
Jul 2023
Jul 2024
Total*
£100.20
£188.90
£100.20
£324.77
But upon working it out I paid a fraction more, but secure the current pricing and therefore any increased hourly rates wouldn’t be applied, that said with the biggest expense being in years four I decided against as I may not have the car then...

 

[Mgkev]

I’ve never heard of dropping the battery to clean the terminals it’s not a lead acid type with exposed terminals languishing in a dirty engine bay. It’s my belief that this service deal is not value for money, I refused it at purchase time.

 

[Portgordon]

Thanks all, I think I'll cancel it and pay per service - it also keeps my options open for where I can have it serviced. Also on principle if the sales pitch included blatant lies ?‍

 

[Mark Holmes]

Good call....

 

[Kithmo]

Does anybody have a written copy of the service schedules, i.e. a list of what they do at each ?

 

[Mark Holmes]

It’s didn’t say what they actually did on my schedule, other than year four did include replacement of the HVB coolant.

 

[Frank]

Hi Guys,

I have a four year service plan with MG for just under £14 a month (48 x 14=672) which considering the cost for 4 years for most ICE cars then I think it is ok, just my opinion. I don't actually care what they do during the service as long as they do what MG say is done. As for the battery, of course the MG technicians are allowed and trained to work on it and they know perfectly well the dangers of electrocution if not done properly. FYI if a battery pack needed swapping or dropped down for some reason it is an EASY job which probably (as long as you know where the safety cut off switches are to enable you to do this (and there are switches, I seen it on a leaf battery change)) then most DIY persons with a ramp could do it, a few bolts to be undone, unplug the battery pack, support the battery and either lift the car off it or drop the battery down. The battery removal takes less than one hour.

In China they have battery change shops on some motorways. You drive in with a depleted battery they swop your battery for a fresh one and off you go in less than half an hour.

Regards

Frank

 

[Portgordon]

Maybe I’ll keep it then

<<insert tug of war gif here>>

 

[Mgkev]

I heard somewhere that it’s a 40 minute exercise to remove the HV battery

 

[Frank]

Yes, 40 mins is less than one hour ?

 

[Paulie68]

Hi Guys,

I have a four year service plan with MG for just under £14 a month (48 x 14=672) which considering the cost for 4 years for most ICE cars then I think it is ok, just my opinion. I don't actually care what they do during the service as long as they do what MG say is done. As for the battery, of course the MG technicians are allowed and trained to work on it and they know perfectly well the dangers of electrocution if not done properly. FYI if a battery pack needed swapping or dropped down for some reason it is an EASY job which probably (as long as you know where the safety cut off switches are to enable you to do this (and there are switches, I seen it on a leaf battery change)) then most DIY persons with a ramp could do it, a few bolts to be undone, unplug the battery pack, support the battery and either lift the car off it or drop the battery down. The battery removal takes less than one hour.

In China they have battery change shops on some motorways. You drive in with a depleted battery they swop your battery for a fresh one and off you go in less than half an hour.

Regards

Frank

I agree swapping out a complete battery is a simple and pretty risk free procedure. My point above was that there is no way dealer technicians are going to be doing any servicing to a battery itself that involves opening the case!

 

[Paulie68]

Service plan pros and cons:

Pros:

1, You can spread the cost over a given period, giving you a known, fixed, monthly amount.
2, You have locked in the current servicing rates, so you may avoid any increases.

Personally, I think both of the above are pretty trivial benefits, unless you are really bad at managing money.

Cons:

1, There is no discount, it's just the normal servicing costs, divided up into a monthly payment.
2, If you decide to change the car before the service plan period is used up, you get no refund for what you haven't used.
3, If you find you don't get on with the dealership the plan is with, and they turn out to give poor/incompetent service, you can't take the plan to a different dealer as it's with that specific dealer, not MG.
4, If your car comes back with damage or a problem following a service (unfortunately all to common!) you have no bargaining chip of withholding payment until the issue is resolved, as it's already paid for!

 

[lee graham]

In China they can swap a battery pack on Nio Es8 in just three minutes. You can also rent a battery with higher capacity for trips.

 

[Frank]

I agree swapping out a complete battery is a simple and pretty risk free procedure. My point above was that there is no way dealer technicians are going to be doing any servicing to a battery itself that involves opening the case!

Yes, agree with that, it will be treated as a "no service item inside" sort of component I would think and would have to go somewhere specialist before they would open that can of worms. One for One swap for faulty battery packs is probably the only way local MG dealers will deal (no pun intended (alright it was)) with it.

Regards

Frank

 

[Cirprocon]

Do MG UK guarantee after year 7 a minimum battery capacity - and is this comparable to say the Nissan Leaf promise ? I cant seem to find anything on the website just says its covered.

 

[Portgordon]

I’ve wondered this myself as this has been my primary concern with buying a current gen EV. I know how bad consumer electronics batteries are after relatively short timeframes (I know they’re different but it’s still an unknown).

 

[Dr Dave]

From the official Tesla web site '
If I choose not to service my Tesla car, will this void my warranty?
Your New Vehicle Limited Warranty or Used Vehicle Limited Warranty will not be affected if recommended service is not performed.

Makes you wonder why MG requires a service schedule to maintain warranty.

 

[Paulie68]

From the official Tesla web site '
If I choose not to service my Tesla car, will this void my warranty?
Your New Vehicle Limited Warranty or Used Vehicle Limited Warranty will not be affected if recommended service is not performed.

Makes you wonder why MG requires a service schedule to maintain warranty.

It's designed like that to keep taking money from you on a yearly basis for the dealer coffers. It's as simple as that... It's also an opportunity to try to tempt you to buy a new model as you're milling about the showroom waiting for the service to be done.