MG ZS SE not allowed to fit a roof box

[Blueboy20]

MG ZS SE is it just a weaker roof the reason why MG say No to a roof box being fitted?

has anybody fitted one please?

Personal Information redacted

 

[N2STY]

Isn't it just because the SE doesn't have roof bars?

 

[N2STY]

 

[Blueboy20]

Isn't it just because the SE doesn't have roof bars?

no-if you fit roof bars
they still say you should not

 

[N2STY]

no-if you fit roof bars
they still say you should not

There is a 75kg limit which is plenty

 

[Blueboy20]

not sure if they are implying the roof of MG ZS SE is infact weaker than other models

they just wont give the information

 

[N2STY]

Where did you see this?

 

[Blueboy20]

Miles Roberts <[email protected]>
Toeter Mcparlin

Fri, Jan 20 at 11:45 AM


Hi Peter, as I said before, any rail that you fit to the roof could void the warranty from MG’s point of view, as they’ve said that the MG ZS SE isn’t suitable for a roof load. So even if you make these fit, if you put a box on them and the weight causes dents in the roof, that won’t be covered by MG.

Miles Roberts​ Innovation Development Manager​ |​ Chorley Group​ 07919 414751​ |​ 07919 414751​ [email protected]​ |​ www.chorleygroup.co.uk​ Chorley Nissan, Ackhurst Road​ ,​ Chorley​ ,​ PR7 1NN​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

 

[N2STY]

Lol the SE comes with roof rails in other markets I can't see a problem with warranty if you fit genuine ones the manual clearly states with capacity 75 kg

 

[Miles Roberts CG]

Lol the SE comes with roof rails in other markets I can't see a problem with warranty if you fit genuine ones the manual clearly states with capacity 75 kg

Note this:

The roof load is only given where the vehicle is factory fitted with the roof rails. In the UK, this is only on the Trophy model, not the SE. Therefore, the roof load (and instructions in the manual regarding the roof load) are only applicable to the Trophy model in the UK.

MG do not supply, manufacture, or recommend the use of any roof carrier for the SE model. So whilst you make be able to get some universal bars to fit the roof of the ZS EV SE, MG will accept no liability or accept any claims under warranty if (for example) the roof/doors/door seals become damaged by the fitment of some 3rd party bars.

 

[Blueboy20]

hi Miles
what about this comment:

"Lol the SE comes with roof rails in other markets?"

It seems MG are really just saying that their SE version comes without roof box rails-therefore cannot be fitted.

I see no evidence that the roof is less strong or structured than other models such as the Trophy

This is the information most needed. But not forthcoming.

 

[RetiredPope]

Miles isn't commenting on the strength of the roof, but on the legal position regarding the warranty. It's your car, fit roof rails and box if you want, you could even re-program the ECU, fit 30" wheels to the rear and a fake air scoop to the bonnet, just don't expect the car to be covered under warranty.

 

[Blueboy20]

Miles isn't commenting on the strength of the roof, but on the legal position regarding the warranty. It's your car, fit roof rails and box if you want, you could even re-program the ECU, fit 30" wheels to the rear and a fake air scoop to the bonnet, just don't expect the car to be covered under warranty.

i realise Mile is not commenting on the strength of the roof, box This is the information that woud be useful.
I am not sure about this comment here-is it sarcasm ? If so can we keep comments helpful?

"you could even re-program the ECU, fit 30" wheels to the rear and a fake air scoop to the bonnet, just don't expect the car to be covered under warranty."

 

[RetiredPope]

Yes it was a bit of sarcasm, but meant in a light hearted way. You can't expect anyone to officially state that the roof is strong enough to take a roof box, or that it is the same strength as the SR in other regions, even though it will be. They wouldn't make press tools just for SR for UK market. It was an observation that the conversation had already moved from informative to pointless. No offence intended.

 

[BarryH]

i realise Mile is not commenting on the strength of the roof, box This is the information that woud be useful.
I am not sure about this comment here-is it sarcasm ? If so can we keep comments helpful?

"you could even re-program the ECU, fit 30" wheels to the rear and a fake air scoop to the bonnet, just don't expect the car to be covered under warranty."

Roof bars have been a bone of contention with owners both on ZS but particularly the original MG5 and a keyword here appeared to be "Approved". Look back over the MG5 comments on this forum (and others I suspect) and the Podcasts and you'll find that MG had an issue with the "Approval" of the bars and their designation as "Decorative" in the UK market. Under pressure from owners and probably dealers on behalf of prospective owners and owners who had mistakenly assumed that the roof bars were functional, MG sought retrospective "Approval" and issued an amendment to the MG5 Owners Manual Approving the Bars for load carrying. Approval carries more weight (excuse the pun) than owners might wish to believe.

When a vehicle is sold it is legally sold to be safely used for certain purposes and this is why Tow Bars have limits or none at all. For example, the 2019 ZS EV is not Approved for towing even though the ICE ZS with the same chassis is approved as crazy as this seems when the EV version has a higher kerb weight and more torque than the ICE stablemate - why you might ask? the answer with the MG5 SR is that MG didn't subject its roof bars to "Type Approval Testing" before offering the car for sale apparently. MG did subsequently submit the car for testing and that is why the amendment was subsequently issued and Facelift MG5 and the Trophy MG4 are approved for roof bar loads. I would venture to suspect that MG did not submit separately for Type Approval the ZS SE roof carrying capacity using unknown 3rd party products. I suspect that this would have been a lengthy and expensive process for the UK market when customers had an alternative model they could buy if that was important to them.

So does this matter? Unfortunately yes, quite apart from MG's stance on your warranty, "Non-Approved" parts and use can have consequences both legally and financially particularly if there is an accident. In effect, you could find yourself before the law for "Overloading" your vehicle and therefore be driving an unsafe vehicle on the public highway. This might be just the reason for your insurance to be considered "invalid" and so meaning you have been driving without insurance. The same could also be said about fitting tyres with different sizes or lower load/speed ratings than specified in the manual ie Approved.

 

[Deleted member 6309]

Roof bars have been a bone of contention with owners both on ZS but particularly the original MG5 and a keyword here appeared to be "Approved". Look back over the MG5 comments on this forum (and others I suspect) and the Podcasts and you'll find that MG had an issue with the "Approval" of the bars and their designation as "Decorative" in the UK market. Under pressure from owners and probably dealers on behalf of prospective owners and owners who had mistakenly assumed that the roof bars were functional, MG sort retrospective "Approval" and issued an amendment to the MG5 Owners Manual Approving the Bars for load carrying. Approval carries more weight (excuse the pun) than owners might wish to believe.

When a vehicle is sold it is legally sold to be safely used for certain purposes and this is why Tow Bars have limits or none at all. For example, the 2019 ZS EV is not Approved for towing even though the ICE ZS with the same chassis is approved as crazy as this seems when the EV version has a higher kerb weight and more torque than the ICE stablemate - why you might ask? the answer with the MG5 SR is that MG didn't subject its roof bars to "Type Approval Testing" before offering the car for sale apparently. MG did subsequently submit the car for testing and that is why the amendment was subsequently issued and Facelift MG5 and the Trophy MG4 are approved for roof bar loads. I would venture to suspect that MG did not submit separately for Type Approval the ZS SE roof carrying capacity using unknown 3rd party products. I suspect that this would have been a lengthy and expensive process for the UK market when customers had an alternative model they could buy if that was important to them.

So does this matter? Unfortunately yes, quite apart from MG's stance on your warranty, "Non-Approved" parts and use can have consequences both legally and financially particularly if there is an accident. In effect, you could find yourself before the law for "Overloading" your vehicle and therefore be driving an unsafe vehicle on the public highway. This might be just the reason for your insurance to be considered "invalid" and so meaning you have been driving without insurance. The same could also be said about fitting tyres with different sizes or lower load/speed ratings than specified in the manual ie Approved.

Hmmm so MG thought let's stick some fakey roof bars on that'll look good & then weasel out of any responsibility for them being not what they are traditionally expected to be...

*** it's like full-fat aliexpress... ?

 

[sgt4hed]

Hmmm so MG thought let's stick some fakey roof bars on that'll look good & then weasel out of any responsibility for them being not what they are traditionally expected to be...

*** it's like full-fat aliexpress... ?

I think it was a bit of naivety, thinking that people aren't going to want to use roof bars when they are fitted. But they did the right thing by getting them type approved so hardly weaseling out of it. As for the subject of this thread, and very comically pointed out by RetiredPope, you can do whatever you like to your car, but it may void warranty and/or insurance and leave you in hot water. And Miles' clarification is spot on, the manual references the factory fitted roof rails on the trophy and trophy connect, it is not referencing the SE. Plus no MG official is going to go on record anywhere and say "the roof is strong enough for rails and a box" because that is a legal liability minefield right there.

 

[BarryH]

Hmmm so MG thought let's stick some fakey roof bars on that'll look good & then weasel out of any responsibility for them being not what they are traditionally expected to be...

*** it's like full-fat aliexpress... ?

No, that's misrepresenting what I wrote. The roof bars aren't "Fake" they just weren't "Tested" for the "Approval" process before the UK launch of MG5. They were later and are now rated with an Approved weight limit.

 

[Deleted member 6309]

No, that's misrepresenting what I wrote. The roof bars aren't "Fake" they just weren't "Tested" for the "Approval" process before the UK launch of MG5. They were later and are now rated with an Approved weight limit.

What you wrote & what actually happened are not necessarily the same thing only MG will know...

"Decorative" was mentioned which means "non functioning" which could be reasonably interpreted as "fakey".... IMHO

 

[Striker]

The Trophy has roof rails (front to rear, raised off the roof) to which you can fit cross bars on to them, these give you the 75KG rating. The load is carried by the points on the roof where the roof rails bolt to

The SE does not have the roof rails, so you'd have to fit a roof rack that sits on rubber pads on the roof and then wraps around into the door shuts. Theses will be sat on a part of the roof, that hasn't been tested for load. I think that's why MG wont approve after market racks

I would've gone for the SE but need a roof rack as I go canoeing. I asked if the roof rails could be retrofitted - answer was no
I searched forums to see if the mounting holes and reinforcement for the rails on the Trophy, was also there on the SE (maybe hidden by a trim). I'd then purchase a second hand set of rails off a scrapper. My research was inconclusive, but leaning to the idea that the SE didn't come with the same mounting points