MG4 : 1st Service : What to expect?

[psin]

Hi everyone

I wanted to share and seek feedback on the quotations I've received for the first service of my MG4. It's been quite an eye-opener, and I'm curious to know if others have any recent updates.

1. Spirit MG in Corby quoted me £165.96.
2. Glyn Hopkin MG in Bedford came in at £186.00.
3. A notably higher quote of £256.00 was given by Glyn Hopkin MG in Milton Keynes.
4. However, it was Glyn Hopkin MG in St Albans that provided a range from £88.07 to £256.00.

The conversation with the representative at St Albans was particularly interesting. They explained that the £256 quote included a brake service, air-con service, and topping up all fluids. When I probed further, it turned out that the only fluid they'd check and top up was the windscreen washing fluid, which, according to them, is "free anyway".

Given that the car has only done 10,000 miles, I questioned the necessity of servicing the brakes and air-con at this stage. After some discussion, it was revealed that without these additional services, the cost would revert to £88.07. This significant difference, especially when the initial quote was on their own headed paper, really makes one wonder about the consistency and transparency of these quotes.

It seems there might be some confusion or perhaps a lack of standardisation in the pricing for MG4's first service. I'd greatly appreciate hearing your experiences or any advice you might have. Have any of you encountered similar discrepancies in service quotes for your MG4? Do these additional services seem justified to you at this early stage in the car's life?

Looking forward to your insights and shared experiences.

I would avoid Glyn Hopkin. I have only experienced very poor customer service and their 1st service costs vary tremendously between their branches, as you have demonstrated.

I would offer 2 alternatives:

1) Brown and Gammons in Baldock. £114 for the first service. Really knowledgable people and they only do MG, so they really know their stuff.

2) Go to the MG website and sign up for a service plan. That way you can’t be ripped off by the likes of Glynn Hopkin.

I hope that helps?

 

[Buster72]

Hi everyone

I wanted to share and seek feedback on the quotations I've received for the first service of my MG4. It's been quite an eye-opener, and I'm curious to know if others have any recent updates.

1. Spirit MG in Corby quoted me £165.96.
2. Glyn Hopkin MG in Bedford came in at £186.00.
3. A notably higher quote of £256.00 was given by Glyn Hopkin MG in Milton Keynes.
4. However, it was Glyn Hopkin MG in St Albans that provided a range from £88.07 to £256.00.

The conversation with the representative at St Albans was particularly interesting. They explained that the £256 quote included a brake service, air-con service, and topping up all fluids. When I probed further, it turned out that the only fluid they'd check and top up was the windscreen washing fluid, which, according to them, is "free anyway".

Given that the car has only done 10,000 miles, I questioned the necessity of servicing the brakes and air-con at this stage. After some discussion, it was revealed that without these additional services, the cost would revert to £88.07. This significant difference, especially when the initial quote was on their own headed paper, really makes one wonder about the consistency and transparency of these quotes.

It seems there might be some confusion or perhaps a lack of standardisation in the pricing for MG4's first service. I'd greatly appreciate hearing your experiences or any advice you might have. Have any of you encountered similar discrepancies in service quotes for your MG4? Do these additional services seem justified to you at this early stage in the car's life?

Looking forward to your insights and shared experiences.

That is completely ridiculous.
As I have mentioned, my MG4 SESR was serviced on Monday by the MG main dealer North Bristol MG and the price for the service was £62.10. Admittedly the car has only done half your miles. MG UK fund any of the recall and necessary s/w updates. But everything you mentioned was carried out.
Feel free to use this.

 

[NeilF]

Sounds like it's best to request the most basic service required under MG 1st Service guidance.

Someone posted up a copy of this a while ago (See post #32 on this thread -£88.07 for 10,000 mile service)

Thanks. Yes I used that information to negotiate with the lady at St Albans. Seems it’s always worth negotiating.

 

[NeilF]

Another dealer came back and thought I would share the prices for everyone:

The Holden Group Norwich
1st Service : £88.07
2nd Service : £178.68
3rd Service : £88:07

Thanks to @psin for the suggestion of checking out MG's own service plan, here are the details:

Service Schedule​

• 4 Electric 15k/1 year Service £97.73
• 4 Electric 30k/2 year Service £191.26
• 4 Electric 45k/3 year Service £97.73

Monthly Schedule​

• 1 payment of £117.79
• Followed by 12 payments of £19.98
• Followed by 11 payments of £5.27

The monthly schedule totals £415.52, so this seems to include a £23.72 charge for the "benefit" of monthly payments. There wasn't an option to pay for each service as you go.

It's still significantly cheaper than my local dealer's prices, so I think we'll go for the MG service plan and select our local dealer.

 

[stevegus]

It made me angry why I’m being charged £150 for nothing more than a visual check!! Taking a fxxking pee!!
I wouldn’t have minded too much if it needed an inspection every couple of years.

Tesla does not even require any servicing at all.

You are also getting another years recovery in that deal

 

[Buster72]

You are also getting another years recovery in that deal

So is everyone else who has been charged a whole lot less than that.

 

[sewz]

Wow asked dealer today, what the cost of first service for this car and got quoted £340

This is what they will do

Only updates that may be published by MG should be done yes.

About NOK 4,500, including changing the cabin filter and brake service at the rear (with sandblasting of the block holders)

 

[mg4mc]

Just checked my local RRG in Stockport...
1st = £93.60
2nd = £130.02
3rd = £93.60

 

[Tig170]

Sooo? - where is the cabin filter? - I was expecting this to be behind the glove box, but after a single screw removal & clips, its not clear where it is? - Can anyone help on the MG4?

 

[stevegus]

I would avoid Glyn Hopkin. I have only experienced very poor customer service and their 1st service costs vary tremendously between their branches, as you have demonstrated.

I would offer 2 alternatives:

1) Brown and Gammons in Baldock. £114 for the first service. Really knowledgable people and they only do MG, so they really know their stuff.

2) Go to the MG website and sign up for a service plan. That way you can’t be ripped off by the likes of Glynn Hopkin.

I hope that helps?

I can agree with that. £198 for a first service at glyn hopkin Bedford. Like all their branches in the general area its cramped and has about 4 franchises.

Recently found out my boss knows the owner of Brown and Gammons and it seems to have a pub next door too. About an hour away but could be getting service there next.

Hopkin seemed to be going for every add on. Offered to take wheels off and clean them and brakes for £60. Wot?

 

[Macadoodle]

Sooo? - where is the cabin filter? - I was expecting this to be behind the glove box, but after a single screw removal & clips, its not clear where it is? - Can anyone help on the MG4?

It's under the bonnet. Remove the decorative trim and you'll see the end cover for the filter held by plastic clips.
They're really brittle so might be an idea to heat them with a hair dryer or such or they'll probably snap....as I found out last winter.

 

[Rob875]

Time passes, so moving on to my year 2 service at 30,000 miles, I have three quotes from MG dealers I could use - £218, £236 (brake fluid top up, not change), £296. That's west to east from Gloucestershire to London.

 

[siteguru]

My £399 3 year service plan + first MOT is looking better value by the day ...........

 

[tsedge]

I paid about £104 for first service, no plan, 10,000 miles.

 

[Tig170]

I must say I havn't noticed this before, but the website now has a quote system (as a service plan), for my local dealer(s) its: (plus MOT's @ standard rates) - it looks quite standard accross a quick poll accross the dealer network

4 Electric 30k/2 year Service​

£217.10
01/10/2024Age at Service: 2

4 Electric 45k/3 year Service​

£114.00
01/10/2025Age at Service: 3

4 Electric 60k/4 year Service​

£250.97
01/10/2026Age at Service: 4

4 Electric 75k/5 year Service​

£265.92
01/10/2027Age at Service: 5

4 Electric 90k/6 year Service​

£217.10
30/09/2028Age at Service: 6

 

[Drodoo]

I've also checked the manual, and they basically don't do shit other then check random stuff, here in norway the frist service was £320... alas they updated the ACC so it's no longer speeding down when taking the slightest bend... so I guess that's good.

 

[Rolfe]

My £399 3 year service plan + first MOT is looking better value by the day ...........

It's good value if you have a dealer you're prepared to take your car back to. I had a bad feeling about Macklin right from the start and didn't want to commit myself until I knew if they gave good service.

Reader, they do not.

 

[rjhfandclf]

OK, so now it’s crunch time – MG4's first service due end of November, and being somewhat of a mistrusting nature, I would much appreciate any up-to-date experiences/observations/comments, please, re any of below. Obviously, I need to decide …

1. Whom to go to. There are four dealers/authorised servicers within reasonable reach:
   • Glyn Hopkin, Chelmsford (nearest; but … )
   • Toomey, Basildon or Southend (equidistant, but although Southend is listed for servicing on MG’s main dealer map, it doesn’t show on their online quote selector!)
   • Perkins, Braintree (authorised only now – and a bit too far really)
2. My usage is < 5,000 miles p/a
3. I can approach Hopkin and Toomey direct for a quote, as I want to compare 3-year plans with annual; but does anyone have recent experience of these dealer’s direct quotes?
4. I can also confirm that @Tig170’s (#75) MG central figures still apply, but you have to choose a dealer first and fill in all your details to proceed to selecting options. There is no obvious info anywhere I can see about what is actually included in each year; so …
5. Suggestions as to what to ask to be done generally and what is/should be included. The software needs an update from R46 to R59 – but are there specific modules I should ask for, and will that be automatic and FOC? And the road maps too – particularly abroad! And any update that reduces the aggressive LKA etc, and iSmart access improvement I would deem to be ‘fault’ correction – if that were a criterion to meet

So any constructive experiences of recent reality much appreciated – thanks.

 

[Tig170]

OK, so now it’s crunch time – MG4's first service due end of November, and being somewhat of a mistrusting nature, I would much appreciate any up-to-date experiences/observations/comments, please, re any of below. Obviously, I need to decide …

So any constructive experiences of recent reality much appreciated – thanks.

Its all a little bit of pot luck - I didn't bother with the 1st service as its only an inspection. Just done the 2nd service (with MG) - again very little needed (brake fluid may have been changed + Key fob batteries + pollen filer -which was as new ), but its a very light touch. I specifically didn't want any updated due to the LKA challenges (mine stays off by default). £rd service is an insepection also, but in the UK you need an MOT. So just paid £400 on a service plan for services 2&3(+MOT), which included AA cover (so I've just cancelled mine which was around £100/year) - so servicing = the same price of breakdown cover.

 

[TerryN]

Had my first service with only 3500 miles on the clock. As far as I can tell it was just an expensive car wash (plus AA membership). They charged me the full whack rather than the "low mileage" rate.
I will rate them accordingly.