MG4 Reduction Gearbox Oil Leak

[Macadoodle]

So I think that maybe later batches of gearbox have an internal baffle fitted to stop oil going into the breather in the first place.

My box seems to have a baffle as part of the casting, there are internal pics of a very similar box earlier in this thread.
Poked a screwdriver down the breather hole and it came to an abrupt halt, definitely sounded like aluminium that I was tapping .
So they've either redesigned the casting, fitted a deflector over the current casting, or just lowered the oil level and said bollox to it.

Hmmm indeed

 

[AndyL61]

My box seems to have a baffle as part of the casting, there are internal pics of a very similar box earlier in this thread.
Poked a screwdriver down the breather hole and it came to an abrupt halt, definitely sounded like aluminium that I was tapping .
So they've either redesigned the casting, fitted a deflector over the current casting, or just lowered the oil level and said bollox to it.

Hmmm indeed

Yeah I feel they may have made some change internally as the leak was so bad and quite widespread on earlier cars , even when they had reduced the level and fitted modified breather. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that is the case anyway.?.

 

[wiz043]

Yeah I feel they may have made some change internally as the leak was so bad and quite widespread on earlier cars , even when they had reduced the level and fitted modified breather. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that is the case anyway.?.

Apparently a few here with 2023 cars are still experiencing leaks so if they have altered baffles whatever in these cars it doesn't make sense that some leak and some do not leak especially at speed as @Rolfe indicated.

If they have just reduced oil levels in leak free cases it will come back to bite MG you know where if issues arise down the track.

I hope it is not the case but if word gets around that the recommended oil/fluid level is reduced to solve a leak issue it will put many off buying them including me.

It is certainly not helping MG's reputation when there are videos around advising prospective new MG4 buyers to check under the car for oil leaks and tray bulges as mentioned before.

MG need to clarify things before their reputation suffers further.

 

[Macadoodle]

MG need to clarify things before their reputation suffers further.

Unfortunately being up front and admitting mistakes doesn't come easy in China's corporate culture by all accounts.
Although I like the car, I don't have any confidence that the 7 year warranty will be of any real use in the coming years.
Not sure I would buy a car from China again. Having said that, there may be no option in the future if they continue to dominate the EV market.

 

[bowfer]

Unfortunately being up front and admitting mistakes doesn't come easy in China's corporate culture by all accounts.
Although I like the car, I don't have any confidence that the 7 year warranty will be of any real use in the coming years.
Not sure I would buy a car from China again. Having said that, there may be no option in the future if they continue to dominate the EV market.

Surely where it’s made is unimportant, it’s how it’s made.

 

[Macadoodle]

Surely where it’s made is unimportant, it’s how it’s made.

Well yes, how it's made and the quality of any aftercare is the issue, not sure that Chinese business culture is there yet.
Having an open and accountable government and free society would probably help. Oh well.

 

[Eber]

Although I like the car, I don't have any confidence that the 7 year warranty will be of any real use in the coming years.

That was one of the crucial points for me selling it on. A quick look at the terms and conditions shows that only a few parts are covered at all.

 

[siteguru]

Re. the warranty ... any part not mentioned in the warranty document is covered for the headline 7 years. (Consumer protection regulations apply).

 

[tsedge]

Well yes, how it's made and the quality of any aftercare is the issue, not sure that Chinese business culture is there yet.
Having an open and accountable government and free society would probably help. Oh well.

To be fair to China, the poor dealer and MG UK experience are to a considerable degree the fault of people based in the UK.

 

[wiz043]

To be fair to China, the poor dealer and MG UK experience are to a considerable degree the fault of people based in the UK.

I suppose it is always going to be about sales and where the vehicles are popular and on a waiting list dealerships are not going to care much about complaints regardless of car brand.

Hopefully dealer attitude will change as EV competition 'hots up' and many more brands become available off the showroom floor down the track.

 

[Vingnut]

@Macadoodle
Do you have pictures to share of your solution?

 

[Cocijo]

To be fair to China, the poor dealer and MG UK experience are to a considerable degree the fault of people based in the UK.

Hmmm. This is the root of the problem - ownership, or the lack of it.
It’s easy to pass on responsibility. As far as I’m concerned I just want and expect good service. I don’t care if dealers need to contact China or wherever to get instructions - just sort it for me.

The MG strategy after all is said is working so far - sell cars disruptively cheap and get a market share - don‘t focus on the customer service side too much. And just get dealers out there- don’t worry if they aren’t that good - just sell cars.
I guess if they stay a budget brand they will continue to produce budget customer service (there are some dealer exceptions - so it can be done).
To those that have mentioned China culture being at the root - I disagree. I’ve purchased many items from China and dealt with China customer service with exceptional results. It’s the strategy not the culture that is creating poor customer service.

 

[Macadoodle]

@Macadoodle
Do you have pictures to share of your solution?

Somewhere back in this thread, yes.

 

[Eber]

Next leaking car in Germany, delivered three weeks ago.

 

[siteguru]

Would be interesting to find out the build date of that car.

 

[bowfer]

Next leaking car in Germany, delivered three weeks ago.

We have a phrase in Scotland when someone is taking the mick.
And it’s very like ‘Kommen (the) konnte’
Sums up MG

 

[Deleted member 10041]

If that was built this year I would imagine that all but confirms no internal modification of the box. I'm still going for the dropping of the oil level fix, sorts the short term issue and moves one potentially further down the road, MG will stick that in the deal with it later (maybe!) Pile

 

[Macadoodle]

If that was built this year I would imagine that all but confirms no internal modification of the box. I'm still going for the dropping of the oil level fix, sorts the short term issue and moves one potentially further down the road, MG will stick that in the deal with it later (maybe!) Pile

Yep, tens of thousands of cars need to be recalled I think, can't see SAIC doing that unless forced to.

 

[LeoRBK]

Hmmm. This is the root of the problem - ownership, or the lack of it.
It’s easy to pass on responsibility. As far as I’m concerned I just want and expect good service. I don’t care if dealers need to contact China or wherever to get instructions - just sort it for me.

The MG strategy after all is said is working so far - sell cars disruptively cheap and get a market share - don‘t focus on the customer service side too much. And just get dealers out there- don’t worry if they aren’t that good - just sell cars.
I guess if they stay a budget brand they will continue to produce budget customer service (there are some dealer exceptions - so it can be done).
To those that have mentioned China culture being at the root - I disagree. I’ve purchased many items from China and dealt with China customer service with exceptional results. It’s the strategy not the culture that is creating poor customer service.

I second that. I read elsewhere that MG in India is marketing itself as a premium brand and are known for there great pre, post sales experience. (I should add for completeness sake the fact that all MG cars sold in India are built locally.)
That said, you would expect a value for money brand to backup sales with enthusiastic support. The buck stops at MG UK, MG Europe IMHO and it is probably wasteful to discuss SAIC China.

 

[OriginalBigAl]

There is a German based youtube video " MG4 check technic " which is worth a watch.