MG4 Undertray dip/bulge

[AndyL61]

Embarrassing though, just design it correctly in the first place.
Don't persist in fitting them when it's obvious the holes don't line up.
And don't lie when questioned by customer and state it's a characteristic.

I agree. This fix is a bodge job to cover up what is obviously a poorly designed and fitting under tray.

 

[NLMGSAN]

I agree. This fix is a bodge job to cover up what is obviously a poorly designed and fitting under tray.

Correct. But I want the hole closed...

 

[ReintjeWA]

I suspect MG has sourced this part from several manufacturers, and one of them has made the part in such a way that it bulges (ie. faulty). Not all trays have this issue after all.

I wonder if they are unable to distinguish between suppliers after they’ve received the parts and therefore can’t definitively replace the part with the correctly made version? Or maybe they just went the route of lowest cost per fix. It is surprising that they still seems to be delivering cars that develop this fault though.

 

[RaspberryMan]

Is the bulge a fixings not aligning issue? I was under the impression it was a problem inherent with the material (i.e. crappy plastic) the tray was made from.

 

[LenEV2016]

Is the bulge a fixings not aligning issue? I was under the impression it was a problem inherent with the material (i.e. crappy plastic) the tray was made from.

Think it's a combination, certainly in some cases, of the cheap crappy plastic and holes being slightly out of alignment which can cause the bulge when forced to line up
The root problem is the poor design.

MG must be running out of mechano set parts between this fix and the oil breather one absolute bodge fixes.

 

[Coulomb]

absolute bodge fixes.

I actually think that the undertray bulge fix is quite neat and tidy. Shocking that it's needed, but in my opinion a neat fix.

 

[AndyL61]

I actually think that the undertray bulge fix is quite neat and tidy. Shocking that it's needed, but in my opinion a neat fix.

You hit the nail on the head. It shouldn't be needed. They should have redesigned it rather than use Meccano.

 

[Tuareg]

My brand new grey BMW 330D came with several black spots under the clear coat. Was fixed under warranty but took 3 months to get approved. The undertray on the MG4 is a minor issue in comparison. Mine doesn't actually have that problem.

 

[fnegroni]

My brand new grey BMW 330D came with several black spots under the clear coat. Was fixed under warranty but took 3 months to get approved. The undertray on the MG4 is a minor issue in comparison. Mine doesn't actually have that problem.

Can you take a picture?

 

[DaevM]

Just want to say thanks @siteguru for the pdf. Going in for first service tomorrow. Registered bulge last April/May. Was told it was a feature with no MG awareness of it being a fault or area of customer disatisfaction. Warned them we'll be readdressing it tomorrow when I bring the pdf in.
Fingers crossed


Also be interesting if they complain about the brake light mod I put in

 

[Kithmo]

When the total time reaches 100 hours it resets (because it can’t show you 100) and that also resets the GOM. Thus the GOM reverts back to WLTP range or even more optimistic figures. It should settle after a while when the GOM gets used to real life driving again.

I thought the same, but when my accumulated total reset itself last week the GOM didn't revert back to WLTP it stayed at the Winter figure I'd been getting when I charged it, 148 miles for 80% charge, which would be about 185 if I'd charged to 100%. (Sorry, a bit off topic.)

 

[ReintjeWA]

I thought the same, but when my accumulated total reset itself last week the GOM didn't revert back to WLTP it stayed at the Winter figure I'd been getting when I charged it, 148 miles for 80% charge, which would be about 185 if I'd charged to 100%. (Sorry, a bit off topic.)

Interesting, mine is coming up to the 99 hour mark so I’m curious to see what it will do, maybe they fixed it somehow?

 

[David9448]

So I called into my local mg dealership in Bury St Edmunds to get someone to look at my drooping undertray, I got the guy I didn't want, talks at 100 mph, had to ask him to slow down, my hearing not 100% + tinnitus, he asked where I'd heard about the problem, on the MG forum I told him, he's said, I don't go on the forums it contaminates the information, when I said I have a photo of the undertray, he wouldn't look at it, nor would he venture off his ar*e and look under the car, saying he didn't want to disrespect his technicians, he had never heard of the problem and if I wanted them to look at it I'd have to book it in for a full day, as we have 68 cars a day going through the workshops, so can't interrupt the flow, and if they found it was not a warranty issue I would be charged £160, at this point I just wanted to escape, so I booked it in and made for the exit.


When I got home, I phoned another dealership, in Diss, and booked a while you wait appointment for next Monday, while on the phone I asked for a quote for the second service, but the guy couldn't find mg4 on his list, and then said, Oh is it an EV? Which was a bit worrying, and then said around £220 but said he'd check when I came in. Totally different attitude, he asked me to send him the photo by email, which I did, but I think I'll take the relevant bulletin with me (thanks to @siteguru) . So feeling a little happier about it now, but we shall see on Monday.

 

[turntoport]

Yeah, same sort of obfuscating/derisive/aggressive/ ignorance-pleading crap I've had for two years now, but after another month of phone calls+ visit to the dealer, no further forward. The original sale point dealer has agreed to 'look at it', though, while denying knowledge of any fix. While sympathising with the dealer/workshop, I'm finding mg's attitude very very unpleasant. Sadly, it has put a very big question-mark over whether I would buy another. 0/10 for customer service, MG.
David, could you post an update as to how Monday goes?

 

[turntoport]

Just want to say thanks @siteguru for the pdf. Going in for first service tomorrow. Registered bulge last April/May. Was told it was a feature with no MG awareness of it being a fault or area of customer disatisfaction. Warned them we'll be readdressing it tomorrow when I bring the pdf in.
Fingers crossed


Also be interesting if they complain about the brake light mod I put in

How'd it go, DaevM?

 

[David9448]

David, could you post an update as to how Monday goes?

Yes I certainly will, the difference between the attitude of the two dealers, was such that I would say, shop around, you don't have to stick to one dealership, in fact when I contacted MG customer service, they gave me a list of local dealerships to try, all in Kent though, and I'm in Suffolk lol, but they meant well.

 

[turntoport]

I actually think that the undertray bulge fix is quite neat and tidy. Shocking that it's needed, but in my opinion a neat fix.

Still a 'cheapest possible' bodge, though - they haven't even used mushroom-head bolts/screws: using 2-cent hex on an undertray is just...ughhh.

 

[siteguru]

To be fair, you'd never see them anyway unless you were making a point of looking under the car - not something that's natural.

 

[turntoport]

Agreed. But still poor engineering practice. Even cheap countersunk hex would cost just a couple of cents more; countersinking the plate holes another couple of cents; cheapness for the sake of it always costs...

 

[turntoport]

Picked up my mg4 ER on 11th Jan, thanks to this forum knew about the undertray and had a note put on the acceptance form regarding the repair, when I tried to get hold of the dealer a few days later to book in despite the promised return phone call (never happened) and sending an email (no reply) it took another email direct to mg to get a response from the dealer and get the bracket fixed to the undertray. The completed fix has improved the sag which was in 2 places but is not perfect or what I would expect from a brand new car. Am i being to picky or should I go back to the dealer and get them to replace the whole tray and fit the bracket, TBH it has been so much hassle and the wife is getting edgy about the car.

May i ask where did you get your car (undertray) fixed, Otterks?