My upgrades and does your ZS have these niggles?

[asandrews]

My upgrades and does your ZS have these niggles?

I have done 10,000 miles now in my ZS EV Trophy LR (73 plate). It's the version without the sunroof.

We recently drove it from the Midlands to Barcelona and back for the Spanish F1 GP in June and had a great time. In the months before going I had done the following:

1) replaced the reversing lamps with LEDs, thanks to a post on here
2) replaced the bee sting with a shark fin, again thanks to a post on here
3) purchased a space-saver spare tyre and tools, thanks to a lovely chap in Cambridgeshire advertising on here
4) Made a Frunk from a 50L tub and use it to store the charger cable, the granny charger, breakdown triangles and a toolkit.
5) Took it to the dealer for a whole range of (IMO) software niggles, wanting to be sure it was in the best possible condition before the long trip. Not that they did anything apart from allegedly update the software for the auto-mainbeam and couldn't replicate the issue I has with the rear passenger side door inside handle or a rattle around the dash
6) Purchased full RAC European breakdown and recovery cover with my car insurance, which took the premium from £360 to £420.

We stayed in hotels with chargers which was largely problem-free with one exception, and made the occasional stop at a public charger just in case the hotel charger was an issue.

7) I've just ordered some stick-on interior lights for the rear (again, thanks to a post on here ) as often the Spanish hotel car parks are underground and we sometimes couldn't see our luggage on the back seats and had to use our phone torches.

We used the Portsmouth to Bilbao ferry, they warn you to turn off your car alarm to prevent it triggering and the battery going flat due to ocean motion. Again thanks to a post on here, I found the car doesn't have a motion sensor, and so we were ok.

Big thanks to these forums

So, what problems/niggles do I still have with the vehicle?

The radio software is absolutely terrible. Sometimes it loses all settings, sometimes it take ages to get any sound particularly on DAB. Scrolling through channels ignores Favourites. The station buttons have the station name in a tiny font. Does anyone else experience this? Surely this could all be improved massively, easily?

On cold/wet mornings I get ‘front camera unavailable’, ‘emergency assist unavailable’ and other such warnings which I think is the sensors fogging up. The dealer told me that's normal for this model. Seriously? I've never had that issue with any other car.

I get the occasional 'knock' from the steering column, which I have only recently noticed. Maybe I am being over-sensitive?

My biggest bug-bear: I use the cruise-control a lot. Every time I make any change to the settings (speed up/down - needed a lot on my commute and on the Spanish motorways) the instrument panel changes to the standard view, away from the one with the fuel economy stats which is where I prefer to keep it. Why? Why? Why?

The charging part of the software has a discharging section, but V2L doesn't work. That would have been nice to have occasionally, but why change the hardware (my assumption) and not change the software?

When using Android Auto it totally fills the infotainment screen, so you can't see things like the outside or inside temperatures and have to navigate away.

Do others have the same issues?

Overall I am happy with my purchase, and love the running costs

 

[Spinynorman]

Sounds good but I’d replace the shark-fin with your old aerial and see if radio reception improves.
As to the knocking under the steering you need to check the universal joint on underside, as there have been signs of this coming loose - it could be dangerous so get it checked regardless.
I wanted a new replacement for my exclusive (2020 - Mk 1) with V2L but MG removed it from the later refresh models. Some peeps had an ECU replaced, as when they bought it V2L was on the spec sheet but MG have removed it now.

 

[DB Go Rex]

My upgrades and does your ZS have these niggles?

I have done 10,000 miles now in my ZS EV Trophy LR (73 plate). It's the version without the sunroof.

We recently drove it from the Midlands to Barcelona and back for the Spanish F1 GP in June and had a great time. In the months before going I had done the following:

1) replaced the reversing lamps with LEDs, thanks to a post on here
2) replaced the bee sting with a shark fin, again thanks to a post on here
3) purchased a space-saver spare tyre and tools, thanks to a lovely chap in Cambridgeshire advertising on here
4) Made a Frunk from a 50L tub and use it to store the charger cable, the granny charger, breakdown triangles and a toolkit.
5) Took it to the dealer for a whole range of (IMO) software niggles, wanting to be sure it was in the best possible condition before the long trip. Not that they did anything apart from allegedly update the software for the auto-mainbeam and couldn't replicate the issue I has with the rear passenger side door inside handle or a rattle around the dash
6) Purchased full RAC European breakdown and recovery cover with my car insurance, which took the premium from £360 to £420.

We stayed in hotels with chargers which was largely problem-free with one exception, and made the occasional stop at a public charger just in case the hotel charger was an issue.

7) I've just ordered some stick-on interior lights for the rear (again, thanks to a post on here ) as often the Spanish hotel car parks are underground and we sometimes couldn't see our luggage on the back seats and had to use our phone torches.

We used the Portsmouth to Bilbao ferry, they warn you to turn off your car alarm to prevent it triggering and the battery going flat due to ocean motion. Again thanks to a post on here, I found the car doesn't have a motion sensor, and so we were ok.

Big thanks to these forums

So, what problems/niggles do I still have with the vehicle?

The radio software is absolutely terrible. Sometimes it loses all settings, sometimes it take ages to get any sound particularly on DAB. Scrolling through channels ignores Favourites. The station buttons have the station name in a tiny font. Does anyone else experience this? Surely this could all be improved massively, easily?

On cold/wet mornings I get ‘front camera unavailable’, ‘emergency assist unavailable’ and other such warnings which I think is the sensors fogging up. The dealer told me that's normal for this model. Seriously? I've never had that issue with any other car.

I get the occasional 'knock' from the steering column, which I have only recently noticed. Maybe I am being over-sensitive?

My biggest bug-bear: I use the cruise-control a lot. Every time I make any change to the settings (speed up/down - needed a lot on my commute and on the Spanish motorways) the instrument panel changes to the standard view, away from the one with the fuel economy stats which is where I prefer to keep it. Why? Why? Why?

The charging part of the software has a discharging section, but V2L doesn't work. That would have been nice to have occasionally, but why change the hardware (my assumption) and not change the software?

When using Android Auto it totally fills the infotainment screen, so you can't see things like the outside or inside temperatures and have to navigate away.

Do others have the same issues?

Overall I am happy with my purchase, and love the running costs

Yes I do.

The dealer can only apply updates they've been given.

And so far MG are either unable or unwilling to put resource into fixing this stuff. I guess with newer models coming they've given up.

I am convinced there's somebody in SAIC at the mothership that actually thinks the all the multiple fonts, chaotic layout and buried menus are all great UX.

 

[pollenface]

I have no niggles, 37,000kms so far.

I purchased the cheapest available EV in Australia, at the time (Jan 23). My only regret is not having two of them

 

[asandrews]

Sounds good but I’d replace the shark-fin with your old aerial and see if radio reception improves.
As to the knocking under the steering you need to check the universal joint on underside, as there have been signs of this coming loose - it could be dangerous so get it checked regardless.
I wanted a new replacement for my exclusive (2020 - Mk 1) with V2L but MG removed it from the later refresh models. Some peeps had an ECU replaced, as when they bought it V2L was on the spec sheet but MG have removed it now.

Thanks, I'll get those UJ's looked at. There's a couple of scary videos of that failure around!

Yes I do.

The dealer can only apply updates they've been given.

And so far MG are either unable or unwilling to put resource into fixing this stuff. I guess with newer models coming they've given up.

I am convinced there's somebody in SAIC at the mothership that actually thinks the all the multiple fonts, chaotic layout and buried menus are all great UX.

It's a shame as a software update would go a long way to customer satisfaction. The car even appears to be able to check for updates OTA (not that it actually does)!

 

[Susanna]

It's a shame as a software update would go a long way to customer satisfaction. The car even appears to be able to check for updates OTA (not that it actually does)!

I think that the OTA updates only refer to the infotainment. (Not that it actually does that either)!

Apologies if that was what you meant……..

 

[tomsl]

The radio software is absolutely terrible. Sometimes it loses all settings, sometimes it take ages to get any sound particularly on DAB. Scrolling through channels ignores Favourites. The station buttons have the station name in a tiny font. Does anyone else experience this? Surely this could all be improved massively, easily?

I can only second that the radio is rerrible! I don't understand why this car has such a huge old school antenna mounted when it constantly loses the signal.

I get the occasional 'knock' from the steering column, which I have only recently noticed. Maybe I am being over-sensitive?

I have that too. I had it checked by the dealer twice, they didn't find anyhting. I bet they didn't even look...

When using Android Auto it totally fills the infotainment screen, so you can't see things like the outside or inside temperatures and have to navigate away.

Yes, this is annoying, but I can live with that.

In addition, every 2-3 minutes I can hear 3 rhythmic knocks that seem to be coming from the trunk area. I have no idea what that is.

And lately there is a shriecking noise coming from the back when I take a left-hand bend in a sporty manner. No idea what that is either. I had it checked by the dealer, they didn't find anything. Again, I think they didn't even bother to look.

Overall I like the car despite all the niggles. I don't like the dealer one bit though.

 

[asandrews]

I forgot to add this, whenever the ACC is applying the brakes, say in slow moving traffic, they judder and graunch terribly. They are fine when I apply them manually, and it's nothing like the ABS noises I've had on other cars.

I can only second that the radio is rerrible! I don't understand why this car has such a huge old school antenna mounted when it constantly loses the signal.


I have that too. I had it checked by the dealer twice, they didn't find anyhting. I bet they didn't even look...



Yes, this is annoying, but I can live with that.

In addition, every 2-3 minutes I can hear 3 rhythmic knocks that seem to be coming from the trunk area. I have no idea what that is.

And lately there is a shriecking noise coming from the back when I take a left-hand bend in a sporty manner. No idea what that is either. I had it checked by the dealer, they didn't find anything. Again, I think they didn't even bother to look.

Overall I like the car despite all the niggles. I don't like the dealer one bit though.

You know, when reading that, the way your post progressed I thought there was going to be a punchline about the kidnap victim tied up in the boot!

 

[tomsl]

You know, when reading that, the way your post progressed I thought there was going to be a punchline about the kidnap victim tied up in the boot!

I totally have not kidnapped my dealer and he is not knocking in the trunk. ?

 

[Tim Green]

Why kidnap the dealer, they tend to know nothing about the car!
Like Pollenface, I purchased the cheapest EV I could find and after 4 years and 25k miles, I think it is a great car.

 

[peterseddon]

On cold/wet mornings I get ‘front camera unavailable’, ‘emergency assist unavailable’ and other such warnings which I think is the sensors fogging up. The dealer told me that's normal for this model. Seriously? I've never had that issue with any other car.

It's not just this car, we had 2 Yaris cars that did the same, also if the sun is low in winter, it will blind the front camera (the one in the rear view mirror housing) and you got the same error messages.

 

[Deleted member 17430]

My biggest bug-bear: I use the cruise-control a lot. Every time I make any change to the settings (speed up/down - needed a lot on my commute and on the Spanish motorways) the instrument panel changes to the standard view, away from the one with the fuel economy stats which is where I prefer to keep it.

That is annoying. But on the other hand, if you're interested in economy then turn off the cruise control. It is not efficient, and even uses the brakes instead of regeneration on downhills! So terribly frustrating.

If you want to do it right, DIY.

 

[Scoobydoo]

I've not had any issues with the radio. Definitely going to get a frunk and space saver.
Also you can get free MG assist for 5 years if you buy a new MG and get it serviced at an official MG garage. In my case this was Arnold Clark. Had to chase them to confirm the MG Assist renewal.

 

[gus]

My niggle at the moment is if I have AA working and I turn on the A/C the A/C panel goes full screen and I can’t control the A/C or switch it to anything else. I end up having to hit the home button for 10 seconds, the alternative is to unplug the phone, turn on A/C and reconnect the phone.

 

[the woodies]

My niggle at the moment is if I have AA working and I turn on the A/C the A/C panel goes full screen and I can’t control the A/C or switch it to anything else. I end up having to hit the home button for 10 seconds, the alternative is to unplug the phone, turn on A/C and reconnect the phone.

If you tap the screen above or below the AC display (you should be able to see AA in the background, the AC panel will disappear. Bit of an art when driving and a terrible design!

 

[Nicko]

I have had my car nearly 2 years and I still have a smile when driving it. No issues with the car at all.

 

[fred12345]

My niggle at the moment is if I have AA working and I turn on the A/C the A/C panel goes full screen and I can’t control the A/C or switch it to anything else. I end up having to hit the home button for 10 seconds, the alternative is to unplug the phone, turn on A/C and reconnect the phone.

All I do is press home button to get home screen and then press AA again. Never had to hold it for 10 seconds

 

[John Sauve Rodd]

Most intereseting to read asandrews thoughtful post - and hey, respect - UK to Barcelona which means France with its charging station desert. I totally concur with having a spacesaver emergency spare. My only MG EV niggle is that the app for iPhone has not worked since June 1, telling me (1) token expired whatever that means and (2) bind phone first > already bound and nothing to be done. Emailed the 'dedicated' address (huh!) [email protected] and have had no response. It's been a recurring problem (the only one of any kind) on my ZS LR 22 plate. ANYONE GOT anything helpful to share on the iSmart app?

 

[robbymax]

ung

 

[asandrews]

That is annoying. But on the other hand, if you're interested in economy then turn off the cruise control. It is not efficient, and even uses the brakes instead of regeneration on downhills! So terribly frustrating.

If you want to do it right, DIY.

I get that, and have certainly noticed the difference in economy when forced to DIY (mainly Spanish roads that were too variable in conditions). Sadly I have achilles tendonitis in my right heel and lots of use of the right pedal will cause it to flare up. ACC was a requirement for me when purchasing this car as a result.

Latest niggle: driving on the motorway yesterday and I got TPMS errors for one corner. I stopped to inspect the tyre (all fine of course), turned the car fully off/on and all seemed well and I got underway again. A few miles later the error came back for all corners. It's ok again today, for now anyway. I never had a car before that needed turning off and on again like my laptop to resolve issues.