Roof bars

[MrSkyBlueCar]

Following on from a number of previous posts (here, here, here, here and here), I contacted MG UK to see if there was any change in the official advice about fitting roof bars to an MG4 in the UK (which up to now has been: you can't).

They said:

There isn’t currently an approved solution for roof bars in the UK for the MG4.

As a brand, we don’t advise the use of an aftermarket solution.

I asked if this would have any effect on my warranty or insurance, to which they responded:

Potentially, this can have an implication on your warranty however, this is something that you need to discuss with your local MG Dealership.

I contacted my insurer, and they said:

Unfortunately, as MG UK have stated that there isn't currently an approved solution and they don’t advise the use of an aftermarket solution, this would be declined by your underwriter

So, it looks like the answer is still no.

 

[tsedge]

This isn't good enough. Within the first 6 months of launch they should have sorted this. I'd be furious if I was somebody depending on this.

 

[siteguru]

On the other hand, the MG4 has never been specced with any roof load capability. So anyone relying on this bought the wrong car.

#Devil'sAdvocate

(Subtle edit which nobody will spot)

 

[tsedge]

On the other hand, the MG4 has never been specced with any roof load capability. So anyone relying on this bought the wrong car.

#Devli'sAdvocate

Go away Devli!

 

[TheBigHead]

Italian MG website actually “sell” them. They are not available at the moment and you have to place an order

 

[tsedge]

Italian MG website actually “sell” them. They are not available at the moment and you have to place an order

I believe the MG4 is certified in Europe for roof load, just not in the UK.

 

[jpk]

Roof bars fitted, roof box goes on tomorrow for a lovely week in Filey

 

[Tig170]

well done @jpk - if the car is upto 2000kg, then the roof with withstand 50-100kg easily, no way is MG trying to say that if you roll the car will it not hold up? - ps do you have an item code?

 

[jpk]

I converted some old Yakima/whispbar bars I had left from my corolla but you can get the Thule ones here

Product Result

roof-bars.co.uk

Considering roof bars and boxes aren't exactly an aesthetic mod the car doesn't look half bad with them

 

[erac]

As OP (MrSkyBlueCar) suggested, I contected my insurer (a part of LV). I pointed to the Thule option (I already have Thule roof bars) as on sale and implicitly approved in the EU. They said no problem and when I said I wanted something in writing sent me a revised insurannce certificate stating that the car was modified by adding a roof rack.
That combination is good enough for me - obviously this depeds on your insurer...

 

[Andrew Hooper]

Hi JPK.
What effect did this have on your range, did it have a big impact.

 

[erac]

Hi JPK.
What effect did this have on your range, did it have a big impact.

Don't know yet - only just received the insurance info. I'll update this when I've done a long drive in a week or so but my guess is significant. On our ICE Golf it took the consumption from 50+ mpg down to about 40 mpg (so maybe 25%) on a long motorway drive. However, it's always tricky to compare like with like!

 

[jpk]

Hi JPK.
What effect did this have on your range, did it have a big impact.

As it was my first time I expected the worst but in the end it was ok as I was in slowish traffic and only went to 60mph when I could. Charged to 100% and balanced, route was 119 miles (Manchester to Primrose Valley)and used 52%. I took a detour to York on the way back which added about 10 miles but as I had confidence in the range I was doing mostly 60-65 mph and used 62%.

 

[Andrew Hooper]

Thanks JPK.
That doesn't sound too bad.

 

[erac]

I've now done a couple of longer trips (2x110 and 2x170 miles). The first with nothing on the roof, the second with two bikes on the roof bars (Thule aerobars + cycle mounts). As well, I've done over 2,000 miles locally mostly with a clean roof but some with just the roof bars.

In normal use I get around 4 miles/kWh, with the roof bars this drops to about 3.9 (so worth taking the bars off as I rarely carry the bikes).
For the longer journeys (both mostly dual carriageway/motorway, mostly keeping below 70 mph) the bare roof gave me about 3.7 miles/kWh (7.5% reduction), with the bikes this dropped to 3 (25% reduction).

A significant increase in energy consumption (and roughly in line with what I had in an ICE Golf) but not as bad as I feared. The effect on range is obviously pro-rata, down from about 250 miles locally to about 190