Soon to be MG4 owner - dumb queries!

[andyMG4]

I've been following this forum for a few months, and 90% likely to be taking delivery of a new MG4 SE SR by the end of the month

We've had a 2014 Nissan Leaf for a couple of years, and not in the UK for the winter, so the MG4 is a progression from a "local" runabout to covering 99% of our journeys. The LFP battery is of interest, since I run 14kWh of (ex-ID3) batteries, and 7kW of solar, so the MG4 will get charged by solar, and via V2L supply the house when weather requires.

Queries
I think the current deliveries are MY23 (?), and some confusion about what 'upgrades' will come as standard that earlier SE SRs did not have... e.g. rear wiper, one pedal driving? Anything else? Are those wrong?

I see there is a list of things to check e.g. the infamous tray under the car. I'm not experienced at dealing with car salesmen, so any tips or updates to that list, without making myself unpopular, would be great. I joined the MGOC back in Feb, so it's an Affinity deal at ~£22.5K (Red colour) and doubt I could better that even if I could negotiate

Thanks in advance, more silly questions will follow no doubt...

 

[Tig170]

We 24k miles in, from a sept 22 delivery. Luckily we didn't have lane kill assist (LKA) by default, and hasn't been back to MG since (aside from a safety recall in Jan 23) - it does still have a slight dip on the undertray, but has caused no issues. Overall very very happy

 

[Bam Bam]

Thanks in advance, more silly questions will follow no doubt...

No such thing as a dumb/silly question as far as I'm concerned! We are all learning every day.

Sounds like you know about the software versions - later versions seem to be much better.

People talk about leaks from the back of the earliest models and the issue with the undertray you mention but we haven't had those.

Our ex-demo was bound to an ex-salesman's account which was a pain (dealer didn't sort so I went straight to MGUK in the end), and driver door handle proximity button doesn't work (being replaced when we get our annual service next month).

Our 23 plate doesn't have a rear wiper but the new ones in the dealership did.

 

[andyMG4]

Thanks both... as related here, software version updates seem difficult to get installed, relying on the MG 'mothership' to approve. Will be interested to see when the late May 2024 delivery was actually built, and what software it has...

Read the range thread (all of it!) and seems we'll win by only using it in summer. If the suns out and the batteries full at home, then I drive the Leaf as irresponsibly as possible so as not to waste solar. Have an EV tariff so if do need to charge at home from grid is <10p/kWh...

 

[siteguru]

Latest Infotainment revision for the SE SR (in the UK) is 1100R33.

 

[Tig170]

Thanks both... as related here, software version updates seem difficult to get installed, relying on the MG 'mothership' to approve. Will be interested to see when the late May 2024 delivery was actually built, and what software it has...

Read the range thread (all of it!) and seems we'll win by only using it in summer. If the suns out and the batteries full at home, then I drive the Leaf as irresponsibly as possible so as not to waste solar. Have an EV tariff so if do need to charge at home from grid is <10p/kWh...

You'll be all fine & dandy - my 1st experience of EV's was from the Enterprise Car Club via work during lockdown, via a semi-permament loan of a nissan leaf. Its was great but only just got over 100 miles of range when out and about. The basic MG4 is nealrly double that. No issues these days, as long as you know your limits (which you will do). KR J.

 

[gwatuk]

Latest Infotainment revision for the SE SR (in the UK) is 1100R33.

We took delivery of a SE SR on April 5th.
The software is 1100R21.
So far we're very happy with this.
In particular the Lane Departure Assist is absolutely fine - just a gentle vibration of the steering wheel and an audible warning.
(We had previously had experience of hiring a 2023 car and the LDA was alarmingly agressive.)

 

[Rolfe]

My advice is to scream and scream until you're sick to get R33. Which I am currently doing, without having succeeded as yet. You will not have any external temperature display with R21 (bug) and quite aside from it being fairly useful to know whether you're likely to be encountering any water in the solid state, it's extremely useful when estimating what your range is likely to be, or even if you want to try pre-heating your battery coming up to a DC charger.

Then there's the other little issues like the lights not coming on if a bird flies across the sun, and the radio not suddenly blaring into life some variable time after you've sat down without waiting politely to be switched on and the USB player working properly somewhat better than before and the HVAC screen being a more user-friendly (if less artistic) layout.

 

[dawson2099]

Latest Infotainment revision for the SE SR (in the UK) is 1100R33.

Mine was upgraded to R46 during the recent annual service

Thanks both... as related here, software version updates seem difficult to get installed, relying on the MG 'mothership' to approve. Will be interested to see when the late May 2024 delivery was actually built, and what software it has...

Read the range thread (all of it!) and seems we'll win by only using it in summer. If the suns out and the batteries full at home, then I drive the Leaf as irresponsibly as possible so as not to waste solar. Have an EV tariff so if do need to charge at home from grid is <10p/kWh...

Why not export the surplus instead - Octopus will pay 15p KW

 

[siteguru]

Mine was upgraded to R46 during the recent annual service

Very nice ... but you have a Trophy not an SE. And even so, 1300R59 is the latest for the Trophy.

 

[dawson2099]

I'd better get on to it then. Thanks for that.

 

[Rolfe]

Mine was upgraded to R46 during the recent annual service

Yes, you have a Trophy. The post you were replying to was specifically talking about the SE. There is no R46 for the SE.

 

[andyMG4]

> Why not export the surplus instead
Involves paying ludicrous sums for kit and installation via MCS scheme Ours is all DIY and some panels from eBay...

In USA/Canada have a more sensible system, where electrical work only needs normal electrician, and anything you export is just available for you to use later in the year kWh for kWh.

Took delivery of MG4 yesterday - all great so far, but not had enough time to get to grips with modes / manual details

Latest Infotainment revision for the SE SR (in the UK) is 1100R33.

Yes - ours is that, and MCU is 69.3.8.0

Dumb questions: from playing with screen, seems only 1 of ACC / TJA / Speed Limit Assist modes can be selected at once (?). Not used them in practice yet, so that might become logical / obvious, or they are really the same system's different modes.

 

[DixieTGS]

Speed limiter modes let you drive like normal with the accelerator but it won't let you go above the speed limit. The auto speed limiter uses the camera to set the speed limit which it gets wrong too often for most peoples liking.

The manual mode sets the speed limit to your current speed (rounded up to the nearest 5) as you enter the mode. You can then adjust up and down in increments of 5. This works reliably but with a few niggles:
Sometimes you want to adjust up or down by 1 or 2 for various reasons. The ACC does it on later software versions so why not the limiter?
You can override the limiter by pushing the accelerator full down like on many other cars, but the acceleration is too fast for many scenarios.
It defaults to off in in the menus each time you start, as well as needing to engage it on the steering wheel. Again ACC is different and doesn't default to off in the menus.

ACC is just regular cruise control (no foot on the accelerator required) but if the radar detects a slower vehicle ahead it matches its speed until you or it moves to another lane. You can accelerate to pass other vehicles without it cancelling the mode.

TJA is intended for slow speeds only and is ACC but attempts to keep you in the centre of the lane. I haven't used it, but I believe it can be used at higher speeds and also has some issues that some don't like.

I think you can swap between ACC & TJA on the steering wheel on later software versions.