That "Service" issue...

[macca9]

Sorry to go dredging over something that probably has been mentioned a few times before... 1st service is quickly approaching. I've spoken to a couple of providers and the best price I can find is £126 from Balsall Common.

When I asked what I'm getting for that price... software updates and a pollen filter (that wasn't from the MG dealership either).

I'm a trained mechanic and was more than capable servicing my own ICE vehicles. I would accept that price for the knowledge that the oil would be changed and a number of filters. I'd expect that all to be done reasonably within an hour or so, which would tie in with parts and labour and mark-up...

Can anyone here advise... In my mind as there are no required serviceable parts, what would happen if I skipped out the 1st year's service? I feel aggrieved at paying so much for someone to check parts I already check and know to be good, or to fill my screen-wash bottle and kick my tyres!

Has anyone had any reasonable quotes in the Midlands area?

 

[Les burrows]

Hi macca9, I could agree with you to a point I had my first service done a few weeks back and nothing was changed even the screen wash was full when I took it in, they did do the recall on the brake lights and checked the heath of the battery 100% they said, and as far as I know that was it, but I suppose what you get is, if in the future you have a problem then there should be no issues with warranty claims, and of course you have another 12 months full AA cover if you did get a problem, and I think that alone is around the same price plus of course Morris the Bear ? don’t forget him as well,my little nice loves it.
Les

 

[Kithmo]

It's worth it just for the AA cover.
I was previously paying £70 (a reduced rate) a year for my Prius on top of the servicing costs.

 

[Gomev]

Sorry to go dredging over something that probably has been mentioned a few times before... 1st service is quickly approaching. I've spoken to a couple of providers and the best price I can find is £126 from Balsall Common.

When I asked what I'm getting for that price... software updates and a pollen filter (that wasn't from the MG dealership either).

I'm a trained mechanic and was more than capable servicing my own ICE vehicles. I would accept that price for the knowledge that the oil would be changed and a number of filters. I'd expect that all to be done reasonably within an hour or so, which would tie in with parts and labour and mark-up...

Can anyone here advise... In my mind as there are no required serviceable parts, what would happen if I skipped out the 1st year's service? I feel aggrieved at paying so much for someone to check parts I already check and know to be good, or to fill my screen-wash bottle and kick my tyres!

Has anyone had any reasonable quotes in the Midlands area?

Use an MG dealer to maintain warranty and another years AA cover as mentioned above, plus ask about low mileage service cost if you have covered less than 10,000 miles.
You won't get software updates if it's not an MG dealer.

 

[macca9]

Thanks for the replies. I've begrudgingly booked in for a service at my local dealership as they offer a better deal with the AA membership.

That being said, I'm going to ask a million questions and hope to somehow make it worthwhile.

Edit spelling

 

[Rocinante]

I agree with everyone else's comments that the main point of getting the 'service' is to maintain the warranty, and just skipping it could result in the warranty expiring. The AA membership is a bonus, that helps justify the cost.

Having said that, with an ICE car, you can of course take it to an independent garage to get serviced, or even do it yourself I believe and as long as the service includes the dealer items and OEM parts are used, the car company legally has to maintain the warranty. (not to involve politics, but does this still apply outside the EU). It is no different legally for an EV car, and with almost no 'work' being carried out, surely this must be even easier for an EV ?

Practically, I'm not sure there are many, if any, offering this sort of thing for an EV especially an MG, and if you carried it out yourself, how you demonstrate inspection for purposes of warranty, could potentially prove troublesome in the event of a warranty claim.

Would be interesting to see this explored though, especially for later in the cars life, when the cost of the service against the value of the car, will be more significant.

Maybe you could chat this over, in some of your "questions".

Must servicing be done by a franchised dealer?

Reader asks if his car's warranty would become void if he has the car serviced outside the main dealer network

www.whatcar.com

 

[Rocinante]

And if you've done under 10,000miles, you might also want to enquire about this,
"only £29.70 for a first service under 10,000 miles "

First Service Surprise

So its 12 months since mine was registered (although only had it 8 months as was ex demo deal) - time for its first service. I booked it in with a different dealer to the one I brought it from as they are slightly nearer and he quoted only £29.70 for a first service under 10,000 miles (currently...

www.mgevs.com

 

[Les burrows]

And if you've done under 10,000miles, you might also want to enquire about this,
"only £29.70 for a first service under 10,000 miles "

First Service Surprise

So its 12 months since mine was registered (although only had it 8 months as was ex demo deal) - time for its first service. I booked it in with a different dealer to the one I brought it from as they are slightly nearer and he quoted only £29.70 for a first service under 10,000 miles (currently...

www.mgevs.com

That’s it, I’m just looking into the price of housing in Scotland to maybe get some very cheap servicing,free charging,in some parts I believe and ho and whiskey as well mmmmm Lol
Les

 

[Lovemyev]

I'm a trained mechanic and was more than capable servicing my own ICE vehicles.

I too have felt your pain for a few years now !.
Sorry, you just have to take in a big breath and "Pay Up" I am afraid.
Like others have already said, the cost of the service does include 12 month FULL break down cover from the A.A.
As a time served tech yourself, you will fully understand the problems that can arise IF you are unlucky enough to require a sizeable warranty claim on your car.
First thing that the will be checked, is the service history of your car.
If you have failed to comply with the T&C's then your warranty claim could be rejected.
I have witnessed first hand what happens when a large warranty claim is rejected, because of an incomplete / sketchy service history.
At my second service there was a "Service Check Off Sheet" left inside of the car.
When I returned home I viewed the sheet, I found it slightly amusing to find that my oil and filter had been "Ticked" as done !.
I did consider asking for a refund on the price of the oil and filter, that my EV did not need .

 

[Les burrows]

Similar thing Geoff on my service sheet tyre repair kit ticked as being ok
None in my car because I purchased the spare wheel and don’t need one.
Les

 

[macca9]

I mean, if the website gave specifics, like "we'll complete an x-point safety check" on the car I would be less grumpy about it. But their own literature is poor.

The conversation I had with the service booker/manager went along the lines of "what do I get for £130?" to which she replied "Updates and that, as no parts required."

I mean...

 

[Rocinante]

See Post 22 on this thread, for the checksheet, to see what is done.

1st service cost, seems expensive!

When I bought the car I set up a service plan with the dealer at £7.16 pcm.

www.mgevs.com

 

[Lovemyev]

Similar thing Geoff on my service sheet tyre repair kit ticked as being ok
None in my car because I purchased the spare wheel and don’t need one.
Les

I am not sure on this one Les, but I would hazard a guess that the EV tech does not fill in the "Check Off" sheet at the MG dealerships.
Why ? - because no tech worth his / her salt, would tick items on a sheet that has not been checked / covered directly by that person surely !.
IF YOU TICK IT - YOUV'E DONE IT in my book !.
My guess is, the check sheet it will be filled out by one of the service advisors on the front desk.
This is where it can be dangerous.
Print off a generic service sheet ( correct model - incorrect power plant ) then just fly down the sheet, ticking the boxes at random.
Likely never been under a car in there life to be honest.
We know this happens because of the sheets we have witnessed.
Back in the day, tech's employed by dealers like BMW and the VAG group, where each issued with an individual ink stamp, it was assigned with a number that was purely linked to that single tech.
This stamp would be used to certify his or her work on the job card and by stamping the paper copy of the service book.
It provided full traceability of their work, should it be needed at a later date.
I guess this is done ( if at all ) via an electronic sign off system these days ?.
This is a very very much watered down version of what is used in the aircraft industry, where every nut / bolt and washer etc is certified by each person who works on that aircraft.
100% traceability is the absolute norm.
There is no car parks or recovery services at 36,000 feet.
You may find this story amusing.
A friend of mine submitted his VW Golf PHEV for its regular service.
When he went to collect the car at the end of the day, he was greeted by the service manage who said the service advisor had had to leave early and he was handling his case personally.
He picked up the job sheet and thought it was a good idea to run through every line that had been performed, all good you would think ?.
Until he got to the part when he started going through the tyre condition / pressures.
He covered the front tyres first, stating wear and pressures - fine.
Then moved on to the rears, and did likewise.
Finally he moved to the spare wheel, gave the wear status and tyre pressure noted on the sheet.
Then my friend told him that the car did NOT have a spare wheel or tyre, only the inflation kit !.
The service manager said NO and insisted that the car DID have a spare.
Why - because somebody had claimed for checking it ( You tick it - You've done it ).
He became a little agitated and insisted that they walked out to my friends car, to show him.
Opened the boot and said :- "It's under that cover".
He lifted the cover, to find no spare !.
"Arhhhh ....... It's under neath the car then".
Getting down onto the dirty floor of the car park in his nice new suit.
OH .......... STILL NO SPARE !.
Service manger last seen heading towards the workshop at break neck speed and waving the job sheet in his hand !.
My friend killing himself laughing.

 

[Kithmo]

Of course with some dealers there's the guarantee that they will check your exhaust and charge you for an engine oil and filter change.
Being in the trade a long time ago, when warranties of 12 months were the norm, I used to buy older cars and service them myself. I hated being tied to garages when longer warranties came into play as I stared buying nearly new cars.
You always have the choice of getting it serviced or doing it yourself and hoping nothing goes wrong or you don't break down.
It's like car or home insurance you buy it every year but sometimes never use it.

 

[Gomev]

I seem to recall from a Kate and James youtube video that Cleevely mobile servicing can 'stamp the service book' and have an agreement with MG to accept their servicing for warranty purposes. They also drive MG5s. (I have no connection with Cleevely, just enjoy their videos).

Electric Vehicle Servicing | EV Servicing | Cleevely Electric Vehicles

Our Cleevely Electric Vehicle servicing team of trained technicians have an honest and fuss-free approach to helping you keep your vehicle on the road.

www.cleevelyev.co.uk

 

[smokie]

I'm not up to date on their offering but there is an organisation called HEVRA which consists of mechanics or garages qualified (by whom I don't know) to work on EVs. Whether that would satisfy the warranty I don't know. Last time I mentioned them someone from the organisation dropped onto the thread but I didn't get any freebies

HEVRA- Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Repair Alliance

 

[EV AL]

Service books don’t get stamped by main dealers, it’s all computerised.
I had my first service done by a different dealer than where I purchased the car, and they had all the info …..vin number, date of purchase etc.
Attached check sheet specifically for EV, unlike some on here that have oil level check ?

 

[Lovemyev]

Service books don’t get stamped by main dealers, it’s all computerised.

Now it is unfortunately !.
All held on electronic data base.
However, I have found that some of the general service records, are held only where the car was serviced.
I know this to be true because my previous VAG Golf PHEV had a recall to have the HV battery checked.
The car was serviced only 3 weeks before the car had to go to a dedicated VW agent that had a travelling team, that carrying out the HV battery check.
We had to travel 60 miles to get the work done.
We past four VW dealerships on route.
While the car was being worked on, the dealer rang to say that the service was well overdue and the brake fluid had never been replaced !.
Would you like us to carry out the work, while the car was here !.
Nice try fella.
The car was about four years old at this point in time and had received every single service bang on time !.
I then asked them, if they had checked the service book, that I left in wallet on the passengers seat ?.
NO - was the answer.
I suggested that they should have done this prior to ringing and declined their kind offer of carrying out the same work previously done three ago at a much lower cost of the almost £300 they wanted.
Clear evidence that that dealer did not have access to the service record on my car from my local VW dealer.
That is one good reason why I like a hard copy of the service book to back up the electronic data base, because it is not accurate in many cases.
Warranty work is the exception to the rule, it will be held on a MG central data base though, because they are picking up the bill and not the customer.

 

[Gomev]

Service books don’t get stamped by main dealers, it’s all computerised.
I had my first service done by a different dealer than where I purchased the car, and they had all the info …..vin number, date of purchase etc.
Attached check sheet specifically for EV, unlike some on here that have oil level check ?

Now it is unfortunately !.
All held on electronic data base.
...

Please note that in my post #15 I put the expression 'stamp the service book ' in quotes to denote that this was not meant literally but as an equivalent of the speaking air quotes.
I think, although I could be wrong, from their video that Cleevely's have access to the MG online database so that they can update service details.

 

[m4rmite]

Just booked my 1st year service with brindley MG in Wolverhampton.
Below 10k miles and the grand total will be....£36.94

The person in the phone did ask what engine size it was though