Used MG5 pre-purchase Checklist

[Scoob101]

Hi Eveyone,



I`ve decided my next car will be a used MG5 . Im going to go for a facelift model, and most on the used market seems to be the Trophy model, so I guess that’s what I`ll end up with.

I’m trying to put together a checklist of items for the dealer so I can make sure I have done my due diligence before purchase. Here’s what I’ve got so far, can those with some experience please help me fil in the blanks. Thanks.

I noticed that used MG5 checklists have been mentioned elsewhere – I`ve searched and cant find anything hence starting this thread.





Warranty – confirm car is warranty compliant i.e. documented full service history, no modifications, no aftermarket accessories fitted, not previously used as a commercial vehicle, ensure there’s plenty of miles under the 80k limit. My understanding is that warranty transfer to the new owner is automatic and there is no action for the dealer to take.

Battery state of health – Planning to purchase a NEXAS NexLink Bluetooth OBD2 Scanner and use it with the car scanner Android app to ascertain battery health (I know its going to be fine on a 2 year old car but nice to check anyway)

Software Updates – The only thing I know is that the tesla supercharger compatibility update is a must have – will request the dealer to ensure its fully updated to latest revision as a precondition of sale.

Accessories – Ensure the granny charger cable is included. Don’t see any reason to ask for a type 2 cable, as I`ll be getting a wallbox installed at home for charging which will include a type 2 cable and connector.




Can anyone with some first hand experience please pull this apart and let me know anything important I have missed.

Cheers.

 

[Coulomb]

I guess if it's advertised or suggested to be a facelift Trophy, then you're paying facelift Trophy money, and you should make sure that you get the Trophy model not SE, and that it's a facelift. That should be easy, but worth checking early.

 

[Jomarkh]

Hi Eveyone,



I`ve decided my next car will be a used MG5 . Im going to go for a facelift model, and most on the used market seems to be the Trophy model, so I guess that’s what I`ll end up with.

I’m trying to put together a checklist of items for the dealer so I can make sure I have done my due diligence before purchase. Here’s what I’ve got so far, can those with some experience please help me fil in the blanks. Thanks.

I noticed that used MG5 checklists have been mentioned elsewhere – I`ve searched and cant find anything hence starting this thread.





Warranty – confirm car is warranty compliant i.e. documented full service history, no modifications, no aftermarket accessories fitted, not previously used as a commercial vehicle, ensure there’s plenty of miles under the 80k limit. My understanding is that warranty transfer to the new owner is automatic and there is no action for the dealer to take.

Battery state of health – Planning to purchase a NEXAS NexLink Bluetooth OBD2 Scanner and use it with the car scanner Android app to ascertain battery health (I know its going to be fine on a 2 year old car but nice to check anyway)

Software Updates – The only thing I know is that the tesla supercharger compatibility update is a must have – will request the dealer to ensure its fully updated to latest revision as a precondition of sale.

Accessories – Ensure the granny charger cable is included. Don’t see any reason to ask for a type 2 cable, as I`ll be getting a wallbox installed at home for charging which will include a type 2 cable and connector.




Can anyone with some first hand experience please pull this apart and let me know anything important I have missed.

Cheers.

Hi, great choice of car and it looks like you have done your homework.
I am not sure if the FL needs the cable tie fitted to the rear washer pipe in the driver's pillar but worth checking.

 

[Ping]

Spacesaver spare wheel? A type 2 connector cable could be a lifesaver if you're in an area without any rapid chargers

 

[Paul Mason]

Also make sure the infotainment system is updated to R17. Makes a difference to stability, particularly Bluetooth and Android auto

 

[Pebblefeline]

It’s sometimes cheaper to buy a full size spare from a breakers.
A new wheel as a spare was about 90 quid delivered
Defo get a type 2 it’s essential for any lower power destination charging

 

[kevin ellard]

Software Updates – The only thing I know is that the tesla supercharger compatibility update is a must have – will request the dealer to ensure its fully updated to latest revision as a precondition of sale.

Accessories – Ensure the granny charger cable is included. Don’t see any reason to ask for a type 2 cable, as I`ll be getting a wallbox installed at home for charging which will include a type 2 cable and connector.

Make sure that the dealer specifically says the EVCC (Tesla) update has been done. MG consider the car to be fully up to date even if this fix hasn't been applied.
I'd consider getting a Type 2 cable. I've only used mine a few times (mainly at hotels) but each time I was very glad to have it. If you end up buying one then make sure you get a 3 phase 32A one so that the FL can get 11kW from the right charger.

 

[Scoob101]

Thanks for all the replies so far.

It seems that my local dealers are not having much luck sourcing a FL Trophy for me at a decent price, so I'm tempted to look at non MG dealerships. There are several FL Trophy's available elsewhere and I don't mind a day trip to go pick one up.

Question I have is, what do I need do ensure I get from the dealer to verify that the remaining warranty is intact? Is there a specific document type I should be insisting on?

I ask because I'm assuming that a non MG dealer wont give two hoots about preservation of the warranty status, so I`ll need to have the knowledge myself.

 

[kevin ellard]

Thanks for all the replies so far.

It seems that my local dealers are not having much luck sourcing a FL Trophy for me at a decent price, so I'm tempted to look at non MG dealerships. There are several FL Trophy's available elsewhere and I don't mind a day trip to go pick one up.

Question I have is, what do I need do ensure I get from the dealer to verify that the remaining warranty is intact? Is there a specific document type I should be insisting on?

I ask because I'm assuming that a non MG dealer wont give two hoots about preservation of the warranty status, so I`ll need to have the knowledge myself.

The MG service history is not a physical document - it is stored at MG somewhere. I don't know how you would go about checking it at a non MG dealership.

 

[Gomev]

Thanks for all the replies so far.

It seems that my local dealers are not having much luck sourcing a FL Trophy for me at a decent price, so I'm tempted to look at non MG dealerships. There are several FL Trophy's available elsewhere and I don't mind a day trip to go pick one up.

Question I have is, what do I need do ensure I get from the dealer to verify that the remaining warranty is intact? Is there a specific document type I should be insisting on?

I ask because I'm assuming that a non MG dealer wont give two hoots about preservation of the warranty status, so I`ll need to have the knowledge myself.

Which spec and price are you hoping for ?

 

[Scoob101]

Which spec and price are you hoping for ?

I'm after a FL Trophy under 18k

 

[Gomev]

I'm after a FL Trophy under 18k

Currently approx 20 for sale on Autotrader. Being willing to travel helps if you can, nearest to Devon are Gloucester and Swindon !

Click the link for details of them.

New & Used Cars for Sale - Auto Trader UK

www.autotrader.co.uk

 

[M44LCY]

Hi, great choice of car and it looks like you have done your homework.
I am not sure if the FL needs the cable tie fitted to the rear washer pipe in the driver's pillar but worth checking.

Yes, the washer pipe flaw exists on the facelift version.

I know the general advice is to fit cable ties, but mine popped even with those in place. Fit metal spring clips for a permanent fix. And, of course, an informed buyer would insist the selling dealer does that as part of the sale agreement. (Quite why this well known issue isn't fixed as part of the "new car" PDI, I've never understood.)

 

[opentrail]

I bought a 2023 MG5 Trophy LR in March from MG Lancaster / Cox Group. Thinking about your checklist and how it went for me. They couldn't show me service history, or warranty and said MG held that. It took them 2 weeks to hand the car over with a service but they couldn't tell me what they had done. I got stopped by the police driving an untaxed vehicle! Yes, they didn't even bother to tax it and I still had not received the V5 from the DVLA. Turns out the car was classified as a Crown Vehicle and after I received my V5 I would need to send the V5 back to the DVLA and reclassify the car to an Electric vehicle before I could pay tax. Still haven't heard anything back from the DVLA and they did say it could take up to a month. Untaxed means it cannot be driven on the road!

It drives well and the adaptive cruise control is pretty cool. Other issues I have found are:

• The onboard navigation sometimes gives wrong directions or misses locations. Turn Left when the display shows turn right.
• Apple CarPlay doesn't work. Or it worked once and never again. I prefer to use Waze for navigation on my iPhone on a holder.
• Rapid charging leaves the Infotainment screen blank, meaning no navigation or controls. It does come back eventually but that might be after 30+ minutes.
• Always defaults to Comfort drive setting and 2 (medium) regenerative charging when I prefer to drive in Eco mode with the max 3 regenerative charging.
• the dashboard is poorly designed probably by someone that doesn't drive. Its difficult to find things, even the clock.

In conclusion and reading this forum, the dealerships offer little help, There is a lack of customer assistance and frankly I wish now I had paid more and bought a Tesla where I know that they keep tweaking the software and deploying it. The MG5 is end of life in terms of software updates.

If you're buying from a non MG dealer, which I also tried from a Ford garage, then they are as clueless about the car as the MG dealership I visited. The one I tried drove sluggishly and the Ford dealer told me straight out he couldn't help with that.

Let us know how you get on.

 

[maskull]

I'm surprised that they hand it over untaxed . I'm picking up a ZS EV on Friday and will have to tax it before I leave . Road Tax doesn't carry over any more . As soon as the new keeper takes ownership it's his/her responsibility to tax the car . Pretty shoddy of the dealership not to advise you of that .
My dealership ( Nathaniel Bridgend) showed me the service history but couldn't tell me what the SOH was ?
The onboard Navigation on my MG5 PFL is pants . The Comfort settings always default to N and regen 2 a flick of two switches fixes that, until you next start the car . The CarPlay and infotainment issues sound like a visit to the dealership or maybe the trusted 10 mm spanner
Agree with much of the last paragraph except I'll never buy a Tesla

 

[opentrail]

I bought a 2023 MG5 Trophy LR in March from MG Lancaster / Cox Group. Thinking about your checklist and how it went for me. They couldn't show me service history, or warranty and said MG held that. It took them 2 weeks to hand the car over with a service but they couldn't tell me what they had done. I got stopped by the police driving an untaxed vehicle! Yes, they didn't even bother to tax it and I still had not received the V5 from the DVLA. Turns out the car was classified as a Crown Vehicle and after I received my V5 I would need to send the V5 back to the DVLA and reclassify the car to an Electric vehicle before I could pay tax. Still haven't heard anything back from the DVLA and they did say it could take up to a month. Untaxed means it cannot be driven on the road!

It drives well and the adaptive cruise control is pretty cool. Other issues I have found are:

• The onboard navigation sometimes gives wrong directions or misses locations. Turn Left when the display shows turn right.
• Apple CarPlay doesn't work. Or it worked once and never again. I prefer to use Waze for navigation on my iPhone on a holder.
• Rapid charging leaves the Infotainment screen blank, meaning no navigation or controls. It does come back eventually but that might be after 30+ minutes.
• Always defaults to Comfort drive setting and 2 (medium) regenerative charging when I prefer to drive in Eco mode with the max 3 regenerative charging.
• the dashboard is poorly designed probably by someone that doesn't drive. Its difficult to find things, even the clock.

In conclusion and reading this forum, the dealerships offer little help, There is a lack of customer assistance and frankly I wish now I had paid more and bought a Tesla where I know that they keep tweaking the software and deploying it. The MG5 is end of life in terms of software updates.

If you're buying from a non MG dealer, which I also tried from a Ford garage, then they are as clueless about the car as the MG dealership I visited. The one I tried drove sluggishly and the Ford dealer told me straight out he couldn't help with that.

Let us know how you get on.

The Apple CarPlay issue is now fixed by using a wireless Carplay Dongle that someone on here recommended.

Lyssiefeel Wireless Carplay Adapter for iPhone,2024 Upgrade USB CarPlay Wireless Stick​