Wish list of MG4 improvements

[tsedge]

There's really only one thing on my list:

- Automatic reliable over-the-air software updates so everyone receives the latest car modules and infotainment updates.

This is the biggest issue with the current car. They have fixed most of the bugs but you can't get the fixes, dealers won't apply them all because MG won't pay them to.

 

[T1 Terry]

I wondered why my White Excite 64 had parking sensors fitted to the front and a book in the info pack on how to use them. Didn't help it taking out a white post and being written off, but might be handy to have.

My main fix would be, when you turn things off, they stay off. Being able to turn the DLR lights off, a lot of the things like the inside lights could be fitted by the owner to suit their taste, each side above the door, one in the middle, separate spot lights for each side as well as the general aera light ..... the MG4 is a budget buy EV, if you want all the fancy bits as part of the build, everyone has to pay for it. Use the $$ you saved to customise things like lights, front parking sensors etc
For my money, at least half the bells a whistles could be left out, less things to go wrong .

T1 Terry

 

[MG4JP]

I may come back for more, but for now I'd only like to suggest that:

• "Discharging" mode to be given more control, including scheduling and the ability to be controlled via app.

 

[Steve T]

When in Drive, a further twist of the gear selector puts it into Sport, for overtaking

 

[DaevM]

A spare tyre please, rather than tyre destroying glue pack ...
and definitely driver profile save on assists

 

[haloweenhamster]

For me it would be screen wash level sensor, auto wipers, wireless phone connection, fog light control on lighting stalk

This probably won't enter the main list, removal of smart learning, the car was better straight after updates, then after a while the car was more like pre update

They won't save disabling safety systems for reasons mentioned before (NCAP) but part of NCAP's rules to come is less reliance on screens for control, more buttons to be integrated again

 

[MrSkyBlueCar]

• A physical button to turn the fog light on and off. I've only needed to use the fog light once so far, but the on-screen button is all but impossible to use reliably. Too small, and too far away.
• Light above the rear seats (as many others have mentioned).
• Option to make the left-hand shortcut button switch between audio sources (e.g. radio and CarPlay).
• Touchscreen buttons for driver profiles, to turn off features that are always on by default.
• The ability to turn off the DRL when parked.
• Exterior temperature displayed on the screen (I believe this has been added in a more recent update?).
• In radio mode, next/previous buttons move to next/previous saved station, not the next/previous one in the (somewhat random) radio station list.

 

[T1 Terry]

Found You Tube video about the American '65 car era, a lot relates to the things some are expecting or ejecting about the MG4 ..... Much like the '64 Mustang, there seems to be something to be desired, but the early Mustang really make the MG4 problem seem like 1st world problems to the highest degree.
The '64 Mustang was very new to the market, just like the MG4, they attempted to keep the costs low, another similarity ........ The Mustang these days is seen as a classic ..... Will the MG4, especially the XPower, be seen the same way to the car owners of the future ...... Maybe, don't add even more features, rather drop a few and get the useful ones sorted better

The narrator seems to repeat himself a lot, I found I had to skip forward on each selection to avoid the repeats

It makes me laugh, the bagging they gave the 2 door '65 Falcon, worth a fortune here in Australia these days

T1 Terry

 

[WonkoTheSaneUK]

I'd add a USB socket for dashcams in the roof module, like the ZS has.

 

[SD43]

When in Drive, a further twist of the gear selector puts it into Sport, for overtaking

This is my biggest gripe - I drive in eco mode most of the time, but want a boost every now and again to overtake or pull out of junctions.

Currently you have to cycle all the way through the modes to get back to where you were.

 

[ReintjeWA]

I'd be pretty happy with some more options for the star buttons. I would love to be able to easily switch between cruise control and speed limiter, as I prefer limit in build up areas, but cruise on highways. And maybe being able to switch audio source (usb, radio, dab, online) would be an addition as well. I guess these changes should be able to be implemented with updates to all cars.

There's really only one thing on my list:

- Automatic reliable over-the-air software updates so everyone receives the latest car modules and infotainment updates.

This is the biggest issue with the current car. They have fixed most of the bugs but you can't get the fixes, dealers won't apply them all because MG won't pay them to.

I was wondering about this the other day, do you think they don't want to enable OTA updates because they are worried people might drive during the update and then the car loses connection and now it's bricked or something?

I think it would be a small chance but if I was MG I wouldn't want to risk that. You could perhaps prevent the car from going into ready mode whilst updating, but then people would be mad they can't drive all of a sudden.

 

[tsedge]

I was wondering about this the other day, do you think they don't want to enable OTA updates because they are worried people might drive during the update and then the car loses connection and now it's bricked or something?

I think it would be a small chance but if I was MG I wouldn't want to risk that. You could perhaps prevent the car from going into ready mode whilst updating, but then people would be mad they can't drive all of a sudden.

I imagine it is because there have been problems installing updates and some infotainment updates seem to require corresponding car module updates too. It wouldn't be hard to prevent the car driving during an update, so it isn't that.

Occasionally cars can get bricked at dealers which isn't great but far far worse if this happens with car at home with the customer: they'd have to recover the car or send a mobile technician.

OTA was only supposed to be for infotainment and a lot of the bugs are in that code, but not all.

Updating car modules is far more error prone. Sometimes they appear to install but silently fail. Sometimes they get stuck. Sometimes it fails to apply some of them at all. It is hard to imagine this ever being automated.

Given that they've never enabled it, it is most likely a cost/benefit analysis, I assume with their current tech they just can't get it working well enough.

 

[DixieTGS]

In the best scenario the CPUs program memory can hold multiple programs to boot from at one time. Then the whole download and programming can be done in the background. When complete and the car is next stopped it just has to program 1 byte to make it boot from the new version at next startup.

Failing that I would hope they ask if you want to update at the next shutdown, and if a mandatory update do it any way after some fixed interval.

 

[tsedge]

In the best scenario the CPUs program memory can hold multiple programs to boot from at one time. Then the whole download and programming can be done in the background. When complete and the car is next stopped it just has to program 1 byte to make it boot from the new version at next startup.

Failing that I would hope they ask if you want to update at the next shutdown, and if a mandatory update do it any way after some fixed interval.

This is indeed the mystery - why can't MG do what others can?

 

[WonkoTheSaneUK]

In the best scenario the CPUs program memory can hold multiple programs to boot from at one time. Then the whole download and programming can be done in the background. When complete and the car is next stopped it just has to program 1 byte to make it boot from the new version at next startup.

Failing that I would hope they ask if you want to update at the next shutdown, and if a mandatory update do it any way after some fixed interval.

This is exactly how Linux handles updates.

 

[Kithmo]

When in Drive, a further twist of the gear selector puts it into Sport, for overtaking

Not necessary, flooring the accelerator pedal gives full power no matter which mode you're in.

 

[Bassiavet]

• A physical button or easy access to stop LKA and Emergency braking ( life hazard if you keep those on in my car)
• OTA update ( our dealership is clueless and I couldn't update my 2023 version because they don't know how)
• I don't know if this is a common bug but my AC turns into a heater after 2 mins of fast driving.
• Rear windshield wiper
• Wireless Android auto/ car play
• Some sort of lighting for the passangers also a handle to hold on or hang on stuff.
• Turn off day lights while car is on but stationary
• More touch responsive and updated maybe bigger screen.
• Not necessarily but HUD display would be perfect.

-A makeup mirrors ( my wife finds this as a deal breaker while choosing a car)
-Finally a better rear design ( a personal opinion)

-

 

[ilukey77]

For the X power better chassis development , better suspension , decent tyres ( which should have been a must for this generation )

maybe better / sporty seats ..

everything else is solid or can be sorted with software .. LKA is a terrible thing in the MG4 sadly its law that LKA must be on by default so you cant save the settings so to no have it set to on every time you get into the car..

Ohh and a start button would be better than the sit on the seat !!

 

[dsr]

TROPHY / XPOWER Models :-

• Rear Courtesy Light (most other brands have this) and LED front courtesy light.
• Better interior ambient lighting
• Locking Wheel Nuts for Alloy wheels
• Wireless Carplay / AA
• Fix the USB music player to allow albums to show and be remembered rather than just random track each startup.
• OTA infotainment updates that work (many other brands have this)
• Paddles behind steering wheel to change Regen modes quickly (most other brands have this)
• Option for Panoramic Roof
• Option for upgraded alloy / tyre package
• A normal Stop / Start button to turn the car on and off rather than the driver seat occupation
• Easier, customisable individual profiles that can be set at the beginning of each drive which are then remembered (even if they need to be switched on each drive). This should allow things like OPD, LKA, ACC etc to be remembered and then just turned on with one or two switches / buttons - the star buttons & toggles perhaps ?

Having had a recent update to R59, I notice that playing music via USB now ‘works’ for me. I have had folders from new (on R40) but my last track played is now remembered and I don’t have to start from an alpha-zeta list of all tracks and head down via sub-folders. The remembering even exists if I remove a USB stick and reinsert it later. For me, this is a big plus.
What I haven’t tried yet is seeing whether I can now get all my music tracks on to one USB stick. Because of the track limitation on R40, I have been using four of them. During the next couple of days I will put everything on to one USB, see if that now works and report back here - unless someone can tell me that does or doesn’t work with R59.

 

[Coulomb]

Ohh and a start button would be better than the sit on the seat !!

That was my reaction initially, but the instant fan on is growing on me. It's a bit weird getting out with everything still running, but I'm getting used to it. I think I need a few more trips before I decide if I'd prefer the start button or not.