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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - MGR dealer failings

Those reading this BBS seeking information on the MGR dealer network maybe interested in the following.

On picking up my ZR+120 5 weeks ago I noticed the internal moulded plastic panel on the driver's door was badly scratched around the pocket. Whilst not greatly important I nevertheless advised my sales rep at SGL Preston who immediately requested I bring the vehicle in to have it sorted..."we like everything to be perfect". I suggested the PDI should have spotted the scratches and the two screws left under where the radio would have been fitted (had I not requested I have it handed to me in its original box as I was fitting my own ICE).

Anyway, an appointment was duly made a few days later. In the meanwhile, I also enquired about police mode and SGL said they'd look into this at the same time.

The allotted time came and I took my Zed down, got a ZS courtesy car and went back a few hours later. Apparently they didn't have the relevant part in and had therefore only seen to police mode in the 4 hours they'd had it without bothering to consult me.

Not too worried I enquired about the cost of having the side skirts added and was quoted (orally) £270+VAT supplied and fitted (at cost price). Again an appointment was made and it was about 3 weeks in advance of the then date thus leaving time for the new internal door piece to come in. I agreed to have the side skirts put on.

So Monday (just gone) the car goes in and I get given the keys to a R25 courtesy car "somewhere out there" being as specific as the service rep could be as to its location.

After 10 minutes search I gave up. SGL's own staff gave up looking for it after a further 10 mins and I ended up with a R25 2.0 TD. But it took me best part of 30 mins to collect a courtesy car.

But best yet to come.

On collection, I am invoiced £275+VAT plus £5+VAT for insurance for the courtesy car.

I've had a few courtesy cars in my time and NEVER been asked to pay for either their hire or the insurance and as I had not been forewarned about this I was most annoyed and told the service rep as much. He claimed I should have been told.

I also enquired as to why the side skirts charge had increased by £5+VAT and was told I had originally been misquoted as £275+VAT is the cost price and they "cannot charge any less as the computer won't let them"!

I stood my ground and advised I accepted the job on the basis of my original quotation and agreed to pay the original price but would give in to their insurance cost but only begrudgingly. This they agreed to after some amount of deliberation.

So I got a fiver off but then when I got home I noticed they'd not seen to the door panel which was, after all, the first reason I had booked the car in again!!!

Now by coincidence my Zed developed a mechanical fault today so I was back in SGL anyway so I enquired of our friendly sales rep and was told the part had still not arrived (as hasn't the exhaust heatshield either) and hence it had not been seen to. But when I suggested it might have been polite to advise me same it was blank looks all round.

My experience so far is that my sales rep at SGL is a nice guy who I have hassled somewhat and he's been very helpful. But the PDI was poor, the after sales has been poor in its service to me and I can easily understand people that complain.
Findlay

Findlay,

..... 'appens - to any car dealership. MG-R ones are certainly not unique here. In your position, when time allows, I'd write to the Top Banana at that dealership. With the final part of your final paragraph in mind, provide a brief but reasonable listing of the problems, the inconveniences and wasted time caused by the lack of care by at least some staff at that dealership.

Over the years, when facing similar circumstances with indifferent service or poor quality from any commercial concern, not simply car dealerships, such a letter can be very productive. I have in mind taking an unpaid day off work for delivery of items which fail to arrive. Things like this are annoying but, in my experience, if you go about things in the right way, can actually be beneficial in the long run. Always worth a try ..... Good luck.
John McFeely

Didnt SGL Group go bust and MG Rover themselves bought the remaining two dealerships out?? The one in Leyland closed
Rob

Correct Rob,SGL owned by MG-Rover group,

You would expect them to be better than most dealers.
Joe

Well I never knew that. I know there's an SGL in Chorley and used to be one in Leyland which did indeed close down when they opened their fancy new premises on Preston's Motorpark Docklands area.

I did hear that they were in trouble at one stage but hadn't realised I was dealing direct with MG!
Findlay

SGL started at the site near the railway[now a Vauxhall dealer] they then took over I think it was Halls of Chorley and then built the big showroom in Leyland as well as having a service and body shop in Bracanash road Leyland.

They then had built the new premises on the dock,not long after this, they went into liquidation around the time when BMW sold out to MG-Rover group.

This left no MG-R dealerships in Preston and Chorley,MG-R then took over these dealerships.
Joe

Hi Z'ers,

Is Z'ers the correct term? I dunno? Anyhow ...

Paul Lathwell runs the "MG Dealer Guide" at http://www.dotcomoff.demon.co.uk

Any experiences, positive or negative, get the information to Paul. We can all then make use of this great resource showing who's hot and who's not as far as the MGR dealers go.

Cheers.

- Andy
S6 AJG



Andy Gilhooley

Findlay, I've had a lot of cars (incl 8 co cars) from SGL and had very little trouble from them. They have a good reputation at work too. In fact they've been great over the troublesome F I've had/got and am exchanging there for a TF 160 next Thursday. Having said that, the other really good local dealership is Syd Browns. Been there a few times and Ian Ingleby is a very knowledgeable MG enthusiast. Talk to them. You don't have to stick to the selling dealer for warranty work as MGR pays bills. Browns only object if somthing has been started or not done properly elsewhere - MGR won't pay then - it's up to the dealer who started to fix to customer satisfaction. Paul Harrison has just got a Trophy from Browns - worth asking what he thinks.
Ian Walker

As an update to my original post.

Following a letter of complaint to the Chief Executive of SGL, I received a prompt reply and a follow-up call from the After Sales Manager. I found him to be very open and honest about the problems facing dealers getting hold of parts and accessories. He told me it could be anything between days and months but until their computer systems changed from "pending" no date could be given.

I found it quite astonishing that the problem is so bad that SGL have resored to raiding news cars in their compound for spare parts on warranty repairs. This surely must be of huge embarassment to MGR.

He also apologised for the poor communication between his department and myself and arranged to have the door moulding fixed the very next day (which he did). I still await the exhaust trim but at least my Zed is now in post PDI condition, albeit 7 weeks late.

(I should stress that my pre-sales dealings with SGL have always been of the very highest standard and I have no complaints on that aspect.)
Findlay

With respect to parts and the poor service currently being expereinced the second post on the 'Latest MG Rover News Bytes' thread on the MG Car Company BBS makes interesting reading.

Rog
Roger Parker

This thread was discussed between 27/03/2002 and 12/04/2002

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