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MG MGF Technical - exhaust flex pipe

TF160 in for first service (£185 + VAT), garage says the flex pipe has crack and needs replacing. Not part of warranty so want to charge me £180 + VAT.

This seems both very steep and the pipe going in about a year does not seem fit for purpose. I know it's a 'standard' fault, and searched archives, but can't find anything useful.

Anybody had similar problems and got MGR to pay for repair? And any data I can use to back up my claim.
David Mills

Not part of the warranty - how do they work that one out? My car is 7.5 years old and still has the original , so there must be a 'fault' with yours.

Good Luck

Ted
Ted Newman

--- CROSS POSTED FROM GENERAL BOARD ---

Yep, it's a vulnerable spot and as it is part of the exhaust (a consumable), MGR have got all the ends sewn up from a warrantee point of view.

Flexis are a real mixed bag and they seem to vary in quality and durability. Personally i have had 5 over the past 7 years / 100,000 miles, but Rob Bell is still on his first one after a similar time span.

Sorry if this isn't much help, but i will reiterate Tim's advice, you can get a good condition second hand one from the MGF Centre (01902) 403045) or a stainless one from MS (although these are just as prone to damage as a normal one, they just don't have the same rust issues).

SF
Scarlet Fever

I am with Ted. Ours is 6 years old without problem. Unless the garage can show some physical damage that could account for the problem (i.e. smack on speed hump) then a warranty repair seems in order.

Wouldn't have happened under BMW!

Cheers

Patrick

PS I saw Peter at Kingsbury on Saturday when collecting our car after annual service. He asked when I was going to replace with a TF. Had I heard your story I could have answered "when the quality and warranty is the same as that I experienced on the F"!
Patrick Beet

Mine is over 7 years old and I still have the original and it looks in darn fine condition. Push for it under warranty
J Price

Patrick,

I saw Peter a few weeks ago and he was a bit concerned at teh direction Kingsbury was taking. It is becoming a dealership grasping for money rather than one which has a love of cars and wants to make money.

Went to collect my TF and the service manager is on hols, so will have to wait to find if they will do exhaust under warranty. They do not have the parts anyway, along with a couple of other standard parts they have to order.

Not helping matters was the fact that the car went in with correctly inflated tyres, and they as part of the service changes the pressures to values which would make the F handle poorly and the TF almost undriveable. When asked why they had changed the pressures the response was "we inflate the tyres to the MGR recommendations". So I showed them the recommendations and what they claimed to have inflated tyres to. Difference of 8 psi. No apology or explanation, just "it will take 10 minutes to change if you want to wait or you can do it yourself."

Not happy with them at the moment.
David Mills

My TF 160 has had two flexi pipes fitted under warranty. One at 6k mls the other at 12k mls. No obvious damage/reason for failure. Checks included engine mounts and exhaust mounts. Seems variable quality although I discovered the second one after a serious thrashing in the Lakes. Might be caused by excessive engine movement stressing the flexible portion.

My TF 160 (16") was inflated to 26 all round at PDI they claimed that was MG pressures too. I couldn't be bothered to argue. I agree it's dangerous though!
Ian Walker

I am with you 100% David. The loss of Bill and Peter has changed them into "just another dealer".

They also get me and my son confused. I suppose I should be flattered that they think I am 25 but son is getting rather hacked off getting calls from them in Oz in the middle of the night asking when I want my car serviced!
Patrick Beet

>> TF160 in for first service (£185 + VAT)....

What is included on the first service to justify over £200?? Mine's due the same in a few days time!!!

(I s'pose the removal of the engine cover's probably "booked" at an hour's labour!!??)
SimonKE

First Service? presumably the first scheduled paid for service and not the (so called) free service?

For my F it was after 12000 miles and covered the items on the schedule found at http://www.mgfcar.de/index.htm (thnx Dieter).

I guess the list is similar for the TF. Does anybody have the TF service schedule available for posting on here?
John Ponting

Had my 1st service last thursday cost £207 inc vat. all o.k. except for the two scratches that appeared on the body work. One on the bonnet and the other just behind the passenger door. The dealer has accepted responsibility but it's still a pain in the backside.

Also included in the price was a litre bottle of oil. This is to "top up" if needed, has anybody else had this.....
R PRESS

This thread was discussed between 19/08/2003 and 27/08/2003

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