£400 for the service, oil change and a look around underneath! one hour including any spark plug change. Suggest you keep looking for a reasonable quote!

I know John F will jump in with his own special advice.....

They should be good for 50k miles. Our old Focus is on its third set at 142,000. The only special thing to say is, if changing them yourself, don't overtighten them. Look up the amount of torque needed - it's hardly anything. Garages rub their hands in glee at having to helicoil aluminium heads thanks to amateur mechanics who don't know their own strength!

Iirc the Last time plugs were changed was my Yaris. They got changed at 50,000 Mile's which was three years. Fourth or fifth service. So I guess they must have been iridium ones. Orb are you sure they need changing so soon?

That service schedule doesn't make any mention of different items depending on engine. The 1.0T engine in my Astra (recall ORB's doesn't have this unit) requires spark plugs and air filter at 4 years/80,000 miles. Appears when fitted to a MG they only last 2 years/30,000. Suppose someone has to pay for the 7 year warranty.

Edited by Chris M on 23/11/2019 at 08:58

On the MG website Spark plugs are changed at

2nd year...........

This unscientific suggestion is just as absurd as advising to change oil after 365 days and is purely for the benefit of the garage. Spark plugs do not 'go off' after two years any more than oil does after 1yr. Ask any classic car owner.

I found this and actually pleasantly surprised at the costs shown, but discs and pads do they include fitting.

www.jaguar.co.uk/owners/servicing-maintenance/fixe...l

If i use the Jaguar price for the Brake fluid change on the MG, It's not so bad after all.

Edited by oldroverboy. on 23/11/2019 at 15:18

In the era of 20,000 mile/2 year service intervals, sealed for life gearboxes and ‘lifetime’ fluids, I for one find the MG approach very commendable, and not all that bad a price considering what’s being done. This is a thorough service, i’ve seen a 3 year service at VW where the quote was cheap till i reminded reminded them about Haldex fluid service interval, to which the receptionist looked like i was speaking in algebra.. service ended up costing £720. I was expecting GB to be along to say something similar especially as they appear to be servicing the brakes!

You've said it for me, i agree completely.

When we had the Hilux from new, obviously i kept it serviced at the main dealer.

This was 2007 on, services were annual, year 1 minor, year 2 major, cont'd, minor was around £170 basically oil change an checkover, major was about £350, but included as the MG a full brake strip clean lube, and all transmission fluids changed except for auto gearbox, two diffs plus transfer box.

What bumped the prices heavily was the cost of oil, circa £70 for 7.5 litres when bought via service (£15 for 5 litres over the counter from parts), i had a chat with the service manager and they were quite happy for me to supply by own 'better' bulk bought oil which reduced those service costs considerably, to be fair i was well looked after both purchase and after sales because i used to deliver a lot of their new cars to the dealership and got on really well with them.

Cost of those MG service parts is a bit steep.

Edited by gordonbennet on 23/11/2019 at 18:21

although perfectly capable of servicing the car myself I would not consider letting anyone else touch the car other than the main dealer. Like you I think any warranty claim could be complicated by going outside of the main dealer network.

Wifes car has "long life" plugs but I am happy to change them halfway through their expected life span. I check the plugs for gap each year as they can open up a bit which is obviously going to effect coil voltages so I simply have a new set ready to drop straight back in. If they were over £80 (3 plugs on net about £30) a set I would be tempted to clean, gap and put back though. Changing antifreeze on 2nd service is a surprise to me is that correct?

It will not be proper OAT anti freeze: 10 year change on Toyota/Honda.

I figure maintanance costs in my buying decisions... At those costs a second hjand MG is not going to be serviced.

ORB, you said further up that the antifreeze would be changed.

https://mg.co.uk/owners/service-and-roadside-assistance/#vip-mg-zs

You save money one way and the dealer/ manufacturer gets it back another. That's life!

"and importantly wheels off brakes check and cleaning/greasing".

I specifically asked about the wheels off/brake check bit. Included definitely.

Perhaps I misunderstood the fluid changes bit, but will ask and come back.

Spark plugs £85.20

Air Filter £33

Cabin filter £33

Fuel Filter £17.16

Oil £30

so there is £200

"fluids " and labour and then 20%Vat which is £66.20.

Looks like my £1000 black friday discount this time last year is coming in useful.

Grovel grovel......Silly me. forgot oil filter cost

£9.45 +Vat or £11.34 inc.

So total parts and oil about £212.

That was me researching the prices, my error not that of the dealer.

Those are the terms and conditions of the warranty.

In the past I have walked away from vehicles with full main dealer servicing, but each to there own.

Yes I am paying for my 7 year warranty, but when the Kia "died" (fuel system failure at 3 years and 8 months old, it was still in warranty as I had paid for servicing to maintain the warranty.

I am sure that the purchaser of my car in a couple of years :<) will want the car to have been serviced so that they have the balance of warranty?

Service now done., charged a very reasonable £37.50 half hour for wiring in the dashcan properly, freeing up the 12 accessory socket in the console and removing the trailing wires.

Car returned nice and clean inside and out and no surprises on the invoice.

As usual, welll done Kerridges