74 Plate ZS EV Radio Query

[nickspriggs]

Hi, got my shiny new ZS about 6 weeks ago, and I have 2 big bug bears I'm hoping someone can help me with.

1st, when ever I get in the car and start it up (or turn it on) the radio doesn't kick in, I have to click play on the screen. Question: Can I get around this or change a setting so the radio just plays when I turn on the car (now now).
2nd, sometimes the Infotainment system doesn't come on for a good minute or 2 after setting off, it appears the whole safety system runs off Android and therefore I get lots of errors reminding me I have no safety features and I'm about to die. (slight exaggeration, but accident prevention, auto braking, lane assist etc, comes up with errors) when it does start it then clears all errors. any ideas?

Seems to steam up easily as well, as the heater system sometimes blows hot sometimes doesn't, regardless of the setting I set it too. On the other hand, I never get in the car and its too hot or too cold from the App

 

[drmcw]

The infotainment system is cack. Just ensure that you press the brake pedal firmly when starting and keep it pressed until you get the ready bong and message. If the radio hasn't started then you can use the middle button on the left button cluster on the steering wheel to get it going rather than using the screen. Don't use ECO mode if you want a clear windscreen but fogging will happen if you have a car full of soggy people but a quick blast of the front demist clears it very quickly.
Welcome to the forum!

 

[Gadget Geek]

Hi and welcome.

On my 72 reg, I wish I could stop the radio coming on by itself. I listen to my music on Android Auto, which is quieter than the radio, so the radio blasts out music. I have to remember to hit the mute button on the steering wheel. I'm not sure if your software is different on the 74 reg.

Constant fogging could indicate water ingress into the car somewhere. Are the floor mats damp? Check the boot for pooling water.

 

[Lovemyev]

1st, when ever I get in the car and start it up (or turn it on) the radio doesn't kick in, I have to click play on the screen. Question: Can I get around this or change a setting so the radio just plays when I turn on the car (now now).

Our car reacts this way about 95% of the time, the info units boots okay, but you have to press the "play" button to get any music.
It not intended to be like this from the factory, it should default to playing the last chosen radio station on boot up.
This situation became the norm on our car after the car went in for its second service and they applied a software update that was flagged up on the system against our chassis number.
I could take the car back, but honestly I do not want to risk bringing on any more issues !.

 

[nickspriggs]

The infotainment system is cack. Just ensure that you press the brake pedal firmly when starting and keep it pressed until you get the ready bong and message. If the radio hasn't started then you can use the middle button on the left button cluster on the steering wheel to get it going rather than using the screen. Don't use ECO mode if you want a clear windscreen but fogging will happen if you have a car full of soggy people but a quick blast of the front demist clears it very quickly.
Welcome to the forum!

Thank you, I did discover eco mode activated air circulation which then drives the fogging. It does clear with a Quick blast. I have learnt eco mode can do one, keep it on normal or occasionally sport (it's mind blowing, lol)
Maybe I am too keen to take my foot off the brake when starting. One to think about.
I can't complain as it's a company car so it's almost free for me but it's the little things I miss.

 

[nickspriggs]

Our car reacts this way about 95% of the time, the info units boots okay, but you have to press the "play" button to get any music.
It not intended to be like this from the factory, it should default to playing the last chosen radio station on boot up.
This situation became the norm on our car after the car went in for its second service and they applied a software update that was flagged up on the system against our chassis number.
I could take the car back, but honestly I do not want to risk bringing on any more issues !.

Radio is so frustrating but I will live with it.

 

[drmcw]

Thank you, I did discover eco mode activated air circulation which then drives the fogging. It does clear with a Quick blast. I have learnt eco mode can do one, keep it on normal or occasionally sport (it's mind blowing, lol)
Maybe I am too keen to take my foot off the brake when starting. One to think about.
I can't complain as it's a company car so it's almost free for me but it's the little things I miss.

Eco mode in the MG stupidly reduces the heating and it's the heating and A/C which helps reduce fogging. EVs tend to be more prone to fogging as they don't have a big lump of hot metal in the engine bay to heat the airflow into the car. Basically avoid ECO mode and use the A/C controls to prevent fogging.

 

[fred12345]

Hi and welcome.

On my 72 reg, I wish I could stop the radio coming on by itself. I listen to my music on Android Auto, which is quieter than the radio, so the radio blasts out music. I have to remember to hit the mute button on the steering wheel. I'm not sure if your software is different on the 74 reg.

Constant fogging could indicate water ingress into the car somewhere. Are the floor mats damp? Check the boot for pooling water.

Me too ?

English winter comes, fogging happens in my ZS and in all other cars I had - the difference being that in old cars, my air-con was always on so fogging was never an issue whilst driving - in ZS (because of the battery drain?), I try to keep my air-con off ...

@nickspriggs - set the blower on the windscreen only or turn air-con on. Demister helps in seconds if you need it...

​

 

[lukasc]

Hi All, I also have a new 74 reg MG ZS EV Trophy LR (ordered as a company car)
I have exactly the same issues as described by nickspriggs and have some others to add to the list.
The radio interface is complete garbage to me, No DAB radio icons are showing up and looking at previous posts on this forum it seems to have happened ever since the chip shortage from COVID times. Some of the favourite stations ive programmed seem to "lock up" i.e you press on the button and it doesnt do anything, as though its locked out.
One more - Its annoying that the Left/Right button on the steering wheel does not cycle through the favourites and instead cycles through the entire DAB radio list.
Ive started using Radio player App instead on android Auto as i find this more suitable, trouble is it eats into phone data.

I dont dislike the car so far, but im not "in love" with it as i have been with cars ive had in the past.
Ive previously had a MK3 Ford Kuga ST-Line X PHEV and a Mini Cooper S Countryman PHEV and i grew to love both of those.
I also was going to get my wife one until i took delivery of mine, but its got too many shortcomings (no dual zone climate, no light in back for rear passengers, No regen when using adaptive cruise control, no timed preheat etc...) So i ended up getting her a 4 year old Jaguar iPace for the same money, which i realise is like comparing a mcdonalds cheeseburger to a michelin restaurant fillet steak. Having said that, the jag is missing a couple of things that the MG has, like auto hold and wireless phone charging.
Sorry if i sound like im moaning, Im really not Its still a comfortable, smooth and quiet car to drive, thats let down by a few niggles.

 

[drmcw]

- in ZS (because of the battery drain?), I try to keep my air-con off ...

​

You could also shut your eyes while driving to save your eyesight but I wouldn't recommend either!

 

[Chris H]

Hi All, I also have a new 74 reg MG ZS EV Trophy LR (ordered as a company car)
I have exactly the same issues as described by nickspriggs and have some others to add to the list.
The radio interface is complete garbage to me, No DAB radio icons are showing up and looking at previous posts on this forum it seems to have happened ever since the chip shortage from COVID times. Some of the favourite stations ive programmed seem to "lock up" i.e you press on the button and it doesnt do anything, as though its locked out.
One more - Its annoying that the Left/Right button on the steering wheel does not cycle through the favourites and instead cycles through the entire DAB radio list.
Ive started using Radio player App instead on android Auto as i find this more suitable, trouble is it eats into phone data.

I dont dislike the car so far, but im not "in love" with it as i have been with cars ive had in the past.
Ive previously had a MK3 Ford Kuga ST-Line X PHEV and a Mini Cooper S Countryman PHEV and i grew to love both of those.
I also was going to get my wife one until i took delivery of mine, but its got too many shortcomings (no dual zone climate, no light in back for rear passengers, No regen when using adaptive cruise control, no timed preheat etc...) So i ended up getting her a 4 year old Jaguar iPace for the same money, which i realise is like comparing a mcdonalds cheeseburger to a michelin restaurant fillet steak. Having said that, the jag is missing a couple of things that the MG has, like auto hold and wireless phone charging.
Sorry if i sound like im moaning, Im really not Its still a comfortable, smooth and quiet car to drive, thats let down by a few niggles.

Yes, the radio is absolute pants. Have you looked at the station list or favourites list? Crikey, a big panel of small grey rectangles with the largest text (about 3mm) showing the multiplex name (why?) and tiny, tiny text (about 1.5mm) showing the station name. It's unusable whilst driving. And yes, why doesn't the prev/next button not change to the next favourite, rather than the next random channel?
The whole UX looks like it was designed by an 18yo intern on his first IT project who has never driven a car. Each week I get a new issue; yesterday my lights started flashing everyone and error messages popping up about auto beam not available, but doing it randomly and regularly instead. To think I traded in my Mercedes E220D convertible for this. I also considered a 3yo iPace but was put off by the fact I heard parts are hard to source and expensive. Oh well, we live & learn from mistakes.