Charged a fee for software updates? (MG4)

[haloweenhamster]

One of the items listed in the service schedule is:

• Check software version of electronic control units and upgrade to latest version if available.

The thing is they have that in the UK as well but the get out is they also say any mandatory safety related updates are carried out, any not marked as mandatory they won't do unless you report an issue & on their system it says the cure is a particular update

Apparently they make it hard for third party workshops to get hold of the software updates, despite a legal obligation to make them available.

They do allow garages to access SIPS which is the software update program but that only the modules via OBD / can bus
All USB based updates so far don't seem accessible, we know the location MG UK access them from but they only let MG employees register
MG employees have access to
VDS, SIPS, Service Now, TRIP
3rd party garages have access to
VDS & SIPS

 

[tsedge]

The thing is they have that in the UK as well but the get out is they also say any mandatory safety related updates are carried out, any not marked as mandatory they won't do unless you report an issue & on their system it says the cure is a particular update

Almost none of the updates are mandatory. It is a small handful.

 

[Tight Git]

Just Citroen & MG in Harrogate

Many thanks - they are close enough to me to be an option for the next service.

 

[Peter WA]

The thing is they have that in the UK as well but the get out is they also say any mandatory safety related updates are carried out, any not marked as mandatory they won't do unless you report an issue & on their system it says the cure is a particular update

Perhaps consumer rights (and their enforcement) isn't as strong in the UK.

Based on the wording "if available" not "if mandatory" I would most certainly get my local dealership here in AU to install all updates free of charge, at the time of a paid service.

Getting an update in between services: sure, I understand that they would only do that for mandatory recalls or warranty related updates free of charge and can charge for any others.

 

[wattmatters]

Based on the wording "if available" not "if mandatory" I would most certainly get my local dealership here in AU to install all updates free of charge, at the time of a paid service.

In the standard servicing schedule MG in Australia has, amongst the long list of items included with the 2 year / 40,000 km service is this item:

• Check software version of electronic control units and upgrade to latest version if available.

https://mgmotor.com.au/owners/mg-service/

 

[LenEV2016]

Peter,
Just bought my wife an MG4 and pick it up next week, as an avid EV head and an Electrical Eng, who worked on Electric Vehicle for many years have a real interest in the servcing especailly OTA upgrades and will be looking into this with much fevour.

I can save you the time MG won't enable it

 

[haloweenhamster]

Good luck with OTA as far as I'm aware only 1 person has reported it in Thailand

 

[tsedge]

Good luck with OTA as far as I'm aware only 1 person has reported it in Thailand

Yes, OTA has never been enabled and most people seem to think it never will be on the MG4. This was only ever promised for the Infotainment unit anyway, not for all the car module updates (which is by far most of the software on the car).

My expectation is that a future product release from MG will come with some kind of OTA, perhaps when they next shift their software platform.

 

[LenEV2016]

My expectation is that a future product release from MG will come with some kind of OTA, perhaps when they next shift their software platform.

I believe will be the case also, the current software platform seems to be fundamentally flawed and not stable enough to risk even infotainment updates.

 

[Coulomb]

I've moved some posts to the MG4 in Australia thread, to try and keep this thread focused on software updates.

 

[Gene Highwind]

With all the issues people (including myself) have had when updates have been applied requiring either lower versions or reinstalls i doubt they will enable ota updates any time soon.

 

[LenEV2016]

With all the issues people (including myself) have had when updates have been applied requiring either lower versions or reinstalls i doubt they will enable ota updates any time soon.

I don't think it will happen at all with this generation of MG4's, the software just isn't stable enough, it's amongst the poorest out there

 

[HazardLights]

I think the Consumer Rights Act 2015 may disagree with you here. Manufacturers don't produce updates for the fun of it - they do it because of a bug or an issue. My MG4 will be going in shortly to try to resolve two issues - Bluetooth constantly needing to be re-paired and the near dangerous behaviour of the ELK. Both of these appeared after the last software update. A lot of the issues mentioned in this thread (such as 'cruise control has gone from essentially unusable') would be classed as rendering the vehicle not of 'satisfactory quality'.

My MG4 is booked due to the sagging rear subframe lower guard to battery gap and LKA turning back on. However I have now joined you with my phones bluetooth pairing being forgotten. I've tried searching and find lots of bluetooth disconnection issues but cannot find an explanation of what is causing the car to forget my phone (it doesn't even appear in previously connected devices). Have you any idea if this is a known problem with a defined fix?

 

[GrayCat]

lots of bluetooth disconnection issues

If you look at the list of "known devices" on your phone, you will see dozens of "MG4" with different MAC-addresses in the history. Seems that SAIC programmers took some "example" Bluetooth code from Arduino which changes MAC-address randomly for "debugging" purposes. And the phone "sees" a "New" bluetooth-device each time, and needs a pairing procedure.

All people say this is fixed in R59 firmware...

 

[haloweenhamster]

If you look at the list of "known devices" on your phone, you will see dozens of "MG4" with different MAC-addresses in the history. Seems that SAIC programmers took some "example" Bluetooth code from Arduino which changes MAC-address randomly for "debugging" purposes. And the phone "sees" a "New" bluetooth-device each time, and needs a pairing procedure.

All people say this is fixed in R59 firmware...

Some still have this issue with R59

 

[Martinonline]

R33. If I get a pairing request I plug in my phone and bring up Android Auto. That seems to force the car to realise it has paired with this phone before and make a connection which usually lasts for weeks without the need to plug in again.

 

[HazardLights]

R33. If I get a pairing request I plug in my phone and bring up Android Auto. That seems to force the car to realise it has paired with this phone before and make a connection which usually lasts for weeks without the need to plug in again.

I will try this next time I am in the car