Free Tesla supercharger update from MG dealerships

[DB Go Rex]

I put a case to the vehicle ombudsman about MG Motors failing to reimburse its dealers for the full cost of the update needed to some of its vehicles to enable them to use Tesla chargers, and the cost therefore being passed to customers. I argued that my ZS (which was supplied after Tesla chargers were opened) should have been updated for free, because it was misdescribed at sale and therefore the onus was on MG to rectify this fault

It's taken forever but in the last few days the supplying dealer has been in contact to offer the update for free. I've accepted this. (I'd already booked it in to have it done for £25 with the service at the end of the month so not a lot of personal gain. Other garages quoted more than £120.)

The ombudsman has asked whether it can now close the case. I've told them that other MG owners are affected and that I would like them to adjudicate on the principle as I originally asked. We'll see what happens.

?

 

[Les burrows]

I put a case to the vehicle ombudsman about MG Motors failing to reimburse its dealers for the full cost of the update needed to some of its vehicles to enable them to use Tesla chargers, and the cost therefore being passed to customers. I argued that my ZS (which was supplied after Tesla chargers were opened) should have been updated for free, because it was misdescribed at sale and therefore the onus was on MG to rectify this fault

It's taken forever but in the last few days the supplying dealer has been in contact to offer the update for free. I've accepted this. (I'd already booked it in to have it done for £25 with the service at the end of the month so not a lot of personal gain. Other garages quoted more than £120.)

The ombudsman has asked whether it can now close the case. I've told them that other MG owners are affected and that I would like them to adjudicate on the principle as I originally asked. We'll see what happens.

Well done Rusty there are quite few others here with ZS and 5 models that need to do the same and your post might just motivate them
Les

 

[Andrew Sinclair]

I am always amazed by the number of companies that are quick to develop revenue streams but shy away from doing the right thing by their customers.

 

[gwig66]

You would think that. But MG were claiming that certain models needed a hardware update before supercharging would be possible, even though other forum members proved that this is not the case. MG would not do this change under warranty, and the cost to the customer was substantial. That appeared to be verging on fraud.

So yes, unfortunately the model is relevant here. In some cases, the age of the EVCC module may also be important, but that can be sought later if needed.

As far as I know, no MG4 models require an update to use Tesla superchargers.

I had my MG ZS EV tweaked at my service in September to enable Tesla charges. I finally got around to testing the system at the public Supercharger at the Trafford entre and it doesn't work. Followed all instructions carefully. Uploaded and used their app - incredibly slowly
Why is mobile signal so often poor at charging stations?!
Any tips on where I might have gone wrong? I'll be ringing the MG Dealer tomorrow. I'm glad I checked when I wasn't on a long, time critical journey.

 

[DB Go Rex]

I had my MG ZS EV tweaked at my service in September to enable Tesla charges. I finally got around to testing the system at the public Supercharger at the Trafford entre and it doesn't work. Followed all instructions carefully. Uploaded and used their app - incredibly slowly
Why is mobile signal so often poor at charging stations?!
Any tips on where I might have gone wrong? I'll be ringing the MG Dealer tomorrow. I'm glad I checked when I wasn't on a long, time critical journey.

If you still getting "unauthorised vehicle" they haven't properly patched it. I would take it back and ask them to try again.

My car works every time at the Trafford Centre location.

 

[gwig66]

Thanks. I'll be onto them on Monday morning!

 

[Gadget Geek]

I had my MG ZS EV tweaked at my service in September to enable Tesla charges. I finally got around to testing the system at the public Supercharger at the Trafford entre and it doesn't work. Followed all instructions carefully. Uploaded and used their app - incredibly slowly
Why is mobile signal so often poor at charging stations?!
Any tips on where I might have gone wrong? I'll be ringing the MG Dealer tomorrow. I'm glad I checked when I wasn't on a long, time critical journey.

You were lucky to get it done for free. When I asked for the Tesla fix, they wanted me to pay for a second technician to apply the fix, even though I was still paying for a technician to do the service.

I think you can imagine what I told them.

 

[gwig66]

I asked for the fixand they told me it was part of the computer upgrade/reboot that was already scheduled.
I'll report back when I get answers.

 

[gwig66]

Update on Tesla fix. Apparently, it's not compatible for a ZS on a 70 plate. The only adaptable model of that vintage is the MG5, and even that requires a metal plate screwed on as well as a software fix. Allegedly. I'm going to leave it now. It would have been nice to have the option, and I did enjoy parking my cheap little EV amongst the shiny Teslas yesterday, but I'll stick to what I know.

 

[emmrecs]

@gwig66

I know the first-releases of the MG5, SE only I believe, cannot have the "Tesla fix" without potentially quite an expensive hardware upgrade, as well as software. It seems the early ZS is even less "lucky"!

 

[gwig66]

Nice.to have, but not essential

 

[DB Go Rex]

Update on Tesla fix. Apparently, it's not compatible for a ZS on a 70 plate. The only adaptable model of that vintage is the MG5, and even that requires a metal plate screwed on as well as a software fix. Allegedly. I'm going to leave it now. It would have been nice to have the option, and I did enjoy parking my cheap little EV amongst the shiny Teslas yesterday, but I'll stick to what I know.

I call BS on that. Look up the post from Myles that lists the upgrades that are needed against each model.

The fact that they were happy to send you away with the first attempt without ever testing it, and apparently having the knowledge at hand that it would never work anyway says they don't know what they are doing.

Nice.to have, but not essential

I think this is slippery slope thinking.

If you accept this incompatibility where does it stop?

It's basic compliance stuff. You should be able to have the same confidence that you have filling up at any filling station as you do charging.

 

[tsedge]

Filling stations have standardised hardware going back many decades.

Charger technology is still maturing and is somewhat a moving target.

So we have the situation that car makers are now expected to make changes to the existing fleet because of incompatibilities that weren't there when they sold the vehicles.

Is this a reasonable expectation?

Many will say it is, but I can see why makers of older EV models/versions are drawing the line at potentially expensive hardware and software upgrades.

 

[Rutsy]

From recollection the original ZSEV needs a new EVCC module to be compatible with Tesla chargers. In my view it is unreasonable to expect MG to pay for this.

However, the majority of MK2s were sold after Tesla chargers became available to other makes in the UK. Yet many MG dealers are still making a charge for this. Not acceptable in my view.

 

[DB Go Rex]

From recollection the original ZSEV needs a new EVCC module to be compatible with Tesla chargers. In my view it is unreasonable to expect MG to pay for this.

However, the majority of MK2s were sold after Tesla chargers became available to other makes in the UK. Yet many MG dealers are still making a charge for this. Not acceptable in my view.

That would make sense if MG could not have foreseen a future change to a standard.

But nothing a changed to the standard. Yes Tesla are checking things in the protocol that maybe most of the other providers skip, but it's still the standard.

So it looks like MG built something that wasn't fully compatible. So we are back to that dispute again.

 

[Rutsy]

No dispute for me. I complained to the ombudsman and was offered the update free of charge.

 

[durrana]

Currently having a debate with my dealer, purchased a 22 SZ EV LR in July, did not work on a Tesla Charger and had issues at a few other. They want me to pay for check / update. Not happy

 

[Jomarkh]

Currently having a debate with my dealer, purchased a 22 SZ EV LR in July, did not work on a Tesla Charger and had issues at a few other. They want me to pay for check / update. Not happy

If they take payment and find it is an update will they refund you?

 

[durrana]

I do not think they will refund me, its a free update but they charge for man hours to do it! Currently in an email exchange with the MD of the garage but they do not want to back down

 

[Jomarkh]

Will they do it free at your next service?