Software updates in general

[Vince31]

I completely understand the mess we are in regarding Software updates for MG EVs.
In an ideal world users want the latest software releases for free and done on demand. But MG dealers quite rightly want to be paid for their time paid by MGUK or the user, it doesn't matter to them. MGUK have actually been very good in developing new software requirements for SAIC to developed new updates to fix issues and even provide enhancements on occasions. The only problem is getting the software updates on to the cars.

I bet there's probably no two MGs out there at the same combined software release, that means all of the various ECUs software versions match the other car. To be honest it's even difficult for users to check all the various ECUs software themselves. So configuration control is a complete nightmare. On top of this Dealers don't know your cars configuration either until it's plugged in and interrogated by the SAIC server in China. The Dealers also don't necessarily know which updates do what for your car or which mix of updates you need to make a function work, SAIC don't provide this info.
This would all be fixed if MG EVs had true and full OTA update capability to all ECUs. Updates would automatically be pushed to cars and owners could choose to accept or reject. This would eliminate all dealer involvement in updates except to solve issues if required, and obviously done under warranty if it failed to load automatically as intended.
This is my only real gripe with MG and why in all probability my next EV will be fully OTA capable.

 

[TimMcC]

On the other hand, our Jaguar I-Pace has full OTA updates. It means you sometimes get new features, but with that comes a new set of bugs and workarounds you need to work out. Some bugs get fixed later only to reappear again in the future.

 

[DB Go Rex]

I completely understand the mess we are in regarding Software updates for MG EVs.
In an ideal world users want the latest software releases for free and done on demand. But MG dealers quite rightly want to be paid for their time paid by MGUK or the user, it doesn't matter to them. MGUK have actually been very good in developing new software requirements for SAIC to developed new updates to fix issues and even provide enhancements on occasions. The only problem is getting the software updates on to the cars.

I bet there's probably no two MGs out there at the same combined software release, that means all of the various ECUs software versions match the other car. To be honest it's even difficult for users to check all the various ECUs software themselves. So configuration control is a complete nightmare. On top of this Dealers don't know your cars configuration either until it's plugged in and interrogated by the SAIC server in China. The Dealers also don't necessarily know which updates do what for your car or which mix of updates you need to make a function work, SAIC don't provide this info.
This would all be fixed if MG EVs had true and full OTA update capability to all ECUs. Updates would automatically be pushed to cars and owners could choose to accept or reject. This would eliminate all dealer involvement in updates except to solve issues if required, and obviously done under warranty if it failed to load automatically as intended.
This is my only real gripe with MG and why in all probability my next EV will be fully OTA capable.

I'm not sure things are how you are characterising them.

The facts are MG are in a similar boat to a lot of traditional car companies that aren't doing OTA.

It's down to the dealer to update your car.

Pros and cons to OTA.

That's all there is to it really.

 

[Gadget Geek]

The original spec of the car quoted OTA. Now if they can't deliver that, then they can't expect the customer to pay for the updates. After all, it's the customers who are being inconvenienced by having to take time out to visit a dealer, and with more dealerships closing, that inconvenience and expense increases.

 

[fred12345]

to make you feel better about MG - you are not alone ... ?

Software updates

www.speakev.com

not even sure if I want to get Tesla update and risk messing up V2L for example ...

 

[peterseddon]

I've just had my second service and part of it was the "Tesla fix" included in the price. I mentioned to them that there were all sorts of bugs in the infotainment system and the tech checked and I was on R19 so he booked me in for an update. I'm now on R23 and up to now it's far better. Also there was no charge for it.

 

[Vince31]

On the other hand, our Jaguar I-Pace has full OTA updates. It means you sometimes get new features, but with that comes a new set of bugs and workarounds you need to work out. Some bugs get fixed later only to reappear again in the future.

If bugs exist in the software then you'll get them whether it's via OTA or manual dealer update. The point is that OTA takes the requirements for Dealer time and staff out of the equation.

 

[Deleted member 14627]

I completely understand the mess we are in regarding Software updates for MG EVs.
In an ideal world users want the latest software releases for free and done on demand. But MG dealers quite rightly want to be paid for their time paid by MGUK or the user, it doesn't matter to them. MGUK have actually been very good in developing new software requirements for SAIC to developed new updates to fix issues and even provide enhancements on occasions. The only problem is getting the software updates on to the cars.

I bet there's probably no two MGs out there at the same combined software release, that means all of the various ECUs software versions match the other car. To be honest it's even difficult for users to check all the various ECUs software themselves. So configuration control is a complete nightmare. On top of this Dealers don't know your cars configuration either until it's plugged in and interrogated by the SAIC server in China. The Dealers also don't necessarily know which updates do what for your car or which mix of updates you need to make a function work, SAIC don't provide this info.
This would all be fixed if MG EVs had true and full OTA update capability to all ECUs. Updates would automatically be pushed to cars and owners could choose to accept or reject. This would eliminate all dealer involvement in updates except to solve issues if required, and obviously done under warranty if it failed to load automatically as intended.
This is my only real gripe with MG and why in all probability my next EV will be fully OTA capable.

For this reason and the attitude of MG towards their customers and the omissions of basic kit on so called top of the range models, Is the reason why my next car will certainly not be an MG.

 

[tsedge]

For this reason and the attitude of MG towards their customers and the omissions of basic kit on so called top of the range models, Is the reason why my next car will certainly not be an MG.

What top range basic kit is missing (beyond front parking sensors on my MG4 I am struggling to think of anything)?

 

[Gomev]

For this reason and the attitude of MG towards their customers and the omissions of basic kit on so called top of the range models, Is the reason why my next car will certainly not be an MG.

I think it's more the attitude of MG in that everything seems to be controlled centrally. A dealer/repairer has to get back to them to find out what's wrong and can't diagnose or fix without their permission. If a software update is available it's only applied if MG say it can be applied and these are controlled centrally, not even available at a dealers without connecting to Beijing or wherever the server is to download it each and every time a car is updated.

It's things like this that can spoil the experience. Don't get me wrong I have thoroughly enjoyed and loved both the MG EVs I've had, and thankfully nothing has gone wrong with either of them and I've had no gripes about the cars (apart from not getting the Tesla update).

As ever you can only judge a company when things go wrong and how they handle it.

P.S. What basic kit is missing from top of the range MG models ?

 

[Deleted member 14627]

I think it's more the attitude of MG in that everything seems to be controlled centrally. A dealer/repairer has to get back to them to find out what's wrong and can't diagnose or fix without their permission. If a software update is available it's only applied if MG say it can be applied and these are controlled centrally, not even available at a dealers without connecting to Beijing or wherever the server is to download it each and every time a car is updated.

It's things like this that can spoil the experience. Don't get me wrong I have thoroughly enjoyed and loved both the MG EVs I've had, and thankfully nothing has gone wrong with either of them and I've had no gripes about the cars (apart from not getting the Tesla update).

As ever you can only judge a company when things go wrong and how they handle it.

P.S. What basic kit is missing from top of the range MG models ?

Front parking sensors interior light in rear passenger area sufficient light in reversing lamps and boot light inferior quality glass that allows passengers to get burnt on a sunny English day, I wonder how customers in Australia get on with this glass? Or did they think that in the UK we don't get good weather so don't warrant good quality UV protection to keep their costs down? As you can see I'm not impressed.
As well as customer help without expecting you to pay a subscription! From what you have said it seems like another control scheme from China without us knowing.

 

[fred12345]

Front parking sensors interior light in rear passenger area sufficient light in reversing lamps and boot light inferior quality glass that allows passengers to get burnt on a sunny English day, I wonder how customers in Australia get on with this glass ? Or did they think that in the UK we don't get good whether so don't warrant good quality uv protection to keep their costs down? As you can see I'm not impressed.
as well as customer help without expecting you to pay a subscription! From what you have said it Seems like another control scheme from China without us knowing.

I had thermal glass on my last car and when the windscreen chipped, insurance would only replace it with "regular" ... which cost 3 times less than thermal. 3x more expensive here and there and our cars would cost £80K
For a car that is 20%-30% cheaper than the next comparable - I'm happy to put up with a few minor niggles and keep £15k in my pocket ?. I contacted customer services and they helped without any subscription or asking me to pay anything, are they asking for payment?

 

[gazza487]

I think it's more the attitude of MG in that everything seems to be controlled centrally. A dealer/repairer has to get back to them to find out what's wrong and can't diagnose or fix without their permission. If a software update is available it's only applied if MG say it can be applied and these are controlled centrally, not even available at a dealers without connecting to Beijing or wherever the server is to download it each and every time a car is updated.

It's things like this that can spoil the experience. Don't get me wrong I have thoroughly enjoyed and loved both the MG EVs I've had, and thankfully nothing has gone wrong with either of them and I've had no gripes about the cars (apart from not getting the Tesla update).

As ever you can only judge a company when things go wrong and how they handle it.

P.S. What basic kit is missing from top of the range MG models ?

With the diagnostic situation and pulling updates - you’ll find a lot of more modern companies work this way ie you have to have a subscription to get anything from their servers.

Back in the olden days it would be cds but as we know they can be copied and if the diag interface was cloned they’d lose out. Nice little money maker for all the manufacturers now.

 

[Deleted member 14627]

I had thermal glass on my last car and when the windscreen chipped, insurance would only replace it with "regular" ... which cost 3 times less than thermal. 3x more expensive here and there and our cars would cost £80K
For a car that is 20%-30% cheaper than the next comparable - I'm happy to put up with a few minor niggles and keep £15k in my pocket ?. I contacted customer services and they helped without any subscription or asking me to pay anything, are they asking for payment?

In 53 years of owning various makes of cars here in the UK I have never owned a vehicle with little or no uv protection in the glass in fact my last vehicle was a Vauxhall Mokka which new was less expensive than the MG and had no problem with the glass. It also had , as standard, front parking sensors. In fact I haven't owned a vehicle in many years that did not have these sensors or glass.
I contacted MG head office in UK and there was no way that they would allow me to speak to anyone in the technical department to ask if it would be possible to retro fit front sensors and connect to the already installed 360 cameras that as far as I can see is not a difficult connection to the manual 360 switch. All I got was a web address to join the technical advice site that requires a pay per inquiry system. Not very helpful at all. Going to any so called main dealer was also a waste of time as no one seems to know anything technical about these vehicles without going through China, that's if they could be bothered which was the attitude. So not impressed at all eith MG.

 

[fred12345]

I went to check out that website, is that the one?

loaded with manuals and seems to be info for garages and some serious DIY ... wouldn't mind seeing it...

actually, I'm pretty sure someone on this forum got access to these documents as they posted few detailed schematics on how to replace some lightbulbs etc ...

 

[Deleted member 14627]

What top range basic kit is missing (beyond front parking sensors on my MG4 I am struggling to think of anything)?

Interior light so you can see in the rear seats especially at night or in a multi-storey car park, front parking sensors, front window glass that is uv protected, how Australian owners manage I don't know unless there is a better speck for 'hot countries', reversing light bulbs that actually light up bright enough to see, passenger seat that adjusts in height as does drivers seat on HS Trophy when the system is in place already to move in all other directions on this seat why would they not include the height adjustment?
Reversing camera that works when it feels like it! Storage space in the wasted sides of the boot T on compensate for the battery being where the spare wheel would be on a non PHEV, boot light that is not positioned where it is obstructed by anything on near side of boot and bright enough to see anything. Just a few things that I expect and I'm sure many others do to when they pay top wack for a so called top of the range car that loses at l at least £14,000 in value as soon as you drive it off the forecourt.

 

[Vince31]

I'm guessing all this is regarding a HS PHEV? My Mk2 ZSEV (22 reg) doesn't have a lot of those issues. The windscreen, side and rear glass has a very slight tint from the factory and it's miles better than my old MK1 ZSEV. All glass blocks UV 100% so you can't get sunburn, but I agree without any tint my Mk1 did get hot inside from the sun's Infra Red. I think most of that £14k loss will be down to the VAT you pay on new cars. Personally I paid £28.5k in March 22 for our new ZSEV Long Range and according to Autotrader dealers are selling the exact same model and age car with the same mileage for £20k today, so that's pretty good seeing as £5k of the difference is VAT.

 

[AlexC]

The head office of each country where MG is sold has various technicians who liaise with the dealer network for updates. Obviously the situation is not currently ideal, but I'm hoping they are receptive to feedback via a centralised issues / enhancement database.

 

[bissu]

Is almost a year I have MG marvel R a good looking car with good confront. Only regret I have about this car is the un-updated system. This car could be way better with updates etc. - I am currently on R24. I have no idea did the car even had update or not, or I should go to dealership and let them check. It is painful. Now I even started to lose faith in mMG support. They got pretty bad customer satisfaction most say did best job to lose their customer ??. Now I am looking for Tesla Y. I don't wanna lose MG but it seems like they are forcing us. ?

Can't even explain how many bugs I have in car. It sometimes feels like having those all features is for what? To not work properly. ??? I wish MG see this feedback!

 

[AlexC]

Definitely go to the dealership and have it checked. There likely will be infotainment updates, and security / core drivetrain / charging s/w updates.