Comfort Pack 2 Update MG ZS EV

[MG Technician]

The only way that the range could be extended in my opinion would be to lower the safety margin that's set to protect the HV battery from being dropped to a level that damages it.
I no for a fact that when the ZS EV runs out of power the HV battery is still around 30% charged.
This is programmed in so if the Comfort 2 update has extended the range then it could be "I don't no for fact" that the battery is allowed to drop to a lower state thus giving more range.
What do you think?
This is word for word what we were told the update does.

This new generation of operational strategies include changes to:
 Faster system self check when powering ‘ON’
 Infotainment volume maintains and restarts at previous volume setting after powering ON/OFF
 Auto High Beam system disable option available in menu settings
 General warning chime quality improvements and reduced volume
 Warning chimes reduced for MG Pilot and Key Reminder
 Vehicle temperature and temperature alarm featured in the IPK display
 Vehicle range always on display in IPK
 Vehicle can be unlocked during A/C charging, when re-locked charging automatically resumes
To reiterate, all MG ZS EV models produced after Mid June 2020 will include the 2nd Generation of Comfort
System Software.

As KasEV said you can see it mentions nothing about increasing range.

 

[Dave S]

I'm finding this thread really useful.
I'm looking forward to getting my software update as soon as Lockdown lifts in Scotland, but does anyone have a definitive list of what the update should include, please?
That's disappointing that these issues are manifesting as poor customer service, though. My opinion based on my personal experience of all the contact that I've had with the 3 MG dealerships that I've dealt with, is very that they are very considerate.

 

[Dave S]

Oh, many thanks MG Technician. I wish you were located much closer to Inverness!!

 

[Mark Holmes]

The only way that the range could be extended in my opinion would be to lower the safety margin that's set to protect the HV battery from being dropped to a level that damages it.
I no for a fact that when the ZS EV runs out of power the HV battery is still around 30% charged.
This is programmed in so if the Comfort 2 update has extended the range then it could be "I don't no for fact" that the battery is allowed to drop to a lower state thus giving more range.
What do you think?
This is word for word what we were told the update does.

This new generation of operational strategies include changes to:
 Faster system self check when powering ‘ON’
 Infotainment volume maintains and restarts at previous volume setting after powering ON/OFF
 Auto High Beam system disable option available in menu settings
 General warning chime quality improvements and reduced volume
 Warning chimes reduced for MG Pilot and Key Reminder
 Vehicle temperature and temperature alarm featured in the IPK display
 Vehicle range always on display in IPK
 Vehicle can be unlocked during A/C charging, when re-locked charging automatically resumes
To reiterate, all MG ZS EV models produced after Mid June 2020 will include the 2nd Generation of Comfort
System Software.

As KasEV said you can see it mentions nothing about increasing range.

Dear MG Technician,
My updates were allegedly done, however I do not have the high beam on / off added, nor do I have the external temperature display and the bong whilst reduced to one on startup it’s still the original tone, the radio volume remains unchanged and finally the horn still sounds if the car thinks I left the keys in the car.
Are you able to confirm what update remains outstanding is it only the USB?
Your feedback would be appreciated.

 

[KasEV]

Thanks MG Technician.
This gives clarity to the issue of range.
Also some UK and European commentators and reviewers have repeated real life range tests since the their vehicles were updated with the Comfort2. When corrected for summer temperatures their result show no increase in range.

 

[MG Technician]

Dear MG Technician,
My updates were allegedly done, however I do not have the high beam on / off added, nor do I have the external temperature display and the bong whilst reduced to one on startup it’s still the original tone, the radio volume remains unchanged and finally the horn still sounds if the car thinks I left the keys in the car.
Are you able to confirm what update remains outstanding is it only the USB?
Your feedback would be appreciated.

Hi Mark
If you can see the HV battery range on your instrument cluster bottom left but you do not have the temperature and the other things you mentioned then the USB stick the dealer used is either faulty or they have not put the files onto it correctly.
I no this from personal experience. I was given an old usb stick, the files were on correctly but the usb stick data processing speed was to low and would not update the FCIM.
Get them to do the UBS update again, that it need to be a min 30gb and formatted to FAT32, the files put on must not still be in the folder from the download but copied to the stick from within the folder so all the files can be seen on the stick. Ask them to watch the FCIM screen and to make sure it does not display update failed, restoring data. It only displays it for a second and it looks as if the update goes in. The update will not take any more than 10 mins

 

[MG Technician]

Thanks MG Technician.
This gives clarity to the issue of range.
Also some UK and European commentators and reviewers have repeated real life range tests since the their vehicles were updated with the Comfort2. When corrected for summer temperatures their result show no increase in range.

Hi KasEV
Yeah if the update programmed the BMC and possibly PDU then maybe but just BCM, Gateway, IPK theres no chance of any range increase.

 

[Mark Holmes]

Hi Mark
If you can see the HV battery range on your instrument cluster bottom left but you do not have the temperature and the other things you mentioned then the USB stick the dealer used is either faulty or they have not put the files onto it correctly.
I no this from personal experience. I was given an old usb stick, the files were on correctly but the usb stick data processing speed was to low and would not update the FCIM.
Get them to do the UBS update again, that it need to be a min 30gb and formatted to FAT32, the files put on must not still be in the folder from the download but copied to the stick from within the folder so all the files can be seen on the stick. Ask them to watch the FCIM screen and to make sure it does not display update failed, restoring data. It only displays it for a second and it looks as if the update goes in. The update will not take any more than 10 mins

So you think it’s just the USB update that didn’t take correctly or that the files are missing or corrupted?

 

[MG Technician]

So you think it’s just the USB update that didn’t take correctly or that the files are missing or corrupted?

If you have the HV mileage remaining on your instrument cluster then I no its the USB update that's not worked. 100% Mark You need not worry about corrupt files. if the update fails the FCIM restores the original files and the unit is not updated. Its probably best you tell the dealer to check with all customers they have updated as its likely there's are not correctly updated either. Which Dealer did you use or does that come under data protection?

 

[Phil752]

Ok guys but is the update worth getting

 

[Mark Holmes]

If you have the HV mileage remaining on your instrument cluster then I no its the USB update that's not worked. 100% Mark You need not worry about corrupt files. if the update fails the FCIM restores the original files and the unit is not updated. Its probably best you tell the dealer to check with all customers they have updated as its likely there's are not correctly updated either. Which Dealer did you use or does that come under data protection?

Thank you, don’t see why I can’t say it’s Glyn Hopkins

 

[Allen78]

The only way that the range could be extended in my opinion would be to lower the safety margin that's set to protect the HV battery from being dropped to a level that damages it.
I no for a fact that when the ZS EV runs out of power the HV battery is still around 30% charged.
This is programmed in so if the Comfort 2 update has extended the range then it could be "I don't no for fact" that the battery is allowed to drop to a lower state thus giving more range.
What do you think?
This is word for word what we were told the update does.

This new generation of operational strategies include changes to:
 Faster system self check when powering ‘ON’
 Infotainment volume maintains and restarts at previous volume setting after powering ON/OFF
 Auto High Beam system disable option available in menu settings
 General warning chime quality improvements and reduced volume
 Warning chimes reduced for MG Pilot and Key Reminder
 Vehicle temperature and temperature alarm featured in the IPK display
 Vehicle range always on display in IPK
 Vehicle can be unlocked during A/C charging, when re-locked charging automatically resumes
To reiterate, all MG ZS EV models produced after Mid June 2020 will include the 2nd Generation of Comfort
System Software.

As KasEV said you can see it mentions nothing about increasing range.

Can I just ask something, now I may be reading this wrong. When you say run out of power you mean the car has come to a stop so if there is nearly 30% left to protect battery. 30% of 44.5 is 13.35 so that would mean we only have a usable battery pack of 31 that doesn't sound right to me. But as I've said if I've mis read what is being said apologies from me.

 

[KasEV]

@Allen78,
I am not an MG Technician but have a bit understanding of this battery issue.
I think the margins are 4 to 6 % at both ends. This equates to about 5% battery capacity left when the Dashboard shows - - and 5% room for more charge when dashboard shows 100%. The spare capacity at the upper end is needed to be able to facilitate complex charging functions such as equalisation. The lower end spare capacity is protective to avoid complete systems shut down.
I can say more but then it becomes very complex.
Please avoid driving your car when it starts showing - -.
You are at risk of complete systems shut down then. I believe there are still further protection circiuts in place but these may fail at extreme low battery.
For the sake of discussion however one may say there is a range of about 2 to 4 miles left once you hit - - on the dashboard. Please note there is no guarantee that this will be 1mile or even has a mile because the rate of discharge of the battery at such low power is very complicated and depends on a thousand and one variables.
I hope this helps.
Best advice stay safe and always drive with battery between 10 % and 90% - 100% and whatever you do, do not go below 5% especially on the motorway.

 

[Allen78]

@Allen78,
I am not an MG Technician but have a bit understanding of this battery issue.
I think the margins are 4 to 6 % at both ends. This equates to about 5% battery capacity left when the Dashboard shows - - and 5% room for more charge when dashboard shows 100%. The spare capacity at the upper end is needed to be able to facilitate complex charging functions such as equalisation. The lower end spare capacity is protective to avoid complete systems shut down.
I can say more but then it becomes very complex.
Please avoid driving your car when it starts showing - -.
You are at risk of complete systems shut down then. I believe there are still further protection circiuts in place but these may fail at extreme low battery.
For the sake of discussion however one may say there is a range of about 2 to 4 miles left once you hit - - on the dashboard. Please note there is no guarantee that this will be 1mile or even has a mile because the rate of discharge of the battery at such low power is very complicated and depends on a thousand and one variables.
I hope this helps.
Best advice stay safe and always drive with battery between 10 % and 90% - 100% and whatever you do, do not go below 5% especially on the motorway.

That makes more sense of around 5% left in reserve for avoiding damage to the battery and stopping complete shut down.
It was the 30% figure as the pack is only 44.5 there is no way the car could have 30% in reserve when it's nearly empty. ?

 

[Pepppie]

I've read the entire topic and I know that if my display displays the outside temperature, I have the latest infotainment update.

But.. If I am right, there are (in total) 4 different elements that can be updated;

• BCM,
• IPK
• Gateway
• Infotainment

Is that correct and if so; how can I check if they have the latest software updates?

 

[KasEV]

@Allen78,
That is generally the case. I think it is likely @MG Technician may have intended to write a reverse total of 13% and not 30.
Anyway what I wrote before is a very simplified explanation. There are more complex and detailed assessment. For example some analyst will start from the point that although the battery is 44.5kWh only 42.5kWh of it is functionally available. Then comes the more complex analysis of discharge rate of the available 42.5kWh against state of charge, environmental conditions, driving style and correlation to distance travelled. End solution too complex so distance travelled is simplified by using WLTP cycle assessment.
Anyway I think we have to let the battery and range issue rest for now. The fact that WLTP range is 163miles / real life range 150miles is generally accepted. The main thing is for members to be safe when planning journeys and avoid doing anything unsafe based on misleading information.
It is also clear that Comfort2 update will only change how the range is displayed and does not increase the range.
So let's plan our journeys well and enjoy our long distance travels after lockdown.

 

[RichardB]

Just been reading this topic and just had my EV back from the dealer after second time with them due to issues with charging (home and charge points). The issue was originally that on both 32amp and 'granny' charger they cut out after about 10-15 minutes. After the dealer trying to blame the charger (Rolec) they found that there was a fault with the batthery condition monitor and replaced it; charged ok the first time but then same thing happened but after two minutes with both chargers.
This time they did the Comfort 2.0 update and it seems to have fixed it. Two 'interesting' points they told me:
1. The front wheels must be perfectly straight for the charger to work. Apparently this is a safety issue
2. Approximately every 30 days the car should get a long charge with the granny charger to equalise the batteries.

I'd be interested to know if anyone else has been told either of these things. The user handbook does not mention either point, only that the equalisation should be done after a 'long period of inactivity'.

We are really pleased with the Comfort 2.0 improvements! You may not be pleased to hear that I got the upgrade for free, I guess because I was a dissatisfied customer.

 

[Dave]

Just been reading this topic and just had my EV back from the dealer after second time with them due to issues with charging (home and charge points). The issue was originally that on both 32amp and 'granny' charger they cut out after about 10-15 minutes. After the dealer trying to blame the charger (Rolec) they found that there was a fault with the batthery condition monitor and replaced it; charged ok the first time but then same thing happened but after two minutes with both chargers.
This time they did the Comfort 2.0 update and it seems to have fixed it. Two 'interesting' points they told me:
1. The front wheels must be perfectly straight for the charger to work. Apparently this is a safety issue
2. Approximately every 30 days the car should get a long charge with the granny charger to equalise the batteries.

I'd be interested to know if anyone else has been told either of these things. The user handbook does not mention either point, only that the equalisation should be done after a 'long period of inactivity'.

We are really pleased with the Comfort 2.0 improvements! You may not be pleased to hear that I got the upgrade for free, I guess because I was a dissatisfied customer.

Congrats on the update

The Battery equalisation can be done on your standard 7kW charger, no need to use the granny charger.

When you are charging your car on your home charger you will see the LOGO on the charger flap will pulse a blue light. When one of the cells in the battery is at 100% this will turn to a solid on glow. When the solid glow is active the car is balancing the cells in the battery to get them all as close to 100% as it can. Once the light goes out, balancing is complete and your battery is fully charged and all the cells are balanced.

 

[Phil752]

Just had the update done today, for free, seems to have gone ok. Did notice that there is a list of charging stations on the Sat Nav, to be honest, may have been there before and I had not noticed

 

[Gavla]

My dealership has informed me that they have not yet received the update and will let me know when they do. Is this likely or are they fobbing me off for some reason, any ideas