[Guide] DIY Tesla Compatibility Update for MG5

xblackwolf90

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Hi all,

I wanted to put together a brief overview of the DIY method to get your MG5 working on Tesla Superchargers.

The Issue
By default, MG5s will not charge at open Tesla Superchargers. Facelift models will fail to connect and the central infotainment unit will display "Electrical Grid Abnormal". Pre facelift models will also fail to connect.

The Fix
A software update for the EVCC (Electronic Vehicle Communication Controller) is provided by MG to enable compatibility with these chargers. However, MG class this as an enhancement so will not cover this under warranty.

Some dealers are fully aware of the update and will apply free of charge as part of a service, others will charge up to £200, and others are completely unaware of the update and are unable to assist. The number of dealers willing to install the update for free seems to be significantly limited.

Note: for standard range models, the whole EVCC unit needs to be physically replaced. This is a dealer only job and will cost around £1000.

Special thanks for the overall software update guide posted by @haloweenhamster at this link:

Some screenshots (marked with a *) are taken directly from this user's posts, no credit claimed for these by myself.

Compatible Cars
This guide is for MG5 Long Range models (facelift and non-facelift models).

Standard range models will require the EVCC module to be physically changed, so you will need to contact your dealer.

Disclaimer
This is completed at your own risk. I had no issues, but I accept no liability for any issues you may experience as part of this guide.

Required Hardware
- A laptop (or PC you can take out to the car)
- A VDI tool. I used this one: VNCI VDI3 für Rongwei MG Wuling Baojun Datong Diagnoseschnittstelle unterstützt DoIP- und CANFD-Protokoll, passend für SAIC-Gruppensoftware - AliExpress 34

How To
Create an MG Account
1) Head to MG - Repair & Maintenance Information
2) Select "Start Standardised Navigation ->User Administration -> Register"
3) Fill out the form and change "Type of Customer" from "Person" to "Company"
4) When entering company details, these are not checked by MG. I entered the VAT no. of the business where I work.

Pay for Access to SIPS
Once registered above, complete the following. Ensure you have your VDI tool at this point.

1) Select "Start Standardised Navigation ->Payment"
2) Under "Offboard diagnostic information system service - diagnostics", Select the required time. 1 hour might be a little rushed depending on how quick you are on a computer. I would recommend 24 hours to give you plenty of time.
3) Complete payment.

Download Required Software
1) Select "Start Standardised Navigation -> Download Area"
2) Download and install "VCI Manager"
3) NEW Download SIPS from this link: software – Google Drive


Step 3 above is to install a slightly older version of SIPS. As per post from @AntM below, you may come across additional challenges with the latest version of SIPS. I do not know why this presents for some users and not others, but using the previous version should prevent this happening.

Connect the Hardware and Connect the VDI Tool to Your Laptop
1) Plug in your VDI tool
2) Open VCI manager
3) If an option to select the tool is presented with 3 options, select "VDI 3").
4) Click connect. The below will show the tool connected*

1759828580003.webp


Head to your car and connect the diagnostic tool

** IMPORTANT **
I would recommend keeping your laptop plugged into a power source during this update to ensure the battery doesn't go flat whilst installing.

Power on the car without pressing the brake pedal. Your power button should be green, but the vehicle must not be in ready mode.

1) Plug the VDI tool into your car. The port is below the steering wheel to the left. Some flexibility is needed here!
2) Open SIPS on your laptop.
3) You'll be asked to login. Head back to Welcome to nginx!, click "Your Name -> User Profile"
4) The username and password for SIPS will be displayed as "SNW Account Name"*

1759828749809.webp


It will take several minutes to scan the car. SIPS will display "Vehicle Information is Processing". Just wait for a little while for this to complete.

5) Vehicle information will be displayed. You can accept / click yes.

Identify and install the update
1) Click 'ECU Information'. You'll see in the list that the EVCC module will require an update:

1759828905068.webp


2) Click "Programming and Coding"
3) Select "EVCC(Electric Vehicle Communication controller)"
4) Select "Reprogram" and click "Next"

Once the update is downloaded, you'll be asked to confirm the vehicle is powered on and in park. Click "Next":

1759829215242.webp


The software will download and install.

IMPORTANT
Your car will suddenly completely power off at this point, as soon as you click "Next". This is normal.

The update will then install and take around 3 minutes.

Your car will restart after install and display "Invalid Key". This is normal.

Testing
You can now disconnect the VDI tool and power your car off and head to a Tesla charger!

1759829421394.webp
 
Last edited:
Standard range models will require the EVCC module to be physically changed, so you will need to contact your dealer.
Just want to add: swapping the EVCC module is very straightforward if you can find the correct model from e.g. an EV breaker on eBay. I swapped the module on my PFL SR and the car did not complain at all beyond the usual "how dare you unplug the 12V battery?!" warnings.

However I still need to get the update installed, so I can't definitively say it's all working ... yet!
 
Cheers again for the detailed write up @xblackwolf90 , I carried out the update on my pre FL LR and was able to test it tonight, worked perfectly.

Always good to have more charging options!

View attachment 40822
Fantastic! Glad you've been able to install the update successfully.

Slightly daunting at first, but it's such a quick and easy update to do.
 
Good evening all,

Following the excellent instructions above, I've tried to apply the EVCC update to my FL MG5 this evening but when I get to looking at the ECU versions, the two software versions are different but rather than having a red x, I have a dash. When I try to reprogram and click next, the app tells me that the software is up to date, asks if 'the customer has a problem', and then prompts me to enter a verification code. I've got screenshots of all of the SIPS pages if they are useful. Any help would be extremely appreciated!

Screenshot 2025-11-08 180201.webp


Kind regards, Anthony
 
Good evening all,

Following the excellent instructions above, I've tried to apply the EVCC update to my FL MG5 this evening but when I get to looking at the ECU versions, the two software versions are different but rather than having a red x, I have a dash. When I try to reprogram and click next, the app tells me that the software is up to date, asks if 'the customer has a problem', and then prompts me to enter a verification code. I've got screenshots of all of the SIPS pages if they are useful. Any help would be extremely appreciated!

View attachment 41172

Kind regards, Anthony
I found the relevant information on this here:

Post in thread 'Diagnostic VDI, VNCI, MDI with MG4' Diagnostic VDI, VNCI, MDI with MG4

Specifically, the attached indicates you need to log a report (photo advising of the -- error attached) and you'll instantly get a verification code to proceed with the update.

I've also attached the PDF showing how to generate a code.

Can't say I've come across this to test, but this would seem to be the way to force the update to proceed.

//EDIT
Seems like using an older version of SIPS without this feature might be easier.

You can try uninstalling SIPS, then installing the older version at this link: software – Google Drive

Credit again to @haloweenhamster for the older version being stored at the above Google Drive link, and advice in the other thread.
 

Attachments

Last edited:
All,

Many thanks to @xblackwolf90 for the guidance and help above and to @haloweenhamster for the older version of SIPS. I updated the EVCC software this morning, drove to my local open Tesla Supercharger in Amesbury and it worked!

From my experience, do not use the new version of SIPS, use the older one in Haloweenhamsters Google Drive. The first problem that I encountered was that the newer version identifies that modules are not up to date but will not easily allow you to update them. Then, when I downloaded the older version and tried to login, I was unable to, due to being "logged in on another computer". In effect, the MG/SIPS server had my account as still being logged in to the new version of SIPS so would not let me log in to the older version - this persisted until my 24 hr subscription expired. I was unsure whether my SIPS username would be the same if I purchased another 24 hr subscription and if I would be faced with the same problem; my solution was to create a second MG Account and use that. It worked perfectly.

My advice would be to use the older version of SIPS from the start. Good luck!

thumbnail_20251115_115358.webp
 
All,

Many thanks to @xblackwolf90 for the guidance and help above and to @haloweenhamster for the older version of SIPS. I updated the EVCC software this morning, drove to my local open Tesla Supercharger in Amesbury and it worked!

From my experience, do not use the new version of SIPS, use the older one in Haloweenhamsters Google Drive. The first problem that I encountered was that the newer version identifies that modules are not up to date but will not easily allow you to update them. Then, when I downloaded the older version and tried to login, I was unable to, due to being "logged in on another computer". In effect, the MG/SIPS server had my account as still being logged in to the new version of SIPS so would not let me log in to the older version - this persisted until my 24 hr subscription expired. I was unsure whether my SIPS username would be the same if I purchased another 24 hr subscription and if I would be faced with the same problem; my solution was to create a second MG Account and use that. It worked perfectly.

My advice would be to use the older version of SIPS from the start. Good luck!

View attachment 41305
Glad you got this update working in the end!

I've updated my original post with updated guidance to use the older version of SIPS to avoid this cropping up again.
 
Thank you so much for this guide. I've recently got a 72plate facelift version which I can't get to charge at Tesla Trafford centre (open to all). Before I drop £100 on AliExpress just wanted to check it was car error not human error!

My car trys connecting then says 'charging ceased'. No error message or anything like that. Is this what you guys have seen?

Also, for those who've updated a load of modules in addition to evcc, have you noticed anything different? I'm fighting the 'ain't broke don't fix it' philosophy with the 'i want to get my money's worth' philosophy!

Thanks for any advice
 
Thank you so much for this guide. I've recently got a 72plate facelift version which I can't get to charge at Tesla Trafford centre (open to all). Before I drop £100 on AliExpress just wanted to check it was car error not human error!

My car trys connecting then says 'charging ceased'. No error message or anything like that. Is this what you guys have seen?

Also, for those who've updated a load of modules in addition to evcc, have you noticed anything different? I'm fighting the 'ain't broke don't fix it' philosophy with the 'i want to get my money's worth' philosophy!

Thanks for any advice
I used to get 'Electrical Grid Abnormal' on the central infotainment display, and 'Charging Ceased' on the instrument cluster. The Tesla app would show that the charge never started.

Check out the MG4 thread for other software update stories (many pages to scroll through). Many have had lots of success and there's always been a work around for any failed updates (essentially fully reinstalling rather than just updating). It doesn't look like anyone's bricked anything, but I'm personally fine without updating modules that are working fine.

There are some MG5 posts in the MG4 thread - updating all modules doesn't seem to add any additional functionality, so if it's working fine for you, you'll unlikely see any benefits.

If you do go ahead, someone will likely buy it off you afterwards. I sold mine the same evening after completing the update.
 
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