Non-MG Service Centre & software updates

[Terry2]

A local garage has undertaken my first MOT. Although not an MG dealer, they said they could also install software updates. Has anyone else ever used a non-MG service shop to install software updates and if so, whether the experience was a good or bad one?

 

[Data]

If they are a non franchised dealer I would question whether in fact they even have access to genuine MG updates. Generally only MG dealers can do this. I also suspect that if they do, they will charge a considerable amount of money to load them as they will have to pay for them. Find out what updates they are claiming they can supply. I bet it's not much & probably not genuine.

 

[BOB353]

I agree with Data 100% and question where they are getting the so called updates from.

 

[Coulomb]

Why wouldn't non-MG service centres purchase access to the MG servers the same as owners that do their own updates from home?

Compared to labour rates and the overheads of a service centre, I would not think that the cost of such access would be terribly significant.

 

[BOB353]

Coulomb, I can't even get map updates out of MG so how is anyone going to get software updates?

 

[Data]

In the UK access to MG updates isn't an option unless you are an MG dealer, unless things have changed since I was a tech but that's unlikely. Most manufacturers operate like this. To update a car you need access to MG's computer network. You cannot update your car at home yourself, aside from map updates. As a tech I had access to minor non genuine updates for some car & motorcycles. These were often third party updates that were prohibited by the manufacturers & would invalidate warranty if applied. These were usually performance enhancing ECU updates.

 

[Coulomb]

To update a car you need access to MG's computer network.

Yes, but you can buy access by the hour, day, 7 or 30 days, or year:

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

Jul 14, 2024

Perhaps it was just an hour bought
Access to "Vehicle-specific information" and "Model-specific information": prices

Offboard diagnostic information system service - diagnostics: prices

I will probably buy an hour of each after buying an interface
Worst come to worst I'll just buy the software from AliExpress but hopefully that won't be needed as generally everything is web based these days

• haloweenhamster

• 

Owners are certainly updating their own firmware, software, etc. Go to the start of the above thread for some links.