Software Updates ZS EV

[dspencer12345]

Hi. I could do with some advice please. I purchased my ZS EV LR in September 2023, and when it was serviced last September, the dealer refused to update any of the software, "as there have been no major improvements".

I have a few issues including the terrible Lane Assist function, and the Auto headlights aren't great.
Have there been any improvements to these in the last two years, and are there any other updates I should be demanding on my second service please?

 

[Pete G]

I don't know about updates, but I turn the lane assist off. It is never turned on in our car.
I find it is useless for us as the majority of our driving is on a 2 lane highway. It is a very windy road and the lane assist always thinks it needs to brake when we go around sharp corners.
So it is off permanently.
Our Gen 1 ZS seems to accept that we don't want it on and remembers it. So I don't have to keep turning it off.
Pete

 

[BOB353]

I found the lane assist a PITA until I started using the indicators properly, putting the indicator on cancels the lane assist

I have since turned off the steering part but left the audible warning on for when I accidentally drift.

 

[hmadsen]

Hi. I could do with some advice please. I purchased my ZS EV LR in September 2023, and when it was serviced last September, the dealer refused to update any of the software, "as there have been no major improvements".

I have a few issues including the terrible Lane Assist function, and the Auto headlights aren't great.
Have there been any improvements to these in the last two years, and are there any other updates I should be demanding on my second service please?

I have a 2025 and according to the MG dealer, it was fully updated before deliver 6 months ago.

Those issues you mention have not been fixed, even in the (In January 2025) latest software.

If you have a 2023 car with software from back, then i would say there has been a major improvement, but not in the systems you mention, but instead in the car's ability to charge at Tesla SuC's.

If you go to a Tesla charger and try charging you will probably find it will not work. MG har made an update for that, so if you ask them to do the update because you can not charge at Tesla chargers they might do it.

Do bear in mind, they might want to charge you for the update as they seem to class it as a "comfort update" and getting that update might not mean every module is updated, i would imagine the bugfix for the Tesla chargers is an update to the OnBoardCharger.

 

[DBedford]

The update for Tesla charger compatibility was free when I got my serviced last years a MG Beaconsfield.

 

[dspencer12345]

The update for Tesla charger compatibility was free when I got my serviced last years a MG Beaconsfield.

Wow! That's good to know, as some local dealers wanted to charge me over £200 when I checked last year!

 

[Gadget Geek]

Wow! That's good to know, as some local dealers wanted to charge me over £200 when I checked last year!

It's worth ringing around. Last year at the second service, I asked my local dealership to apply the Tesla patch and they wanted me to pay for a second technician to install it. This year, I phoned a dealership 30 miles away and not only will they apply the Tesla patch for free, the service is £50 cheaper than my local dealer quoted.

 

[Data]

My dealer was fully prepared to load the Tesla upgrade for free but upon checking, my 2025 registered car already had the upgrade. To be clear, as was eluded to by others on this site, it's not a fix. It's an actual upgrade since originally Tesla chargers were never open to other car makes until quite recently. That's why some dealers charge for the time it takes to do the upgrade. It's likely your car will get updated this time but make sure to ask for them.

My car has also had a completely new software suite loaded after a minor glitch with the MG app losing contact with my phone. The problem was traced to the telematics system becoming slightly corrupted after some minor paintwork warranty work was carried out. It seems a technician inadvertently disconnected the 12V battery on my car while the car was in its switched on 'ready' running state. This is like turning off your Windows computer by pulling out the plug at the wall socket, causing a slight corruption. Anyway, all easily fixed & as a result my car has almost every bit of software replaced. They had the car hooked up to MG for over 3.5 hours. It's now running R27 telematics module software which allowed the car to see new software for every other module. Very pleased.

 

[rcworcs]

My dealer was fully prepared to load the Tesla upgrade for free but upon checking, my 2025 registered car already had the upgrade. To be clear, as was eluded to by others on this site, it's not a fix. It's an actual upgrade since originally Tesla chargers were never open to other car makes until quite recently. That's why some dealers charge for the time it takes to do the upgrade. It's likely your car will get updated this time but make sure to ask for them.

My car has also had a completely new software suite loaded after a minor glitch with the MG app losing contact with my phone. The problem was traced to the telematics system becoming slightly corrupted after some minor paintwork warranty work was carried out. It seems a technician inadvertently disconnected the 12v battery on my car while the car was in it's switched on 'ready' running state. This is like turning off your Windows computer by pulling out the plug at the wall socket, causing a slight corruption. Anyway, all easily fixed & as a result my car has almost every bit of software replaced. They had the car hooked up to MG for over 3.5 hours. It's now running R27 telematics module software which allowed the car to see new software for every other module. Very pleased.

Thanks for the info. Could you advise if I am able to check the telematics version eg R27 myself? I’ve not been able to use Tesla chargers and and 1 other brand even though the dealer said all software updates were done on delivery!

 

[Data]

Hi rcworcs, as of this moment I cannot remember exactly how to check the software version. I'll need to take a look tomorrow & come back with that info. I think it is viewable in the car settings from memory but I do need to do that check. I didn't see it listed in engineering mode but I wasn't actually looking for that particular piece of information.

Anyway, can you tell me what year your car is? Also, just checking but is your Tesla app configured correctly? Have you selected 'other' as your vehicle? You mention you were unable to charge at Tesla, did you confirm it was definitely open to all vehicle types? With vehicle type 'other', the only Tesla charge centres shown in the app are open to all. I would add that it can take a couple of minutes to start charging at any charge, even the Tesla's. And sometimes a charge can fail due to a charger issue. I'm guessing your car has been charging ok elsewhere?

Ok, so I'll check tomorrow & come back to you. Sorry if I'm saying stuff you already know but your post leaves some questions. Bye for now.

 

[rcworcs]

Hi rcworcs, as of this moment I cannot remember exactly how to check the software version. I'll need to take a look tomorrow & come back with that info. I think it is viewable in the car settings from memory but I do need to do that check. I didn't see it listed in engineering mode but I wasn't actually looking for that particular piece of information.

Anyway, can you tell me what year your car is? Also, just checking but is your Tesla app configured correctly? Have you selected 'other' as your vehicle? You mention you were unable to charge at Tesla, did you confirm it was definitely open to all vehicle types? With vehicle type 'other', the only Tesla charge centres shown in the app are open to all. I would add that it can take a couple of minutes to start charging at any charge, even the Tesla's. And sometimes a charge can fail due to a charger issue. I'm guessing your car has been charging ok elsewhere?

Ok, so I'll check tomorrow & come back to you. Sorry if I'm saying stuff you already know but your post leaves some questions. Bye for now.

Thanks for replying.
It was regsitered Dec 24. They said on collection all updates were done.
Yes I checked 2 different Tesla locations open to all, 3/4 times each. No luck. It seems to show the Kwh etc screen but never starts charging.
Charges OK elswwhere - except for IONITY charger at Cobham services - same issue.
I have took it to 2 dealers and they all said no updates were showing on the system.

 

[Data]

Hi rcworcs, ok so this is interesting. If your car is a late car as yours is, it should already have the correct software upgrade to allow Tesla charging. This is borne out by the dealers saying there isn't an update to allow Tesla charging showing on the system. If your car didn't have the update/upgrade, it would show up.

So the question is, why won't your car charge on a Tesla charger. This can be because...
1. You have a glitch with your software (unlikely);
2. Your Tesla app is configured incorrectly (more likely).

Point 2 has sometimes often proven to be the case. Make sure you have selected 'Any car' as the vehicle you are using in the app. It will only work using that selection. Make sure everything else you've entered into the app is 100% correct.

To find the software 'R' number you must look in the settings for the infotainment system. You are looking for the entertainment system version number, the 'R' number. The R number is on the end of a very long number in the entertainment SYSTEM settings section. Yours will most likely be R25. I'm pretty sure 'R25' can 'see' most updates for your car including the Tesla upgrade if you need one. As mentioned, if it doesn't show a Tesla upgrade at the dealers when hooked up to the MG computer, you've already got It! R25 will not be able to see certain other updates for the cars computer modules. Only R27 (the latest) can currently see all of those. Your car will no doubt be upgraded when it goes into the dealer for it's first service. But you must make sure to ask for them to be sure it gets them.

To add, my car was registered brand new in January this year. Mine had R25 & already had the Tesla upgrade. Mine was upgrade to R27 due to a minor glitch in my software. However, every 2024 car has the Tesla upgrade & many 2023 cars too. Dunno if any of this helps.

 

[rcworcs]

Hi rcworcs, ok so this is interesting. If your car is a late car as yours is, it should already have the correct software upgrade to allow Tesla charging. This is borne out by the dealers saying there isn't an update to allow Tesla charging showing on the system. If your car didn't have the update/upgrade, it would show up.

So the question is, why won't your car charge on a Tesla charger. This can be because...
1. You have a glitch with your software (unlikely);
2. Your Tesla app is configured incorrectly (more likely).

Point 2 has sometimes often proven to be the case. Make sure you have selected 'Any car' as the vehicle you are using in the app. It will only work using that selection. Make sure everything else you've entered into the app is 100% correct.

To find the software 'R' number you must look in the settings for the infotainment system. You are looking for the entertainment system version number, the 'R' number. The R number is on the end of a very long number in the entertainment SYSTEM settings section. Yours will most likely be R25. I'm pretty sure 'R25' can 'see' most updates for your car including the Tesla upgrade if you need one. As mentioned, if it doesn't show a Tesla upgrade at the dealers when hooked up to the MG computer, you've already got It! R25 will not be able to see certain other updates for the cars computer modules. Only R27 (the latest) can currently see all of those. Your car will no doubt be upgraded when it goes into the dealer for it's first service. But you must make sure to ask for them to be sure it gets them.

To add, my car was registered brand new in January this year. Mine had R25 & already had the Tesla upgrade. Mine was upgrade to R27 due to a minor glitch in my software. However, every 2024 car has the Tesla upgrade & many 2023 cars too. Dunno if any of this helps.

That’s really great feedback , thank you.
So I have R25 (SWI17-29176-1300R25) . But the maps appear to be 23. So maybe it was an early build car? I pressed the upgrade button and it shows no new version available yet.
The only thing I need to check is the hardware version of the charge control module under the bonnet. On the side of the 12v battery but I have nothing to compare it to.
I have a service in 200 miles. But I can ask if they update the telematics to R27 or something. It’s such a farce with MG they can’t even put out a service advice bulletin to clear all this up for everyone. It’s really put me off buying another when the time comes.
I’ve checked the Tesla app several times and deleted and re selected the car Other . To no avail.

 

[Data]

Regarding the map version. To get the latest maps you have to go to the MG website shown in the cars manual in the app. Or the UK site may have a link. There you can go to support & enter your Vin number to download the relevant map update onto your computer. Next you need a 32gb usb stick (nice & clean, nothing else on it) to allow you to upload the file into the car. There are instructions somewhere on here to do that or YouTube videos are available from MG telling you how to do it. Over the air updates are almost non existent for our cars at the moment. For comparison, my maps were 3yrs out of date when I got my late 2024 car at the start of the year.

It is just possible you have a software glitch stopping charging at a Tesla charger. But it's rare for that sort of thing to happen. As a last resort you can report the issue to your dealer who will be able to sort it.
QUESTION: Are you using the Tesla App to control the charge OR are you using the contactless screen available on many Tesla chargers now??
Have you tried both methods? The contactless screen cuts out the app & will trigger a charge if it's the app at fault. Has the app accepted your payment method correctly. Your charge will be rejected each time if the app hasn't accepted a verified payment card.

Forgive the questions. Not trying to treat you as being dumb, I promise you. But you'd be surprised at how many people find there payment method hasn't been accepted in the app. If that's the case try the contactless screen before doing anything else. Good luck & let us all know how you get on please. Cheers!