ZS-EV Software

[Gadget Geek]

I seem to remember OTA being a small...ish selling point on the MG website. Although to be fair it actually said "OTA Ready', not that it will be receiving OTA updates...it was just ready for them presumably when MG was able or ready to do them. Is it something they are working towards?? Probably. It costs a considerable amount of money to do OTA. Not just money for the tech involved but licences & channels to do it. That may be the sticking point. Who knows!

Mind you, having experienced some of the MG sortware glitches, I'm not sure I'd want them to update it over the air. If it cocks up in the dealership, at least they can correct it. If it cocks up OTA then you've got a brick sitting on your driveway.

 

[hmadsen]

I seem to remember OTA being a small...ish selling point on the MG website. Although to be fair it actually said "OTA Ready', not that it will be receiving OTA updates...it was just ready for them presumably when MG was able or ready to do them. Is it something they are working towards?? Probably. It costs a considerable amount of money to do OTA. Not just money for the tech involved but licences & channels to do it. That may be the sticking point. Who knows!

Here it was more of a "can" be updated, so technically they did not lie.

As always with chinese stuff "CAN be updated via OTA" does not mean "WILL be updated via OTA"

Still pretty poor of them, here it was a selling point in the fact that the "Luxury" trim had it, but the "Comfort" trim did not (Luxury was folding mirrors, full MGSmart, glass sunroof, rain sensor, electric drivers seat etc, where standard did not have these).

So it was one of many "selling points" for the ones, shelling out extra money for the "luxury"

 

[Alan1966]

My BMW 1 series had over the air updates . Managed to get a couple installed but there was one that just wouldn’t install at all . Was still trying to install when I sold the car . Better the stealer doing it .

 

[Lovemyev]

My service schedule from my dealer states that a SOH battery check is standard. It will be carried out.

It says Typhoo on buses, but they don’t sell tea !.
Another visit to the dealer if they miss it, is not a very good idea.
Ask them to make an entry request on the job sheet for the service, or leave a nice note in the car for the tech, is what I did .

 

[Susanna]

Thanks all for your helpful comments. When I book the service online, I always ask for updates to be done, and battery SOH. But I think the latter was just written on the service sheet. I will do as @Lovemyev suggests, and ask for a screenshot. I do use an MG garage, but I’ve never been very impressed, to be honest. However, I have a 4 year service plan, so I will probably go elsewhere when that finishes. There is a new dealership more local to me now.

 

[Bradford Chap]

Hi Deepblue,
My car has had a complete software suite update after I had MG app connectivity issues. The connectivity issues arose after some warranty work was carried out. Someone accidentally disconnected the 12v battery whilst the car was in it's 'Ready' state. That's like shutting down your Windows computer by pulling out the plug from the wall socket. It caused some software corruption. Myself, dealer & MG customer support tried all sorts to correct the problem but to no avail.

In the end the only solution was to upgrade the telematics software that runs the cars main computer from R25 to R27. Once this had been carried out the car was able to see upgrades for all 6 other computer modules in the car. The technician duly downloaded & installed these additional upgrades. After that all connectivity issues were cured. Everything works great now.

If your dealer tells you there are no other updates for your car when it's running R25 inform him he can upgrade you to R27 & loads of other updates will immediately become available. These should cure your issues. My car also wakes up & charges it's 12v battery when it's needed.

How do you find out which software version you have?

 

[hmadsen]

My BMW 1 series had over the air updates . Managed to get a couple installed but there was one that just wouldn’t install at all . Was still trying to install when I sold the car . Better the stealer doing it .

I have a Tesla also, owned it 2 years 8 months, all updates have been done over the air, have not once had to take it to Tesla to have software done and this is every single module onboard they update so it is totally possible to do the updates over the air.

The MG....It gets no updates other than the ones it gets when it goes in for the yearly service.

But I wont complain to be honest, the Tesla and the MG are 2 totally different cars, the Tesla has constantly received meaningful updates that has improved the car all through my ownership. I know the MG will not get anything of the sort, the only things it will receive is bug fixes for stuff, that MG sort of has to fix...For example the Tesla SuC compatibility.

 

[hmadsen]

How do you find out which software version you have?

Which module ?

The car has so many different modules with it's own software.

The only software version you can really get is the infotainment one, it can be found in the settings menu.

The rest...Well you need an OBD dongle and ZSe software, but even with that, all yo get is the software version number, but since there is no changelogs, all you can do is...Read out the software versions before and after a service to see which version changed...But typically, not even the MG garage, knows what changes has been made between software versions, so the only thing you can really get from reading the software version is.

1. Compare before and after a service (Especially if they say they have updated the software, you can check if this is tru)

2. Compare with someone else, that has read theirs out, to see if they have a newer version for example

 

[Data]

How do you find out which software version you have?

The main thing you want to check is the infotainments Telematics software version in the car settings menu (as hmadsen says). This will end (for example) with an 'R' number such as R19, R23 or R25 or various other numbers. My car, bought new in Jan 2025 had R25 software. With R25 the MG dealer computer showed no software updates for my car. However when this was updated to Telematics R27 the car could see updates for every single one of its 6 modules. These I was told were significant updates. Certainly my car has the latest features & runs beautifully with no glitches anywhere in its software.

 

[W12Lad]

The main thing you want to check is the infotainments Telematics software version in the car settings menu (as hmadsen says). This will end (for example) with an 'R' number such as R19, R23 or R25 or various other numbers. My car, bought new in Jan 2025 had R25 software. With R25 the MG dealer computer showed no software updates for my car. However when this was updated to Telematics R27 the car could see updates for every single one of its 6 modules. These I was told were significant updates. Certainly my car has the latest features & runs beautifully with no glitches anywhere in its software.

Hi, do you (or any one else please) have any specifics on what functions have been improved/updated through the different software versions.

My Trophy SR was registered Sep 24 but was built early 23 and is on R16.

Does anyone with later software have to turn off any driver assitance aids each time you start the car, or does it remember them like mine does (built pre legislation)?
This would be an excellent reason for me not to bother getting any updates

The things that need improvement if possible is the ACC which is too jerky and the ridiculous slowing on bends.
The Mute button on the steering wheel switches to Android Auto rather than mute the radio currently playing.
The Bluetooth doesn't connect maybe 20% of the time. I have a fix for this now which is to reset the Infotainment which has worked 100% of the time so far (about 6 times).

All things I would happily live with if there were no improvements available as I love the car.........
Would be nice though

 

[Data]

I cannot tell you exactly what extra features you will get by updating all of your software because I don't know what you already have. Given you are running R16 (the oldest software version) these extra features will likely be very significant. I know earlier cars such as yours have extra buttons on the screen after updating. Above all your car will have a more reliable more robust software system. Many software glitches such as you describe will no doubt be fixed. The cruise control on my car works seamlessly as does traffic jam assist, things that on your car may not be as good without the updates. Not saying everything will be perfect but I think you will notice a difference. There's so much that updates will/may improve including the charging of your 12v battery when the car is switched off.

 

[W12Lad]

I cannot tell you exactly what extra features you will get by updating all of your software because I don't know what you already have. Given you are running R16 (the oldest software version) these extra features will likely be very significant. I know earlier cars such as yours have extra buttons on the screen after updating. Above all your car will have a more reliable more robust software system. Many software glitches such as you describe will no doubt be fixed. The cruise control on my car works seamlessly as does traffic jam assist, things that on your car may not be as good without the updates. Not saying everything will be perfect but I think you will notice a difference. There's so much that updates will/may improve including the charging of your 12v battery when the car is switched off.

Thanks for answering.

These are great reasons for me to get the latest updates, but unfortunately not good enough for the dealer to perform them.

This is why it would be helpful to know specifics. In language that the dealer will recognise and not be able to fob me off.

I mentioned, at my first service, the ACC problems and was told there are no specific updates for this.

 

[Data]

Thanks for answering.

These are great reasons for me to get the latest updates, but unfortunately not good enough for the dealer to perform them.

This is why it would be helpful to know specifics. In language that the dealer will recognise and not be able to fob me off.

I mentioned, at my first service, the ACC problems and was told there are no specific updates for this.

I think your dealer is badly informed, very busy or lazy. There are several glitches that a full software update will fix & some features that will be added. This is why there are updates. It is the dealers responsibility to administer these. You are entitled to these especially if the car is under warranty. Contact MG customer services through your MG app & describe your predicament. I think they will back you. I would add that dealers are a bit reluctant to do large updates as they take a lot of time. If they are carried out at a service it is more likely to be done. Let us all know how you get on.

 

[rcworcs]

Does anyone know if the R25 to R27 update will fix the Tesla charger issues ?
I’m on R25 model year 2024 and can’t get the Tesla chargers to work.
Many thanks

 

[Data]

No, R27 doesn't give you the Tesla update. The Tesla upgrade is an entirely separate firmware/software upgrade. Your car already has the upgrade to allow Tesla charging. As mentioned previously in other threads, I'd directly contact MG support through the app or speak with another dealer who will help sort it for you. Your car should be perfectly capable of Tesla charging. I think you have a rare...ish software glitch causing the issue or possibly a firmware problem. It might be there is an issue with your cars charger connector pins. Have you tried holding the charge connector with a slight 'lift' action as you try to charge at a Tesla charger. Don't do this in the wet! The top two pins in the connector sometimes don't connect well. These two pins are responsible for communicating with the charger, the 'handshake' to allow charging. Some on here have said this has sorted the issue. Once the charge has started you can let go of the connector. It would prove it's the issue if it works. Obviously make sure the pins are clean.

 

[hmadsen]

The protocol for DC fastcharging is a LOT more complicated than the (can barely be called a) protocol used for AC charging.

The DC charging protocol includes a LOT of different stuff that can be communicated, i bet the reason the Tesla charging does not work for MG's without a software update is, Tesla is using some obscure command that is in the protocol, that no one else uses, so MG probably never thought of implementing the correct handshake/response to that, but then Tesla opened up their charging network and suddenly it mattered.

The fix for the Tesla charging is, from what i read, an update to the firmware in the onboard charger.

The charger is not really used for DC fast charging, but it does still do the communication with the DC fast charger and so on.

 

[Data]

Bear in mind that it is Tesla that supplies the correct upgrade software/firmware fix for our cars, not MG. MG have little to do with it other than loading it. Of course they do work with Tesla on specs & loading requirements. As told to me by a Tesla technician who was servicing a Tesla charger, Tesla does use an unusual protocol in their chargers.

Interestingly, it's worth noting other car manufacturers have also struggled with this Tesla upgrade. Both the Kia E-Niro & Kona in our family have had issues charging at Tesla charging hubs. We have an ID4 in the family but so far it's charged ok at Tesla's.

 

[rcworcs]

No, R27 doesn't give you the Tesla update. The Tesla upgrade is an entirely separate firmware/software upgrade. Your car already has the upgrade to allow Tesla charging. As mentioned previously in other threads, I'd directly contact MG support through the app or speak with another dealer who will help sort it for you. Your car should be perfectly capable of Tesla charging. I think you have a rare...ish software glitch causing the issue or possibly a firmware problem. It might be there is an issue with your cars charger connector pins. Have you tried holding the charge connector with a slight 'lift' action as you try to charge at a Tesla charger. Don't do this in the wet! The top two pins in the connector sometimes don't connect well. These two pins are responsible for communicating with the charger, the 'handshake' to allow charging. Some on here have said this has sorted the issue. Once the charge has started you can let go of the connector. It would prove it's the issue if it works. Obviously make sure the pins are clean.

I’ll give this a try.
Sometimes it gets to the kWh etc screen in the Tesla charger when I use a debit card. ( the app never works ) But then charging never actually starts, and the connector doesn’t seem to actually lock on the car . I tried locking it with the button in the screen in the car but that doesn’t work either. The dash shows the charging icon but it never delivers any charge.
MG dealers want to charge me for diagnostics and MG customer service are utterly useless. All trying to push the blame somewhere else. If this doesn’t get resolved soon I will NEVER buy an MG again.
It also seems not to work on the IONITY Chargers at Cobham Services .

 

[rcworcs]

If ZS EV owners, that are successful Tesla charger users, could spare the time , could everyone please post their versions of software installed . That may highlight something and help define if there is a specific SW issue people have problems with (or not have problems if it works ) .
thanks all for the replies so far

 

[Data]

I’ll give this a try.
Sometimes it gets to the kWh etc screen in the Tesla charger when I use a debit card. ( the app never works ) But then charging never actually starts, and the connector doesn’t seem to actually lock on the car . I tried locking it with the button in the screen in the car but that doesn’t work either. The dash shows the charging icon but it never delivers any charge.
MG dealers want to charge me for diagnostics and MG customer service are utterly useless. All trying to push the blame somewhere else. If this doesn’t get resolved soon I will NEVER buy an MG again.
It also seems not to work on the IONITY Chargers at Cobham Services .

When you lock your car it should lock the charge connector into place. My connector locks very quickly during the charge initiation. Wondering if that might be the problem? Try immediately locking the car after connecting.

Dealers charging for diagnostics is quite normal & you will often be reimbursed if it turns into a warranty claim. But check if you go that route.