Difference between dealer software updates and OTA updates

[PF EX30]

In the dealer today in the UK for the 18.5k mile service. Opted to wait with the car as an electric car service should be quick.....

I was sat in the comfortable surroundings watching my car through the glass as the time ticked past but no great shakes as was getting on top of some work on my laptop. By 90mins in, I went to the desk to see why it was taking so long. I was told it was all about the software. All the checks were quick enough and the filter swap, but the software took an age. In fact by the end it was 3 hours for the service, of which about 2hours was software.

As it was explained to me, they have new dealer software to apply which updates every module in the car. This is different to the OTA software which is the user interface and operating software for the overall system. Having to reflash every module is what takes so long. They also updated my OTA software to Android 1.5 (dispelling the theory that it is not suitable for RHD cars I guess).

Anyway, car seems broadly the same, but not had much chance to test it. Pilot assist is maybe smoother in operation with the steering tugging less. I might be imagining it, but it seems less prone to slow down for vehicles in other lanes on the motorway (which was always bad especially on right hand curves). Oh and it now seems to remember to boot up with the radio on if you left it with the radio on.

Despite the criticisms I maybe think the new screen layout is actually a bit better. Parking sensors were loud, but turned them down and they are OK. My car also has 99.5% battery health which is reassuring. As predicted the locking noise is gone (which used to sound when the alarm armed) now there is a tiny tiny noise which sounds when you lock the car and all you get when the alarm arms is the flash of the indicators. That is the only loss to me so far.

[ultra]

Great info! Thanks

Which software version are you on?

[Circumnavigator]

MY25 was in for the 1.5 software update Monday apparently it contains 130 module updates as part of the update hence the time taken, they don’t hold the update locally it’s all pulled from servers online.

[PF EX30]

My understanding from my time at the dealers yesterday is that the dealer update is different to the OTA update.

So essentially 2 vehicles both on 1.5 version could have different service module software underlying in the car.

[MarkyMark]

This sounds so not very "joined up" by Volvo. So they trumpeted OTA updates when they sold you the car, but only a dealer visit gets you the full beans updates, but are they going to invite you in for this, or are we just to wait until the car goes in for a routine service which for us will be in about 18 months time?

[edenr1]

Hi MarkyMark I agree and I hope it is not the latter. My service is not due for another year...I am going to contact my dealership tomorrow and I will let the forum know the outcome of the conversation...

[Harald]

What I read on Reddit says is that the OTA and dealer updates are the same for models with AAOS. In the previous models, what PF EX30 say, happens, and you had to be subscribed to a plan called "VIDA" to have the updates for all modules via OTA. I don't know how much of that is true.