Hi all. My MCU upgrade is scheduled for Friday! Is the upgrade solely for speed/ease of use, or are there aesthetic improvements? To say differently, does the upgrade give you a new operating system with new graphics? Or does everything look the same (but is just faster)?
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MCU Upgrade - 2016 Model X AP1
- Thread starter Bill7Line
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scottf200
Well-Known Member
Tesla’s Media Control Unit: MCU1 vs MCU2 | Only Used Tesla
All Tesla’s come with a Media Control Unit, which is a computer that powers the main display and all of the multimedia and UX features. We…
blog.onlyusedtesla.com
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Billstickers
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I got the upgrade last year. Everything looks the same except the touchscreen response is a lot quicker and you get more access to media. The only thing I didn't pay extra for was the FM radio access (IIRC you lose it on the update but can pay something like $500 to get it). The only time I used FM radio was during Christmas and watching someone's light show with FM radio music.
It is a night and day difference with the touchscreen response.
It is a night and day difference with the touchscreen response.
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Thoughts after the upgrade? We have an AP1 Model X as well and I want to do the upgrade as well since we plan to keep it for the long run. I heard a small change is that it shows traffic data on the driver's display map when navigating to a destination.
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I think this is already supported on MCU1 - it is a setting to show or not show the traffic.
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islandbayy
Active Member
Did my AP1 Model S and FSD Model X. night and day difference, felt like a new vehicle again. I feel 100% Worth it.
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BrownOuttaSpec
Active Member
My thoughts on the MCU2 upgrade: Link
Another good list from someone else: Link
To answer your question, Yes you have the same "Operating system and graphics", but they are much smoother and quicker. You also get "real" updates again. MCU1 is stuck on last year's 2022.8.10.11 build whereas MCU2 is up to date with the most recent 2023.6.11 with a few of the new features like Navigation way points.
Another good list from someone else: Link
To answer your question, Yes you have the same "Operating system and graphics", but they are much smoother and quicker. You also get "real" updates again. MCU1 is stuck on last year's 2022.8.10.11 build whereas MCU2 is up to date with the most recent 2023.6.11 with a few of the new features like Navigation way points.
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scottf200
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The only show traffic toggle option I know of is on the main vertical display.
Are you saying there is an option for the drivers display? Aside: With the MCU2 upgrade the drivers display is now a "2nd monitor" vs a CPU+monitor.
After they mentioned the traffic coloring on the drivers display it did sound familiar that I noticed traffic colors there with the MCU2 upgrade (and that display being replaced) but not on my MCU1 where that drivers display was a separate computer (CPU and monitor that communicated with the vertical infotainment computer)
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Yes, I mean on the main display. I don't think I've ever seen traffic coloring on the dash display, even with MCU2.
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I feel like I have a new car. Responsiveness could not be faster. Navigation is immediate. Dication is immediate. Screen looks much much brighter (especially the screen above the steering wheel). There is DEFINITELY new traffic indicators on the screen above the steering wheel which wasn't there before.
Radio and streaming is now modernized. Pics of artist on secondary screen. Apple Music is now an available streaming option.
Start up time is immediate. I can't give a good reason why would wouldn't do the upgrade. And as reminder I have 2016 MX with AP1.
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Appreciate these posts, which convinced me that it was worth it to do MCU upgrade on 2017 Model S. Only thing I'm left debating is the value of the FM option. I listen to FM stations a fair amount currently. Most of them also appear on TuneIn. Any thoughts on pros and cons of spending the extra $500?
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BrownOuttaSpec
Active Member
Personally I didn't do the $500 upgrade but I dont listen to the radio much. $500 is a lot of money just to listen to the radio, that could be 4 years of paid Spotify premium for the same price.
It sounds like you do listen to it a lot and it might be worth the extra money just to have the snappy/ease of use of tuning the radio instead of loading the streaming and buffering and loading of the online radio equivalent.
If I were you I would try out the "free" streaming options and then decide if it is too much of a hassle. It's the same $500 if you do the upgrade at the same time or not ....but.... they may no longer offer the upgrade to the radio service in the future.
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Thanks, super helpful. I think I'm going to go for it. I hate fiddling with the screen so your point about snappy/easy resonates.
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Another novel reason to do the FM radio upgrade along with MCU2 could be so that you can use it in drive-in theaters that broadcast an FM audio signal in addition to or in lieu of any per parking spot audio devices. I don't know how many of these exist, and FOMO around the same didn't trigger me to do it, but it might be a relevant consideration for someone...
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