Tesla infotainment system upgradeable from MCU1 to MCU2

[gearchruncher]

Or it's dependent on something else like your Homelink module (there have been many revisions) or even what kind of remote is programmed (maybe the lower security ones can be kept)

 

[tonglaji]

Or it's dependent on something else like your Homelink module (there have been many revisions) or even what kind of remote is programmed (maybe the lower security ones can be kept)

Or maybe the latest and greatest can be kept because they are more compatible. Mine is a brand new Liftmaster installed less than a year ago. And I'd like think it has the highest security.

 

[jorobsand]

Or maybe the latest and greatest can be kept because they are more compatible. Mine is a brand new Liftmaster installed less than a year ago. And I'd like think it has the highest security.

Did my MCU2 upgrade last year March/April 2020...and my garage door opener is at least 12 years old and my Homelink was preserved. Can't find any discernable pattern for why it keeps for some and loses for others.

 

[joshsandi]

Does Tesla discount the MCU2 upgrade if I haven't done my eMMC recall yet? I have an older Model S 70k miles

 

[MP3Mike]

Does Tesla discount the MCU2 upgrade if I haven't done my eMMC recall yet? I have an older Model S 70k miles

No.

 

[OlderThanDirt]

The upgrade is a really a pretty good deal. I would do again in a heart beat.

 

[SJ_angeleyes21]

DONE!

My Infotainment upgrade has been completed. Dropped off my Model S on Friday, and picked up a few hours ago. Here's my details writeup.

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Summary: This is possibly the best $2500 you will even spend on your Model S/X.


My Vehicle: 2017 Model S P100D, built and delivered in September 2017. It is equipped with MCU1, AP 2.5 and I have the Full Self Driving pre-purchased. It’s fully wrapped with a graphic wrap and had no issues with Tesla performing the upgrade. I was already running 2020.12 prior to the upgrade. Still running 2020.12 after the upgrade. I only noticed that they pushed out 2020.12 just once after it was all completed. I assume that the option codes were updated, so when 2020.12 was re-installed it added all of the new “stuff” that is supported on MCU2.

Here are the details that might interest some of you.

• You do get a new MCU screen. Mine still had the plastic protective wrap on it which I remove when I got into the vehicle.
• You do get a new IC screen.
• All settings are retained except for. (1) WIFI settings/connections, (2) Bluetooth settings/pairings, (3) Web browser favorites.
• Trip values, and custom labels are retained.
• Seat positions, mirror positions, and driver profile settings for each driver remain.
• Navigation history and favorites are retained.
• Favorite audio stations are retained (Slacker, and Tune-In)
• Historical audio stations are also retained.
• The warning “beeps” that Joe Mode reduces are much louder than with MCU1. This may freak you out at first, but it's loud. It will sure get your attention.
• Two type of vehicle calibrations are needed. (1) One for Autopilot basic features, (2) One for lane changes with/without notification. If you go into the Autopilot Settings you’ll that the second one only starts to calibrate once the first one has been completed.
• Wifi appears much quicker
• LTE appears much quicker. It still connects to 3G when out of 4G and LTE range. The bar visuals have no change, but connection is much quicker.
• The games had to be downloaded for the 1st time. You need Wifi for this.
• There was a required Navigation update that had to be done over WIFI.
• Overall, the MCU is 100x quicker. HUGE improvement in responsiveness. HUGE improvement in refresh of data on the screen.
• Visuals on IC2 are 100x smoother and more detailed than before. Animation is 100x better as well, and so smooth.
• All visuals (garbage cans, cones, lights, road markings, bike land markings, etc…) all appear on IC2
• I did have to re-enable Ambient Lights. Maybe they turned it off during the install.
• The scroll wheels are hugely responsive. Each scroll now is recorded whereas before I would have to scroll a few times for it to reduce the volume or the temperature (both scroll wheels behave the same, so it was not a defective scroll wheels). Now, they operate so smoothly and with immediate response.
• I have the Premium Audio (which was standard on my MS). Before the upgrade I had a EQ that went to 12. Now it only goes to 8. It also has Immersive Sound with three options, however I tested it out with a variety of music (classical, dance, gansta rap, disco, pop, and Spanish), and they all sound the same. I think before I had Off and Dolby Surround. Now I don’t see Dolby listed anywhere.
• The release notes, manual all appears immediately. No issues with a blank screen anymore.
• YouTube works perfectly (like your iPhone in portrait mode where the vide is on the top, followed by meta-data below it). Sound quality is impressive for YouTube.
• I got my USB Drive working again. Just plugged it in. Before I dropped it off, I got the “USB Full” false positive error that everyone is reporting (even on 2020.12), but when I just plugged it in after the upgrade, it works perfectly. Not too sure why as I had 2020.12 before and after the upgrade. Very happy that it’s recording both Sentry and Dashcam again. It’s the S500 - TeslaCam SSD Extreme from PureTesla if anyone is curious.
• There is no FM/AM/XM radio. We knew that, but I just wanted to confirm this finding in the event you were hopeful.
• I did not get to keep the old MCU1/IC1. There was a $1000 core charge if I wanted to keep it.
• I did not notice any sort of USB charging speed increase (in case you were thinking that the amperage might be increased).
• Before you drop off your vehicle, turn off any Vehicle PIN you might have setup. You will need to re-enable it once you get your Tesla back.
• When you re-pair your Tesla with your iPhone, the name will now change to Tesla Model S followed by the name of your vehicle. Before the default was just Tesla Model S.
• When I re-connected my Tesla to my home WIFI, it shows up with a new MAC address, and the manufacture of the chipset appears to be LG Innotek now (previously it was Parrot SA). I’ve only noticed a 2.4ghz connection, but I’m sure it will switch to 5.0ghz when it needs to download something heavy (software, game updates, another navigation update).

Note: I mention x100 throughout the above bullets not as a exact measurement, but as a emotion statement to indicate that it's so damn quick. It's night and day!

Hi there, thats very interesting. Im in UK, London, my car 2015 MS 75D EAP, i did upgrade then i just got new MCU unit and Full self driving computer(HW3.0) but they didn't replace new instrument cluster... so i was very curious and kind of upset???? Do you know why they didnt do replace ic screen?

 

[Utahken]

Hi there, thats very interesting. Im in UK, London, my car 2015 MS 75D EAP, i did upgrade then i just got new MCU unit and Full self driving computer(HW3.0) but they didn't replace new instrument cluster... so i was very curious and kind of upset???? Do you know why they didnt do replace ic screen?

If your instrument cluster screen is working, then it was replaced. The old IC and new MCU are not compatible.

 

[SJ_angeleyes21]

If your instrument cluster screen is working, then it was replaced. The old IC and new MCU are not compatible.

Thanks, its working fine, it appears bins, traffic lights, cones etc. But i dont know why this sc guy stubbornly said we dont replace ic screen. Im very doubt of tesla sc staff technical knowledge.

 

[AjrUleZ]

I upgraded my MCU1 to MCU2. They also upgraded the instrument cluster. But I see the screen is very whitish like used a lot already. I can provide some pics later. I had a similar loaner but it was MCU2 as well but AP2 compared to mine AP1. Does the screen color has to do anything with APX? I don't think so.
Does it mean they put a used MCU2? How can I verify it? Like no cycles? and stuff.

 

[MorrisonHiker]

I upgraded my MCU1 to MCU2. They also upgraded the instrument cluster. But I see the screen is very whitish like used a lot already. I can provide some pics later. I had a similar loaner but it was MCU2 as well but AP2 compared to mine AP1. Does the screen color has to do anything with APX? I don't think so.
Does it mean they put a used MCU2? How can I verify it? Like no cycles? and stuff.

You might also check to see if they just left the plastic film on the screen. They often don't remove it.

 

[AjrUleZ]

I don't see any plastic film on the screen. But I am liking the upgrade.

 

[ParadigmGuy]

Did the upgrade on my P85+ this week. I wasn't having any issues with my first MCU, but they offered to do the memory upgrade on it so I had it done. After I got it back I started to have issues. The display was slow, it blacked out several times while driving, the turn signal sound would cancel, and the rear view camera wasn't working correctly. They insisted that it's because the computer was old, but I didn't have any of these issues prior to their free upgrade.

After going back and forth several times I was able to get them to reduce the price to $1,100 for the upgrade to the MCU2. I didn't realize that I'd lose FM and Sirius XM, but oh well.

My GPS location is still showing Palo Alto, CA after 200+ miles and I am waiting for a mobile tech to arrive to figure out the issue.

 

[MIT_S60]

Did the upgrade on my P85+ this week. I wasn't having any issues with my first MCU, but they offered to do the memory upgrade on it so I had it done. After I got it back I started to have issues. The display was slow, it blacked out several times while driving, the turn signal sound would cancel, and the rear view camera wasn't working correctly. They insisted that it's because the computer was old, but I didn't have any of these issues prior to their free upgrade.

After going back and forth several times I was able to get them to reduce the price to $1,100 for the upgrade to the MCU2. I didn't realize that I'd lose FM and Sirius XM, but oh well.

My GPS location is still showing Palo Alto, CA after 200+ miles and I am waiting for a mobile tech to arrive to figure out the issue.

You can get FM and SiriusXM back, but it will cost you $500 (parts and labor included). AM is lost forever. The AM stations I listen to are not on TuneIn, so I flip between iHeartRadio and Audacity (used to be Radio.com) on my phone for the few AM stations I listen to.

 

[ParadigmGuy]

Did the upgrade on my P85+ this week. I wasn't having any issues with my first MCU, but they offered to do the memory upgrade on it so I had it done. After I got it back I started to have issues. The display was slow, it blacked out several times while driving, the turn signal sound would cancel, and the rear view camera wasn't working correctly. They insisted that it's because the computer was old, but I didn't have any of these issues prior to their free upgrade.

After going back and forth several times I was able to get them to reduce the price to $1,100 for the upgrade to the MCU2. I didn't realize that I'd lose FM and Sirius XM, but oh well.

My GPS location is still showing Palo Alto, CA after 200+ miles and I am waiting for a mobile tech to arrive to figure out the issue.

Follow up to this. The tech that did the install forgot to install a wire, the GPS antenna. The tech had a tester 6" antenna and installed that which updated the location to my home. They have to order the wire and will come back to install it next week.

This is the 4th time my car has been serviced for the same issue in less than 3 weeks, because they keep making mistakes. I've asked for the free upgrade for FM and Sirius. I doubt that I'll get it, but maybe they'll give me a discount on it.

 

[SBerg]

Follow up to this. The tech that did the install forgot to install a wire, the GPS antenna. The tech had a tester 6" antenna and installed that which updated the location to my home. They have to order the wire and will come back to install it next week.

This is the 4th time my car has been serviced for the same issue in less than 3 weeks, because they keep making mistakes. I've asked for the free upgrade for FM and Sirius. I doubt that I'll get it, but maybe they'll give me a discount on it.

I too have issues with the replacement MCU, it is slower than the original and some sites won't even load. Tesla says their diagnostics show no problems so they won't do anything. So I am paying for the MCU2 upgrade which I don't feel is right since their "fix" for the bad MCU1 actually made it perform worse than the original.

 

[mspohr]

I too have issues with the replacement MCU, it is slower than the original and some sites won't even load. Tesla says their diagnostics show no problems so they won't do anything. So I am paying for the MCU2 upgrade which I don't feel is right since their "fix" for the bad MCU1 actually made it perform worse than the original.

Just get the MCU2. It's worth it.

 

[dgatwood]

Just get the MCU2. It's worth it.

MCU1 has been borderline unusable for me for about two years.

For now, I'm just waiting and watching. I figure they've been giving everybody with AP3 and MCU1 an older release for the last six months, which probably means they can't get the current releases to work on MCU1 usably. If I'm right, we might end up getting the MCU2 upgrade for free.

 

[tmoz]

Just get the MCU2. It's worth it.

I think he said he has gotten the MCU2, but it isn't performing as well

 

[tmoz]

They are doing the daughterboard replacement for me. I asked if there was a discount on the $1500 MCU2 unit if I just had them do that instead.
They said no, because $1500 was a lower price than before which makes no sense as to why no discount. Most likely there is no way to key it into the system.
So I'm just doing the daughterboard fix for the Flash memory problem. If it works ok, I will hold off on the MCU2, as it sounds like this could just be asking for trouble.