Software update

[GON]

My Irish 2025 Macan with 10500 kms on the clock needs a software update and currently all the driver assistance systems are not working. Main dealer tells me it will take up to 8 hours at the dealership. Perhaps I'm being naive but I assumed software updates could be done through the App. Any feedback would be appreciated!

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[daveo4EV]

My Irish 2025 Macan with 10500 kms on the clock needs a software update and currently all the driver assistance systems are not working. Main dealer tells me it will take up to 8 hours at the dealership. Perhaps I'm being naive but I assumed software updates could be done through the App. Any feedback would be appreciated!

you are naive - modern car companies can update their cars via OTA updates (over the air) - but Porsche is not that company - significant software updates require a dealer visit just like in the 1990's…

if you want a modern vehicle with OTA updates Porsche is not your vendor.

 

[GON]

you are naive - modern car companies can update their cars via OTA updates (over the air) - but Porsche is not that company - significant software updates require a dealer visit just like in the 1990's…

if you want a modern vehicle with OTA updates Porsche is not your vendor.

Many thanks, appreciated!

 

[ColdCase]

There are not many car companies that can or are willing to OTA update more than simple radios or GUI. The Macan's architecture update is a major one that I don't think any car company could accommodate OTA, or be willing to. OTA updates have been know to brick other manufacture's cars, which then is a major hardware replacement hassle .

They say 8 hours, but it will take less than an hour shop time if everything goes right. Sometimes the update needs to run several times to complete, so the estimate 8 hours.

No doubt some cars have a centralized computer architecture that makes updates easier, but most modern cars do not.

Some here don't know what they don't know.

 

[markxwagner]

On my 2024 macan ev 4 it took a week. Now how much actual time they spent on it is anyone's guess but it was absurd.

The sad part, really, is that as far as I can tell, other than improvements from apple and google, Porsche doesn't make any effort to improve the software system with bug fixes, performance enhancements, or, god forbid, new features. Oh well...

 

[EVowner]

There are not many car companies that can or are willing to OTA update more than simple radios or GUI. The Macan's architecture update is a major one that I don't think any car company could accommodate OTA, or be willing to. OTA updates have been know to brick other manufacture's cars, which then is a major hardware replacement hassle .

They say 8 hours, but it will take less than an hour shop time if everything goes right. Sometimes the update needs to run several times to complete, so the estimate 8 hours.

No doubt some cars have a centralized computer architecture that makes updates easier, but most modern cars do not.

Some here don't know what they don't know.

I guess you have not talked to any BMW, Mercedes or any new EV brands owners. All of them are able to do OTA updates wirhout any major issues for few years at this point. What they also have is remote diagnostics (which btw had even mine previous 8 years old ICE car).

Saying that Porsche is not doing OTA, beacuse they dont want their cars to be bricked is very valid statement. The issue is sadly that their updates can brick their cars even when done by the dealer which is the reason dealers give these ridiculous estimates on how long time they need to do the update. They are expecting issues in advance and they want buffer to fix them quietly without saying anything to costumers.

And for those like me who thought the reason for statement that they dont do OTA is because they believe that releasing one stable almost bug free version is better than pushing constant buggy updates. I am sad to inform you that this is not the case either, because if you talk with people who are having issues with their Macans you will find out that there is new version being released almost every other week. These updates are called optional ones and they are reason why every time you bring your car to dealer to complain about something you will hear that there is new SW version thay hopefully will fix your problem. And if not well come back in 2-4 weeks to try again...

 

[TomekGnomek]

There is one example that shows there is no way to justify how bad Porsche f.. this up.

There was an update to the mobile app that allows you to select preferred charging networks like Ionity. Car coes not respect this setting and overrides the route because it’s not supported by PCM nav.

This should have been a simple PCM OTA update months ago. Insted you have to buy MY2026 car to get this. Funny thing it was adverited as a new siftware feature.

Beyond embarassing.

 

[daveo4EV]

if your software update is bricking cars or components the delivery mechanism (be it OTA, dealer installed, or carrier pigeon) isn't the problem. Its' that your software platform/update has defects that need to be addressed.

bad software is bad software regardless of how it's installed/delivered…VW/Audi/Porsche have a software problem…

Porsche has no effective OTA mechanism because they have chosen not to invest in the fundamental changes required to have OTA updates.

it has nothing to do with bricking cars or not - it has to do with who owns he software intellectual property (IP)…and what mechanisms exist to install software on various components - not to mention qualifying that any given software update doesn't make things worse…

if you're releasing bad software the way you install it is kinda the least of your problems…

dealer installed (vs. OTA) software updates didn't save Porsche from it's most recent embarrassment… https://www.macanevowners.com/forum/threads/%EF%B8%8F-home-charging-issues-after-software-update-tracking-thread.24560/

in fact in this case the dealers (as typical) were more clueless than the customers and the official party line from Porsche was this was a "customer problem" and had nothing to do with their software. Ultimately Porsche was proven wrong - another attitude problem from the german homeland…

Porsche's approach and attitude about software is broken just like their business model and it's not getting better.

it factually embarassing that in 2026 Porsche has no effective OTA mechanism and the software updates that do exist require the equivalent of voodoo install procedures that were considered onerous in the 1980's…

installing bad software leads to bad outcomes - how you install the bad software is _NOT_ the problem - it's software that should have probably not been released.

also this fancination with OTA updates lead to bricking it simply fantasy - for the companies that do support OTA updates bricking is FUD but is not really fact on any large scale, or even small scale. The _ONLY _ vehicle manufacturer that has a major problem with bricking of components is what I personally witnessed with Porsche's first round of dealer installed software updates for the Taycan - with the very very expensive PCM head unit being the unfortunate victim in many cases of really really fragile software install procedures…while sh*t does happen - bricking is not a common outcome for the vendors that do support OTA updates. And so what if it is - put the car on a flatbed and haul it to the dealer and replace the component under warranty. The outcome of bricking is the same regardless of how the software was installed.

if you think OTA is the problem I'm not sure you understand the problem or lack perspective in any meaningful way…

 

[Geehfx]

you are naive - modern car companies can update their cars via OTA updates (over the air) - but Porsche is not that company - significant software updates require a dealer visit just like in the 1990's…

if you want a modern vehicle with OTA updates Porsche is not your vendor.

Ever notice all the nasty pricks are American?

 

[Trevasann]

I've been curious about OTA updates and wondering why it takes so long at the dealer. Thank you for raising the questions. We're not all rude in the U.S. unless we are aligned with the worst example of ugliness like Trump. This guy must be because his spirit is mean and judgmental; best to ignore him. Thank you again for your post.

 

[Petzi]

you are naive - modern car companies can update their cars via OTA updates (over the air) - but Porsche is not that company - significant software updates require a dealer visit just like in the 1990's…

if you want a modern vehicle with OTA updates Porsche is not your vendor.

nonsense

 

[MacanEVOwner]

Ever notice all the nasty pricks are American?

Well said…and I’m an American.

 

[MacanEVOwner]

I own another EV brand. I purchased in new in 2022. Almost all of the updates I have received have been OTA updates…to fix minor things. Most of the time, the manufacturer simply states, “to make operation of certain features more stable”. Blah, blah…. Only once, in 4 years, did I have to take the car in for an update, which I did during my scheduled 2 year warranty inspection.

There are 3 things that I learned over the 4 years of ownership: (1) Never, ever be the first customers to get a new update…unless your car is already bricked and you have no choice. Otherwise, wait for the next update, or posts on forums like this giving the “all clear”; (2) OTA updates are not the end-all, be-all solution that many EV newbies think it is. They are more for convenience sake and a way for automotive companies to cut labor costs; and (3) If you have a serious (safety) issue with the car, the best way to get the attention of ANY automotive manufacturer is to get NHTSA involved.

Reason #1 is why I have not gotten the latest software update.

I was told by my shop foreman that the reason they keep the car overnight, is so that after they run the update (which may only take a few hours), it often “throws error codes”, which they then clear and test to insure that they don’t Throw any more codes, etc. Personally, I’m fine with letting them have my car overnight, as I always get it back all clean and shiny…delivered back to my home.

 

[ColdCase]

I guess you have not talked to any BMW, Mercedes or any new EV brands owners. All of them are able to do OTA updates wirhout any major issues for few years at this point. What they also have is remote diagnostics (which btw had even mine previous 8 years old ICE car).

.

I own a recent BMW EV. It doesn't do stinking OTA updates short of map updates. And there has been issues with that. You have to be within a mile of a cell tower with unobstructed views on a sunny day between 2 and 6 PM, and either the third Tuesday or second Thursday of the month

Most car companies now make money selling your "diagnostic" info that they gathered remotely.

I owned a Mercedes maybe 6 years ago and many of those radios bricked during OTA updates. You take your chances.

My home computers and phones have OTA updated for decades. Sometimes not so well even for a single computer, but then there is not much of a safety issue there.

 

[MatC21]

My problem is not really with „no OTA“. My dealer is offering free pickup/drop for warranty stuff so it is actually more of a Porsche problem if they want to waste labour like that (and I am paying for it indirectly through the purchase price obviously).

However my biggest gripe is that we (model year 2025) are not receiving any more software updates at all after the WSJ0. No new features, no charging planner filtering, no proper fixes of the outstanding issues. That is my real complaint and disappointed. I should have maybe not expected it but since the marketing slides contained OTA I expected it somehow.

And actually, not even MY26 has gotten any OTAs yet as Porsches Infrastructure is not ready - maybe that will be a feature of the next model year 27

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