Your V90 Cross Country can have the latest safety innovation

[apnicolle]

Just received this on email from Volvo;

http://view.email.volvocars.com/?qs=...aad42bd2a1ddb5

I’m not sure why but it doesn’t quite sit right with me. I sort of assumed that new software features for existing hardware would be included in service updates, or rolled out like Tesla over the air. Especially when these are ‘safety’ updates.

And that’s before the debate about whether any of these new features are actually useful !

[taylora]

Indeed, doesn't quite keep align with their efforts to have zero fatalities in their cars by 2020. This should be included with a service update.

[Paul Wildsmith]

there's another thread here on the same subject:

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=299764

Now, far from me wanting to defend Volvo, but I think there is often a general view that somehow 'software' is free (or should be). We'd be (maybe?) happy to pay for an additional hardware widget on the car, so why not software?

[familymangreg]

Originally Posted by Paul Wildsmith

there's another thread here on the same subject:

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=299764

Now, far from me wanting to defend Volvo, but I think there is often a general view that somehow 'software' is free (or should be). We'd be (maybe?) happy to pay for an additional hardware widget on the car, so why not software?

I can see where you are coming from here, and I assume the charge for this particular software upgrade simply covers the cost of the workshop time required to have the car sat in a bay receiving the update. If it were free, and everyone got wind of it, then surely there would be a pretty big charge back to Volvo from dealers having to install it.

Where I am confused however is in the difference between the above new features and other similar features previously received for free during routine software updates at service. Or is there no difference, and will the above simply come bundled with the next software update your car receives at a main dealer service? Essentially you have the choice of paying £75 for your dealer to install now, or waiting for your next service when you get it as part of a regular software update?

:wq

[Paul Wildsmith]

good point, I presume the difference maybe what Volvo think they can charge for? Mind you, the usual twice a year or so updates to Sensus haven't really added much functionality (perhaps with the exception of the recent connectivity thing): they've been more about 'improving' or 'optimising' (ie: making what should have worked properly first time).

In fact I'd be prepared to pay for some real feature enhancements (even if they could well be provided free): how about some more apps? More themes for the dash display etc.. I'm hoping the android based sensus in the future will allow much more of this (though likely to have to buy a new car to get it..)

[apnicolle]

What drives me completely bonkers though is the fact that the two local dealers here haven’t got a clue about this when asked !

[St Evelyn]

I requested this upgrade at my service a month or so back but never got it in the end; it took the dealer quite a while to work out what I was after (despite providing the part number, lol), then offered to do it while I waited to go home - by then I just wanted to jump in the car so didn't bother.

They advised me that the software cost to them was around £19 and they'd install it for around £45 in total, so £26 labour for hooking the car up to the servers and getting the software deployed. I thought the labour charge was a bit steep as they could have done all this in a few seconds if doing so when it was hooked up for the service software, but seeing the £75 'offer' makes me think that they were being quite fair now.

[VOLVOL0VER]

Originally Posted by Paul Wildsmith

good point, I presume the difference maybe what Volvo think they can charge for? Mind you, the usual twice a year or so updates to Sensus haven't really added much functionality (perhaps with the exception of the recent connectivity thing): they've been more about 'improving' or 'optimising' (ie: making what should have worked properly first time).

In fact I'd be prepared to pay for some real feature enhancements (even if they could well be provided free): how about some more apps? More themes for the dash display etc.. I'm hoping the android based sensus in the future will allow much more of this (though likely to have to buy a new car to get it..)

Your words are my thoughts. Their attempts to correct what is wrong from the beginning, should be standard and not even an issue in the first place!

[gaby]

As I see it, there is software update and upgrade.
Update means a new version of a feature alreay present, upgrade is a new feature.
I find it normal that one has to pay for a new feature, be it hard - or software.

[SuffolkBoy]

I was at my Dealers this morning collecting new rubber mats and asked about this upgrade.

The Master Tech checked the details for my car and confirmed that I already have the first two features (BLIS with steer assist and Oncoming Lane Mitigation) on the car, but not the third feature - Oncoming Mitigation by Braking, so I will be getting that installed for the £75.

I am happy to pay this reasonable sum for an enhanced safety feature.