V3.7 OTA Update takes 3½ *HOURS*

[Alastair]

If you get the V3.7 OTA update message, be warned that our update was scheduled to take 3½ HOURS, which is pretty much how long it took. So don't do what we did; drive the family to the cinema and park, see the update notice flash up, take a photo but ignore it, go to the cinema and come back to find the car totally unresponsive for over an hour.

During this time we had to get the kids collected and called out a recovery vehicle as there was no indication as to what was happening. The screen was full of warnings, including my favourite, 'SOS Error: Emergency call. Visit workshop.'
Eventually, if rebooted and started working again, so we cancelled the recovery.

I don't recall any sort of a 'Proceed Y/N?' dialogue and it seemed to do the update of its own volition. So please make sure you don't get into my situation, at night and with a car full of tired children!

VW - could do better!

[sidehaas]

This was your fault I'm afraid. Everyone's update is the same estimated duration although some have taken longer. The message is really in-your-face and you have to press on two buttons (the orange update button to reach this message, then the install button) before it will do anything. There isn't any excuse for starting it without knowing it would take a while.

(VW could do better though: there are some people whose cars were bricked due to the 12V battery dying during the update, and others whose updates took much longer (days) and the car remained immobile. Fortunately that doesn't affect most of us.)

[Alastair]

Thanks. I'm pretty sure that I didn't see any 'Install' button just before or after the yellow warning above, but maybe this happened a few days previously when it showed that some extra notifications and I had a look. From memory, it may have shown an update, but nothing happened at the time, nor did it say that it would happen several days hence.

Is there an easy way to opt out of updates, as I really can't point to any value in them?

[sidehaas]

Thanks. I'm pretty sure that I didn't see any 'Install' button just before or after the yellow warning above, but maybe this happened a few days previously when it showed that some extra notifications and I had a look. From memory, it may have shown an update, but nothing happened at the time, nor did it say that it would happen several days hence.

Is there an easy way to opt out of updates, as I really can't point to any value in them?

The yellow/orange update message comes up on the goodbye screen when you take off your seatbelt or press P. You have to press that update message first if you want to do the update. That brings up a screen like the one in your screenshot except that there is an "install" button that you have to press before the "lock and leave" message comes up. You must have pressed that install button just before taking your photo. Additionally the install is usually greyed out because you have to turn off your lights before you can press it (it then lights up orange). So there 2-3 obvious steps you have to go through to initiate the update.

You can withdraw your consent for updates online. I think if you go to myvolkswagen website, click on the little circle with your initials in it, then something like profile and settings, and the option is in that menu.

(Who knows whether there will be any more anyway though...)

[Alastair]

Thanks for taking the trouble to outline the update process. I don't think I pressed any Install button, but you never know, it could just be brain fog. Thanks again.

[id3_life]

Not sure if this will work but above is the full picture showing the install button not the cropped version the OP has posted. This was pinched of this forum from another update that's why it says 50 min instead of 210 min of the 3.7 update.
If I was a betting man I would 100% bet that the OP pressed the Install button, however I would also bet 100% that he did not switch off the lights (nobody does that).
If I had to guess I would go with "No update to Headlight modules from 3.2 to 3.7 that's why the update completed successfully".
I could be 100% wrong but this is a guessing game after all. (I will check the headlight modules over the weekend just for fun if updated or not).

[mediaguy]

I was actually really impressed at the fact they make you turn off the lights. As the car defaults to Auto lights, you generally must have read the instructions to make it start. It _should_ be exceptionally hard to start accidentally.

[CmdrKrunchy]

The bit at the bottom where it says "Please leave and lock the vehicle" only appears after you press the Install button.

[Alastair]

You may all be right, and thanks for your suggestions, but I suspect I enabled the update a day or so before it actually started. However, the lights were set to auto and it was dark when the installation did start. Even allowing for fat finger syndrome, a better progress bar and/or a shorter update time would prevent the panic caused by no visible activity for long periods and lots of dire warning messages about the 12V battery, no drive, SOS emergency call, etc. My wife was convinced the car had broken down and I felt that the update had stalled and bricked the car. PS It was some time later that I reviewed the photo of the odd OTA message that I saw before we left for the cinema.

[MotMot]

I did mine yesterday. Started at 12:15 - checked at 4:50 (210 min) and all was absolutely fine.

I didn’t switch off the lights (didn’t see that message) just pressed update. Locked up and went in. The car was offline (widget on iPhone blank) for 2 hours.


Totally smooth. No problems. Smattering of minor updates after (15 min worth) and the only thing that’s changed is the radio was on fm instead of DAB.


It’s just completed a car controlled intelligent octopus charge overnight. It’s as if nothing happened (which is how it should be).


Well done VW ()

[gfoldys]

yes likewise- it was seamless

[Sherlock]

Even allowing for fat finger syndrome, a better progress bar and/or a shorter update time would prevent the panic caused by no visible activity for long periods and lots of dire warning messages about the 12V battery, no drive, SOS emergency call, etc.

Hear, hear. And why can't you see a history of what updates have been completed either in the car or in the App? Really poor software design.

[id3_life]

I did mine yesterday. Started at 12:15 - checked at 4:50 (210 min) and all was absolutely fine.

I didn’t switch off the lights (didn’t see that message) just pressed update. Locked up and went in. The car was offline (widget on iPhone blank) for 2 hours.


Totally smooth. No problems. Smattering of minor updates after (15 min worth) and the only thing that’s changed is the radio was on fm instead of DAB.

Thanks for the confirmation of successful 3.7 update without switching off the lights.
I have just checked the modules, the headlight control modules do not get updated from 3.2 to 3.7 which confirms my theory, OP hit the install button without switching the lights off and the update completed successfully.

On my bare (life model) out of 28 modules only 7 are updated from 3.2 to 3.7:

High-voltage battery charger (UDS)
1019 -> 2022

Engine (EVO/29bit)
2217 -> 2604

ABS control unit
0524 -> 0526

Rear view camera system var.1
0394 -> 0397

Onboard supply control unit
0307 -> 0311

CAN Gateway
0299 -> 0329

Emergency Call and Communication Module
0538 -> 0556

The VW list of improvements for 3.7 is cryptic to say the least but at least coincides with the updates:

- Minimizing of noises during charging, which can be caused by interference with some mains connections
- Improvements in drive behavior
- Stabilization of the infotainment system
- Additional optimizations and bug fixes

[Batterdry500]

Even allowing for fat finger syndrome, a better progress bar and/or a shorter update time would prevent the panic caused by no visible activity for long periods and lots of dire warning messages about the 12V battery, no drive, SOS emergency call, etc.

Hear, hear. And why can't you see a history of what updates have been completed either in the car or in the App? Really poor software design.

I guess some people are just happy that it worked.

But for me the fact that you have to guess when the update has finished and go out to the car after...who knows...a few hours ?...to check is just plain nuts.

[Sherlock]

"But for me the fact that you have to guess when the update has finished and go out to the car after...who knows...a few hours ?...to check is just plain nuts."

Couldn't agree more.

I guess I come from a different era of software development, but the idea of not issuing a 'successful completion' message and and having an audit trail of what has been done I find unprofessional.

[TimF]

My update yesterday was forecast to take 210 minutes - which turned out to be about right. While it was going on, the app's car information was blank. At the end, the app insisted the driver's door was open - it wasn't, but eventually the app straightened itself out.

[Ellesmere70]

]Has anyone come across the problem where the update doesn’t do anything as I left my car in drive on Sunday after making sure auto light off & locked it. Went back to it yesterday & had to use key to open & everything blank before the be logo & message saying updating your Volkswagen it may take a while. Rang dealer who said to leave it, went back this morning (Wednesday) & still the same. Can’t use or move the vehicle
Grateful for any ideas before I have to get it towed to dealer.

So it’s been over a week & still not updated & not able to use the car- arranged to get it to the dealer on 5/12/24 god knows how long they will have it. Just ridiculous Even tried infotainment reset but no change - anyone know how to reset the flipping thing?

[lbevanger]

I started the update at 5.30pm yesterday (2 December) and now it’s 0845am on 3 December. Have the same issue as person above - manual entry, dead car with message “Updating your Volkswagen… It may take a while. Hope it’s done by Christmas…

[Midgex]

Mine went fine. I didn't start it until the vehicle was home and it ran overnight.

I'd like a progress bar, and to have that visible through the car windows. This may be less simple than it sounds.

The time is due to bandwidth on the cellular network isn't it? I can't see what else takes that long.

[lbevanger]

Update: Just spoke to VW customer services, who advised me the update could take up to 24 hours! And to call them back if it took longer. So beware – make sure you have alternative transport before you press that install button!