COLUMBUS firmware update

[Matty1VRS]

Hi guys,

 

When entering my VIN on https://updateportal.skoda-auto.com/, I only get map updates. Was hoping to see a firmware update, but I just see

There were no software updates for the VIN.

Does anyone know the latest version ? And where can I get it from, because I have a feeling I am out of date as the telephone button on the steering wheel doesn't work and have read a firmware update solves it.

 

Thanks in advance

[Gabbo]

There is no "official" way to update the firmware for the navigation system without visiting a dealer.

The update protal only provides map updates, radio logos & some "Bluetooth" configuration files.

 

In some of the threads from here you can find links to unofficial firmware updates from some russian websites (not sure if they will still be active though)

Several users reported they worked correctly but I was lucky that the dealer accepted to update my car at no cost so I didnt try.

[Matty1VRS]

1 minute ago, Gabbo said:

There is no "official" way to update the firmware for the navigation system without visiting a dealer.

The update protal only provides map updates, radio logos & some "Bluetooth" configuration files.

 

In some of the threads from here you can find links to unofficial firmware updates from some russian websites (not sure if they will still be active though)

Several users reported they worked correctly but I was lucky that the dealer accepted to update my car at no cost so I didnt try.

 

Hm thats a wierd one as i asked my Skoda dealer to update it, his reply was "No available update" as the website suggests. So Im in the process of downloading the Maps in the hope that sorts out my telephone button issue. @Gabbo what version of the firmware are you running, just so i can see if i am out of date or not? 

Thanks

[PetrolDave]

4 hours ago, Matty1VRS said:

 So Im in the process of downloading the Maps in the hope that sorts out my telephone button issue.

Updating the maps doesn't change the firmware, so it won't have any effect on your "telephone button issue".

[Matty1VRS]

7 minutes ago, PetrolDave said:

Updating the maps doesn't change the firmware, so it won't have any effect on your "telephone button issue".

Thats annoying, could someone whos telephone button is working let me know what firmware version they are running? 

Attached is my firmware version. 

Now that Skoda say there is no update, which is obviously a bit of BS. Where can i get the updated firmware from. I am happy to pay someone who has it

Much appreciated.

 

[Gabbo]

I will check my car tomorrow but I'm pretty sure it's SW version 0492

 

I believe there's one version after mine.

 

It took me several attempts to get the dealer to update the software because I had an issue where it forgets which song it was playing when you stop & always starts from the first folder, first track from the SD-card.

 

The dealer agreed there was an issue but there was no official fix listed in the firmware releases so "normally" he wasn't allowed to update it.

However, after several visits he agreed to do it as a last resort.

 

There were many issues with the MIB1 Columbus which were never fixed which is dissapointing from an otherwise flawless car

[Matty1VRS]

Just now, Gabbo said:

I will check my car tomorrow but I'm pretty sure it's SW version 0492

 

I believe there's one version after mine.

 

It took me several attempts to get the dealer to update the software because I had an issue where it forgets which song it was playing when you stop & always starts from the first folder, first track from the SD-card.

 

The dealer agreed there was an issue but there was no official fix listed in the firmware releases so "normally" he wasn't allowed to update it.

However, after several visits he agreed to do it as a last resort.

 

There were many issues with the MIB1 Columbus which were never fixed which is dissapointing from an otherwise flawless car

I dont get why they just don't update it when theres an update. Its the stupidest thing ivd ever heard. 

[Gabbo]

There's not many manufacturers even today that let you update yourself or over-the-air.

 

On the Skoda, free do-it-yourself map updates was amazing at the time.

BMW charged €500 for every map update on our 3series (2014) company car.

 

With my previous Mondeos & now with Skoda, the manufacturers seem to be against updates unless there is an acknowledged fix for your issue available.

I guess this is because there are so many different ECUs and compatibility & complexity are quite difficult to manage.

 

I also found it difficult to convince the dealer to make the same update even if I paid for their time.

[Matty1VRS]

1 minute ago, Gabbo said:

There's not many manufacturers even today that let you update yourself or over-the-air.

 

On the Skoda, free do-it-yourself map updates was amazing at the time.

BMW charged €500 for every map update on our 3series (2014) company car.

 

With my previous Mondeos & now with Skoda, the manufacturers seem to be against updates unless there is an acknowledged fix for your issue available.

I guess this is because there are so many different ECUs and compatibility & complexity are quite difficult to manage.

 

I also found it difficult to convince the dealer to make the same update even if I paid for their time.

Hmmm i see what you mean, its really annoying because im in Software myself and in my world its literally a couple of clicks and your done! 

[CajoLajo]

I had the same issue with the phone button not working ("Telephone is not available" message). Firmware update by the dealer fixed it. The dealer mentioned that they applied a fix for a known issue. 

[Matty1VRS]

1 minute ago, CajoLajo said:

I had the same issue with the phone button not working ("Telephone is not available" message). Firmware update by the dealer fixed it. The dealer mentioned that they applied a fix for a known issue. 

Ah ok cool. So my dealer is swerving doing the update then. He said that it doesn't come with that option which is completely untrue. But he wasn't willing to accept. So i have decided to sort it out myself and then embarrass him at the next service 

[CajoLajo]

34 minutes ago, Matty1VRS said:

Ah ok cool. So my dealer is swerving doing the update then. He said that it doesn't come with that option which is completely untrue. But he wasn't willing to accept. So i have decided to sort it out myself and then embarrass him at the next service 

 

[Matty1VRS]

2 hours ago, CajoLajo said:

 

Thanks @CajoLajo I have had a read of your thread, however the issue is my dealer not recognising it as a fault, and thus saying it does not need one. His reason is that apparently it doesn't have the option, which is complete Bull as you have proved in your thread. Now I have discovered that my unit is MIB2, I need to find the the relevant MIB2 update. The search continues!

Again happy to offer someone some money for a MIB2 firmware update for the Columbus 

 

 

[CajoLajo]

The dealer did not argue about this issue being a fault or not. Apparently, a big batch of cars was delivered with this issue back in 2016. He mentioned a "campaign number" related to this and just applied the fix as per that document. It changed the system a little bit. Previously, I could connect the car to my home WIFI although I could not see any use for that. Now I can only, connect to car's WIFI from my phone. Again, there is no use for this option either. I think, this is meant for units with SIM card slot which I don't have i.e. it acts as a hot spot so passengers can use car's SIM to connect to the internet. Apart from this there is another minor change. Before, I was able to select in Columbus' menu what I want to have in Maxidot. Now I have everything whether I want it or not. It just means that I was able to have lets say only navigation, media and driver assist and not other options available via the steering wheel selection. Now they are all turned on. As far as finding the upgrade online, I found one I am glad I did not go for it. It had an issue, I cannot recall what exactly. By the way, before the upgrade, my software version was same as yours now.

[Stoofa]

Manufacturers really are protecting you from yourself.

Firmware upgrades can and do go wrong and you're left with a brick.

Map update goes wrong, usually a re-download of the update and off you go.

 

There are awkward conversations with you and the dealer when you take a bricked unit in under warranty - because suddenly it isn't under warranty because you've attempted to apply software updates.

There are £1k+ expenses if you then need to replace your bricked unit.

[Matty1VRS]

3 hours ago, CajoLajo said:

The dealer did not argue about this issue being a fault or not. Apparently, a big batch of cars was delivered with this issue back in 2016. He mentioned a "campaign number" related to this and just applied the fix as per that document. It changed the system a little bit. Previously, I could connect the car to my home WIFI although I could not see any use for that. Now I can only, connect to car's WIFI from my phone. Again, there is no use for this option either. I think, this is meant for units with SIM card slot which I don't have i.e. it acts as a hot spot so passengers can use car's SIM to connect to the internet. Apart from this there is another minor change. Before, I was able to select in Columbus' menu what I want to have in Maxidot. Now I have everything whether I want it or not. It just means that I was able to have lets say only navigation, media and driver assist and not other options available via the steering wheel selection. Now they are all turned on. As far as finding the upgrade online, I found one I am glad I did not go for it. It had an issue, I cannot recall what exactly. By the way, before the upgrade, my software version was same as yours now.

Thanks @CajoLajo this has helped me. I am glad to hear we were on the same version and doing an upgrade has solved the telephone issue. Im going to try find a MIB2 firmware update over the weekend. Lets see what happens  

[Matty1VRS]

2 minutes ago, Stoofa said:

Manufacturers really are protecting you from yourself.

Firmware upgrades can and do go wrong and you're left with a brick.

Map update goes wrong, usually a re-download of the update and off you go.

 

There are awkward conversations with you and the dealer when you take a bricked unit in under warranty - because suddenly it isn't under warranty because you've attempted to apply software updates.

There are £1k+ expenses if you then need to replace your bricked unit.

Ye totally get your point, no 1 wants a bricked unit, especially as its pretty much always in use when I'm driving.

 

The car is out of warranty, so i know I'm on my own with this, however the way i look at it anything can be bricked or become faulty. It's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes unfortunately. Second hand content unlocked units are around £4-500 so worst case I could just go down that route, if things go wrong. 

I have a track record of this kind of stuff unfortunately, I had a MK7.5 before the VRs, and it didn't come with the Dynaudio speaker upgrade. I done that my self, and believe me there was a lot of cutting wires and the such to get the loom required to fit with the existing loom. I know the risks of this kind of stuff failing, but life would be boring if we didn't take risk's hey!

 

I think if you go in to this kind of stuff un aware of the risks then thats when it hurts!

 

[CajoLajo]

This is after the upgrade.

[Matty1VRS]

5 minutes ago, CajoLajo said:

This is after the upgrade.

@CajoLajo which file did you use? I tried one from i found online. But the sd card was not being recognised for some reason. Formatted to FAT32 aswell so am thinking it couldn't have been the right one

[CajoLajo]

This was done by the dealership. I could not find anything suitable online.

[CajoLajo]

Well, not entirely true, I installed the navigation database files. It took a long time to complete. The files are available on Skoda website, but not for the firmware. I paid around $90-95 to the dealer.

[CajoLajo]

48 minutes ago, Matty1VRS said:

@CajoLajo which file did you use? I tried one from i found online. But the sd card was not being recognised for some reason. Formatted to FAT32 aswell so am thinking it couldn't have been the right one

The files should be placed in the SD card's "root", so copy everything from your unzipped folder (but not the folder itself if you know what I mean).

Edited 16 February, 2020 by CajoLajo