I just got BlueCruise 1.3 on my 2022

[elmedico27]

The PU updates are not the ones that need to be installed in sequence. And there is a fail-safe system within the OTA process to prevent updates that are not supposed to install from installing. I have seen countless OTA's fail due to manifest, software and hash mismatches.

This new OTA seems to be just that......it just gives you the newer version. I've been busy since this new OTA came out and have not been following this closely....has anyone on BC 1.0 reported getting this? If not, then then they are upgrading 1.2 users to 1.3 which is a much easier task than going from 1.0 to 1.3. I would assume to update from 1.0 to 1.3 will require some kind of APIM update to add the config needed for the toggle switches to appear in the driver assist menu which vehicles on 1.2 would already have.

The APIM update is coming later, I’d guess? The release notes mention the toggles will look strange for a bit into corrected in a future update.

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[DeusEx]

Do you really believe that Ford was just holding out and finally decided to go ahead and update the vehicles they are currently updating because of social media pressure?

I realize that often these kinds of comments are more venting than believing. And I don't excuse Ford, or any manufacturer for that matter, when they over promise and under deliver. But I'm convinced that the whole modern automotive OTA concept is far more complex than the average consumer thinks it is. These manufacturers wish they were better at it, no differently than their customers. I don't think apathy is in play. Much more likely it's a lack of competency.

Or transparency for that matter. To me, they should just acknowledge that their OTA delivery isn't where they want it to be right now and that they are actively working to address the concerns. Being honest with the customer base would be such a breath of fresh air. I get that we here in the forums might represent a small amount of Mach-E customers, but would it hurt to keep the most vocal customers happy?

 

[rugedraw]

The APIM update is coming later, I’d guess? The release notes mention the toggles will look strange for a bit into corrected in a future update.

It seems that way, yes. Still not sure if anyone on 1.0 has gotten this or not. It doesn't seem like it.

 

[elmedico27]

It seems that way, yes. Still not sure if anyone on 1.0 has gotten this or not. It doesn't seem like it.

I think so, the first round of the rollout to EAP members was 2022s, which I think are all 1.0? Mine was a July 2022 build and I’m on 1.0…

 

[hack-e]

Yes, all of us EAP 2022 folks getting 1.3 are coming from 1.0. Mine still hasn't successfully downloaded but as I mentioned it wouldn't matter if I got 1.3 yet until my Front Camera and Pre-Collision Assist Faults get fixed (which is being serviced at the moment). The Software Update page shows all the BC 1.3 update info but it has a download symbol with an ! next to it and says Not Completed.

I wonder if the service folks will update everything available in FDRS while it's in for fixing the front camera and pre-collision assist faults. We'll see when I get it back. I kinda hope not as I want to get it via OTA just to prove it's possible and also so I can report to the EAP folks how it goes.

 

[Snakebitten]

Or transparency for that matter. To me, they should just acknowledge that their OTA delivery isn't where they want it to be right now and that they are actively working to address the concerns. Being honest with the customer base would be such a breath of fresh air. I get that we here in the forums might represent a small amount of Mach-E customers, but would it hurt to keep the most vocal customers happy?

Do you think/believe that Ford thinks that they are doing a great job with OTA?

I admit that it would probably make some people feel better if Ford publicly stated what is obvious, but I don't think they are being dis-honest about anything simply for not flogging themselves publicly.

Having said that, I DO think Ford would gain some degree of respect for being publicly humble about the shortcomings. But I sure as heck ain't naive enough to believe that the forums would suddenly show Ford goodwill as a result.
Ford sucks is going to be the mantra no matter what they do.

 

[DeusEx]

At present, no, but I do have faith they have the potential to do so. However, I'm not patient enough to wait and am very thankful for your help and everyone's help around here with FDRS.

 

[TheVirtualTim]

Newbie question, what version of BlueCruise do the 2023s have?

Two different versions. 23’s build in the first half of the year got 1.2. 23’s built in the 2nd half of the model year got 1.3.

 

[TheSteelRider]

Don't get me wrong, I am happy they gave us 21s 3 more years at the same price $600 / yr), but they have burned us so bad with the supposed updates coming "soon" that there's no way in heck I'm ever paying anymore than $200 / yr after this extension ends.

The "official" "coming soon" post in this forum was not the first time we were told the update was coming. Ford had media events to showcase way before that.

They've also been shipping BC 1.2 on factory cars now for years.

 

[CarGuy11]

I'm just glad they are finally pushing out BC1.3 to current owners of BC1.0. The lane change ability will be a huge upgrade. If BC1.4 comes in the future great but rather not have to keep waiting for it.

 

[Mantastic]

Do you really believe that Ford was just holding out and finally decided to go ahead and update the vehicles they are currently updating because of social media pressure?

I realize that often these kinds of comments are more venting than believing. And I don't excuse Ford, or any manufacturer for that matter, when they over promise and under deliver. But I'm convinced that the whole modern automotive OTA concept is far more complex than the average consumer thinks it is. These manufacturers wish they were better at it, no differently than their customers. I don't think apathy is in play. Much more likely it's a lack of competency.

I think there's some truth to both things.

Yes, cars are much more complex hardware platforms to update. You have a bunch of intertwined moving mechanical parts requiring extreme precision and bug-free function, and also intense scrutiny both from government regulators and big-wigs within the company. People's lives are literally at stake if something goes wrong.

On the other hand, this is a mostly homogeneous platform with minimal changes to the hardware that this software is updating between the year/J# releases. 1.3 was also clearly ready to go a full year ago. 1.4 was soon after, albeit with one showstopping bug for some people where it bricked charging so it was pulled back from OTA. A bug that should have been relatively easy and quick to fix, and then get tested for release well before now.

 

[electric-in-the-desert]

I think there's some truth to both things.

Yes, cars are much more complex hardware platforms to update. You have a bunch of intertwined moving mechanical parts requiring extreme precision and bug-free function, and also intense scrutiny both from government regulators and big-wigs within the company. People's lives are literally at stake if something goes wrong.

On the other hand, this is a mostly homogeneous platform with minimal changes to the hardware that this software is updating between the year/J# releases. 1.3 was also clearly ready to go a full year ago. 1.4 was soon after, albeit with one showstopping bug for some people where it bricked charging so it was pulled back from OTA. A bug that should have been relatively easy and quick to fix, and then get tested for release well before now.

1.3 clearly wasn’t ready to go out OTA though… if it was we would’ve had 1.3 in the fall. The 1.3/1.4 thing seems to just be poor communication regarding a more stable IPMA/PSCM. The teams that do blue cruise and OTA are different so makes sense that while one is slow, another can make progress.

Clearly somebody in Ford over promised before they had enough QA on the OTA process and that’s why we are still waiting a year later.

And lastly you have no way of knowing if the bug was “easy to fix”. And even if it was, because that bug got released I imagine they really scrutinized their verification and testing process to ensure that doesn’t happen again. Hence no updates for a few months.

 

[lurker]

I tested out 1.3 in stop-and-go traffic over the holiday. One circumstance I do not like is if going from 0 to 20mph and then traffic stops again, it still likes to speed up and then slam on the brakes. I usually have it at the smallest distance gap because Bay Area drivers will take any and all openings. Gave my wife a bit of motion sickness as a rear passenger, so I stopped using it. I did have it in Unbridle mode if that makes a difference.

 

[Mantastic]

1.3 clearly wasn’t ready to go out OTA though… if it was we would’ve had 1.3 in the fall. The 1.3/1.4 thing seems to just be poor communication regarding a more stable IPMA/PSCM. The teams that do blue cruise and OTA are different so makes sense that while one is slow, another can make progress.

Clearly somebody in Ford over promised before they had enough QA on the OTA process and that’s why we are still waiting a year later.

And lastly you have no way of knowing if the bug was “easy to fix”. And even if it was, because that bug got released I imagine they really scrutinized their verification and testing process to ensure that doesn’t happen again. Hence no updates for a few months.

Fair points, though I do still believe that specific bug would not be one that is difficult to fix at all. And even with the additional verification/testing time, it shouldn't have taken as long as it did.

Most of this though just goes to the crux of the problem here: Ford's over-promising and extremely poor communication on these updates.

 

[Snakebitten]

Technically, 1.3 was already working last June. It was being shipped in vehicles from Ford. So Bluecruise software itself wasn't the issue or the cause of the 1 year delay to upgrade existing Bluecruise equipped vehicles.

OTA, the delivery mechanism/process, appears to be far more challenging than the software that is being delivered.

FDRS is just an alternative delivery mechanism/process.
I would much prefer the OTA method if it was even slightly competitive in timing with FDRS update library. Far less fuss when it works as intended.

But 3 years in with these software defined Ford products, I have a handful of OTA updates and I believe close to 100 FDRS updates. Looking forward to someday retiring the Mongoose. But not betting on it being anytime soon.

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