570S IRIS Updates?
Discussion
Hi all, I acquired a 570S a few weeks ago and so far, so very good. As I've mentioned in another thread, there's a reputation of flakiness that comes with these cars and, after a number of 911's and R8's (many R8's!), I had relatively low expectations of this car. In fact, despite being a daily driver, reliability and build quality have exceeded my expectations.
One area I'm perplexed with is some parts of the IRIS system. I believe it's known as IRIS 2 in the 570S? (Jeez, what was IRIS 1 like!?).
To be fair, some parts work really well actually - I've had no issue with audio, ventilation, some aspects of the nav or with the responsiveness of the system. The car even has some useful features that don't exist on other cars.
Before anyone calls out that's not the purpose of these cars, of course I didn't buy this car with expectation of having a world class telematics system, but it is my daily driver and I had an expectation that it would do the basics. Yet there are a couple of aspects that baffle me.....
Navigation:
Despite being a June 2018 car, the map data is a good 4 years out of date. According to McLaren there are no updates and there are no plans to launch any updates.
Did they really launch a system, apparently years ago, with no plans or ability to update it? What's the general thoughts on this....is there anything that can be done (e.g. is there a way to put pressure on McLaren to get an update from their supplier?), does it even bother people who buy these cars?
Apps:
This leads me to the 'Maps' app. I have a perfectly good internet connection, in fact the browser works just fine (I'm mildly impressed by this, although I see no benefit for it in the car) but I cannot get anything other than a blank screen on the Maps app. I'm not sure it would have been of any use but is it fair to assume this simply doesn't work? It'd be better not having the feature at all than having it and never working so, has anyone managed to get the Maps app to work?
Honestly, apart from those couple of points and, despite having one of BMWs best and latest iDrive systems in our other car and my previous R8 having Audi's virtual cockpit, I actually think the McLarens systems are perfectly serviceable. I just wish I could get a more up-to-date map in the software so I could actually use it with a level of confidence.
One area I'm perplexed with is some parts of the IRIS system. I believe it's known as IRIS 2 in the 570S? (Jeez, what was IRIS 1 like!?).
To be fair, some parts work really well actually - I've had no issue with audio, ventilation, some aspects of the nav or with the responsiveness of the system. The car even has some useful features that don't exist on other cars.
Before anyone calls out that's not the purpose of these cars, of course I didn't buy this car with expectation of having a world class telematics system, but it is my daily driver and I had an expectation that it would do the basics. Yet there are a couple of aspects that baffle me.....
Navigation:
Despite being a June 2018 car, the map data is a good 4 years out of date. According to McLaren there are no updates and there are no plans to launch any updates.
Did they really launch a system, apparently years ago, with no plans or ability to update it? What's the general thoughts on this....is there anything that can be done (e.g. is there a way to put pressure on McLaren to get an update from their supplier?), does it even bother people who buy these cars?
Apps:
This leads me to the 'Maps' app. I have a perfectly good internet connection, in fact the browser works just fine (I'm mildly impressed by this, although I see no benefit for it in the car) but I cannot get anything other than a blank screen on the Maps app. I'm not sure it would have been of any use but is it fair to assume this simply doesn't work? It'd be better not having the feature at all than having it and never working so, has anyone managed to get the Maps app to work?
Honestly, apart from those couple of points and, despite having one of BMWs best and latest iDrive systems in our other car and my previous R8 having Audi's virtual cockpit, I actually think the McLarens systems are perfectly serviceable. I just wish I could get a more up-to-date map in the software so I could actually use it with a level of confidence.
Honestly, the 720S had a whole bunch of faff round the launch about how it would have Apple Carplay, etc, but haven't seen an inkling of it since.
I dealt with it, in my 720S, by chucking Waze on my phone, with a phone mount. Easiest and best way of doing it, if you need navigation in these cars.
I dealt with it, in my 720S, by chucking Waze on my phone, with a phone mount. Easiest and best way of doing it, if you need navigation in these cars.
Same as above, I use Google maps on my phone, and a decent phone mount.
I actually quite like the quirks of the IRIS, but when the basics don't work (like the Nav) it's very frustrating.
I would imagine it can't be that difficult to hack and put Apple Carplay or Android auto onto it. I know it's been done on other cars (non-Mac)
I actually quite like the quirks of the IRIS, but when the basics don't work (like the Nav) it's very frustrating.
I would imagine it can't be that difficult to hack and put Apple Carplay or Android auto onto it. I know it's been done on other cars (non-Mac)
I do think it strange that a company that supposedly operates at the cutting edge of automotive technology sells cars with infotainment systems that wouldn't pass muster in a Dacia! I get the fact that they are "otherwise superb cars" but I don't really think it's acceptable.
I wonder whether the lack of up to date mapping is a licensing issue? I think to license the use of the mapping data from one of the very few companies that provide it is very expensive and perhaps not cost-effective for a low volume supplier like McLaren. May be the same is true for Apple Carplay/Android auto.
I wonder whether the lack of up to date mapping is a licensing issue? I think to license the use of the mapping data from one of the very few companies that provide it is very expensive and perhaps not cost-effective for a low volume supplier like McLaren. May be the same is true for Apple Carplay/Android auto.
Not so sure given that Ferrari have been able to accommodate it with similar production levels as McLaren. That being said, not sure how much of McLaren's IRIS is proprietary and how much has been drafted out to a contracted software dev company. If it has been developed externally, the licensing to change major code may be restricted and it may not be cost effective for them to create a revision/modification for CarPlay.
CyCy said:
Not so sure given that Ferrari have been able to accommodate it with similar production levels as McLaren. That being said, not sure how much of McLaren's IRIS is proprietary and how much has been drafted out to a contracted software dev company. If it has been developed externally, the licensing to change major code may be restricted and it may not be cost effective for them to create a revision/modification for CarPlay.
The system is made by Parott. Out of date Android base system. Googling will reveal a bit more info on the specs.(not sure if 720S is the same, but this applies to the early models/570 series).
The Surveyor said:
My 570s is in for a service at McLaren Manchester at the moment, I'll ask about updating the maps on the sat-nav whilst its in their care and will report back on what they say 
Good man, thank you. I know this is a well documented issue online and, on trying to make my first call on the bluetooth today, it lasted about 1 second before the other person couldn't hear me (across numerous attempts). This seems to be a common theme with newer iPhones (X, XS etc) so looks like I need to downgrade my telephone. Is having my phone work too much expectation?
Palmball said:
Good man, thank you.
I know this is a well documented issue online and, on trying to make my first call on the bluetooth today, it lasted about 1 second before the other person couldn't hear me (across numerous attempts). This seems to be a common theme with newer iPhones (X, XS etc) so looks like I need to downgrade my telephone. Is having my phone work too much expectation?
Was your phone also plugged in?I know this is a well documented issue online and, on trying to make my first call on the bluetooth today, it lasted about 1 second before the other person couldn't hear me (across numerous attempts). This seems to be a common theme with newer iPhones (X, XS etc) so looks like I need to downgrade my telephone. Is having my phone work too much expectation?
The phone quality was massively improved with an update a couple of years ago, I can hold perfect conversations at speed with the roof down. Before the update it was pretty much unusable.
I use android phones so don't know if that is relevant.
It does annoy me that you can't install any apps, I wanted to try Spotify and Tune-in on the system but it's impossible to install anything or to upgrade the crappy version of android.
Unless anyone knows different.
I use android phones so don't know if that is relevant.
It does annoy me that you can't install any apps, I wanted to try Spotify and Tune-in on the system but it's impossible to install anything or to upgrade the crappy version of android.
Unless anyone knows different.
Palmball said:
The Surveyor said:
My 570s is in for a service at McLaren Manchester at the moment, I'll ask about updating the maps on the sat-nav whilst its in their care and will report back on what they say
Good man, thank you. I know this is a well documented issue online and, on trying to make my first call on the bluetooth today, it lasted about 1 second before the other person couldn't hear me (across numerous attempts). This seems to be a common theme with newer iPhones (X, XS etc) so looks like I need to downgrade my telephone. Is having my phone work too much expectation?
Palmball said:
The Surveyor said:
My 570s is in for a service at McLaren Manchester at the moment, I'll ask about updating the maps on the sat-nav whilst its in their care and will report back on what they say
Good man, thank you. I know this is a well documented issue online and, on trying to make my first call on the bluetooth today, it lasted about 1 second before the other person couldn't hear me (across numerous attempts). This seems to be a common theme with newer iPhones (X, XS etc) so looks like I need to downgrade my telephone. Is having my phone work too much expectation?
Palmball said:
The Surveyor said:
I spoke to them this morning, they are going to look into software updates for the maps on sat-nav. I'm heading over to Manchester tomorrow to collect the car and will let you know if there is any change.
Thank you for pursuing, did they give you a view on this?1st ever post so go easy please..
I have a 2019 570S Spider, fantastic car to drive in every way, and as mine has MSO exhaust even the sound isn't too bad..
But do agree a little let down by the infotainment technology, to the extent I don't really bother using it for anything other than heating & music
One issue I have is that it keeps interrupting the track or radio channel I am playing to tell me the speed limit on each and every road I enter. On non motorway journeys with lots of road changes it's massively irritating
Spoke with the dealer and they told me to turn volume down to zero on notifications.. This did not stop the interruptions (which are constant) but merely curtailed them to " the sp.... " and then period of silence until track resumed
Anyone else had this issue & know how to fix ? I'm completely open to the possibility of user stupidity here
I have a 2019 570S Spider, fantastic car to drive in every way, and as mine has MSO exhaust even the sound isn't too bad..
But do agree a little let down by the infotainment technology, to the extent I don't really bother using it for anything other than heating & music
One issue I have is that it keeps interrupting the track or radio channel I am playing to tell me the speed limit on each and every road I enter. On non motorway journeys with lots of road changes it's massively irritating
Spoke with the dealer and they told me to turn volume down to zero on notifications.. This did not stop the interruptions (which are constant) but merely curtailed them to " the sp.... " and then period of silence until track resumed
Anyone else had this issue & know how to fix ? I'm completely open to the possibility of user stupidity here
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