Support suggested that the download might have gotten corrupted and it doesn't try again if that happens. My commute involves dropping cell service multiple times so it's probably going to continue to be an issue for me if that's what happens.
Updated my Polestar 2 in my driveway non-OTA
This all started because my car hadn't gotten the P1.8 OTA update. Not wanting to schedule a visit to the workshop I decided to look into how to do it on my own. This isn't a free process but I've never been one to shy away from spending a little money to gain knowledge.
So after a little over two weeks of faffing about trying to get the VIDA tools to work with my car, I finally was able to get the P1.8.1 update applied last night. I wouldn't recommend doing this yourself right now, because the process for getting enabled is entirely broken. Polestar support said I was the first independent trying to order software through their system. (I think this entire system might be US only right now but I'm not sure, yay right to repair laws!)
![Gadget Communication Device Font Rectangle Electric blue]()
Anyway, if you're in the US, lets get started. Since this process involves needing some physical tools, getting those first is a good idea. Unfortunately for me, I found out that the standard Volvo DiCE tool doesn't allow software downloads for the platform the 2 is on (If anyone is looking for one of these, PM me). You need to have one of the VOE (Ethernet) adapters. The one I picked up is Volvo part # 9513108. Supposedly aftermarket ones will work but I'd rather not find out halfway through updating. Prior to ordering the DiCE, I tried to use my GM MDI 2. It acted like it was going to work but I could never get it to connect to the car even for diagnostics. Don't waste your time trying, even if you get it to connect, it won't do the software download either.
Create an account on https://polestartechhub.com/ . Once you do that you will be able to purchase a 3 day subscription to the VIDA system. I had to do this three separate times but if you pre-ordered the above VOE, you should only need to do this once. A quick note here, actually ordering the software for the car through the polestartechhub is currently broken, so if you don't also have a VIDA subscription through the volvotechinfo site, you won't be able to order the software yet. Tech support tried to order it for me but I ended up getting an error during the initial download to my computer. Out of frustration and curiosity I paid for the subscription to the volvo system, and discovered that the volvo account was able to order software for a polestar VIN through this login dialog.
![Rectangle Font Parallel Circle Magenta]()
Find the section about purchasing a VIDA subscription.
Click "VIDA For owners or individuals". Both of these options ultimately end up with identical entitlements. It's possible I'm overlooking something but it doesn't seem so.
Agree to the policy.
Start configuring a new VIDA subscription. Enter 1 in the Number of Licenses. While we only want the "Software ordering and Download" entitlement, they make you take the "Diagnostic Workflow", "Parts Catalogue", and "Service Information" packages as well. Select those and Click add, then calculate price.
Click Proceed, Add to basket.
Scroll down to continue, and pay for your order.
Here comes the fun part. They say that creating a new VIDA account is an automated process that should happen when you first purchase a subscription. This didn't happen for me, I had to create a help request to get them to create it manually. You're welcome to wait a few hours before submitting a request, but if I were doing it again right now, I wouldn't.
While you're waiting for the VIDA account to get created, go set up the VIDA software. The link is embedded in the VIDA support page under "Activating your VIDA subscription" "install instructions". Don't try to log into your VIDA account with the initial password. Once your software is installed, go into VIDA Admin and activate your account.
Once you get your account and are ready to go, open up VIDA and log in. After first login attempt you need to go back into VIDA Admin and authorize your machine.
![Asphalt Natural landscape Plant Tree Automotive lighting]()
Plug your VOE into your car, and an ethernet cable into your computer. You will also need to maintain an internet connection so you might need a USB->ethernet dongle as well.
(I forgot to get pictures for the next few steps, may update the post later but my subscription runs out soon)
Click the "Connected Vehicles" tab at the top. You should see your car automatically populate the list of connected vehicles. Click the "Connect" button. It's going to ask you to do a readout. I opted to do this the first time, but since it took several minutes, just re-used the readout all times afterwards.
Once you get through the pop-ups, click the "Software Installation" tab at the top. You should now see a page like this:
![Rectangle Font Parallel Screenshot Number]()
Click order. As of Jan 11, 2022, the popup that comes up from here requires an active Volvo VIDA subscriptions with software download entitlements. This is an entirely different VIDA subscription from the polestar one. Polestar tech support tells me this will eventually be fixed but they couldn't provide a timeline.
Log in and continue with the software ordering. The system says it's $0.01 to order, I'm guessing the system just doesn't let them enter in zero. Strangely I have a pending charge on my card for $1.01.
Once you've ordered the software, the button that said "Order" should now say "Retrieve". Start this process. It's a pretty big update so it can take a while to download and process. When that's done, you will be prompted to install. If your install button is greyed out like my screenshot, it means your car isn't connected.
![Rectangle Font Circle Handwriting Parallel]()
I thought the bolded language on this is confusing. Personally I would reword this to "Important! The battery must be able to maintain the supply of power while installation is in progress" You definitely should connect the 12V battery to an external power source. The part of the screen that shows the voltage does not update while this process is ongoing. It was 5°F outside when I did my update and the 12V battery system got very low, but it stated 13V until the end. I did not connect an external source, but you might not get as lucky.
![Rectangle Font Grass Circle Pattern]()
Click Install, and be ready to wait a while. I sat in the car the entire time but I don't think you need to.
![Rectangle Font Parallel Screenshot Technology]()
It ended up taking closer to 35 minutes for the entire process. It suggested it was going to take 25. Somewhere in here it shuts the car completely off. If you're doing this outside in the winter, wear a jacket, it gets cold fast!
![Rectangle Font Screenshot Parallel Technology]()
During Post Installation the car will cycle on and off a few times. You will get some strange beeps and some noises. The driver's display quickly flashed about being in transport mode, but returned to normal on it's own.
![Product Rectangle Azure Font Line]()
If you get a green checkmark, hurray! We did it! Click OK and wait for the car to finish the startup sequence.
Pre-delivery check: I wasn't sure what to do for this. After driving a short period, the car told me it saved the tire pressures, so it's a good time to make sure you have your pressures set correctly. I'm not sure if there are other calibration concerns involved, but your mirror position will need to be reset. P1.8.1 seemed to fix the "no heat" complaint as heat was already turned on in my screen.
So after a little over two weeks of faffing about trying to get the VIDA tools to work with my car, I finally was able to get the P1.8.1 update applied last night. I wouldn't recommend doing this yourself right now, because the process for getting enabled is entirely broken. Polestar support said I was the first independent trying to order software through their system. (I think this entire system might be US only right now but I'm not sure, yay right to repair laws!)
Anyway, if you're in the US, lets get started. Since this process involves needing some physical tools, getting those first is a good idea. Unfortunately for me, I found out that the standard Volvo DiCE tool doesn't allow software downloads for the platform the 2 is on (If anyone is looking for one of these, PM me). You need to have one of the VOE (Ethernet) adapters. The one I picked up is Volvo part # 9513108. Supposedly aftermarket ones will work but I'd rather not find out halfway through updating. Prior to ordering the DiCE, I tried to use my GM MDI 2. It acted like it was going to work but I could never get it to connect to the car even for diagnostics. Don't waste your time trying, even if you get it to connect, it won't do the software download either.
Create an account on https://polestartechhub.com/ . Once you do that you will be able to purchase a 3 day subscription to the VIDA system. I had to do this three separate times but if you pre-ordered the above VOE, you should only need to do this once. A quick note here, actually ordering the software for the car through the polestartechhub is currently broken, so if you don't also have a VIDA subscription through the volvotechinfo site, you won't be able to order the software yet. Tech support tried to order it for me but I ended up getting an error during the initial download to my computer. Out of frustration and curiosity I paid for the subscription to the volvo system, and discovered that the volvo account was able to order software for a polestar VIN through this login dialog.
Find the section about purchasing a VIDA subscription.
Click "VIDA For owners or individuals". Both of these options ultimately end up with identical entitlements. It's possible I'm overlooking something but it doesn't seem so.
Agree to the policy.
Start configuring a new VIDA subscription. Enter 1 in the Number of Licenses. While we only want the "Software ordering and Download" entitlement, they make you take the "Diagnostic Workflow", "Parts Catalogue", and "Service Information" packages as well. Select those and Click add, then calculate price.
Click Proceed, Add to basket.
Scroll down to continue, and pay for your order.
Here comes the fun part. They say that creating a new VIDA account is an automated process that should happen when you first purchase a subscription. This didn't happen for me, I had to create a help request to get them to create it manually. You're welcome to wait a few hours before submitting a request, but if I were doing it again right now, I wouldn't.
While you're waiting for the VIDA account to get created, go set up the VIDA software. The link is embedded in the VIDA support page under "Activating your VIDA subscription" "install instructions". Don't try to log into your VIDA account with the initial password. Once your software is installed, go into VIDA Admin and activate your account.
Once you get your account and are ready to go, open up VIDA and log in. After first login attempt you need to go back into VIDA Admin and authorize your machine.
Plug your VOE into your car, and an ethernet cable into your computer. You will also need to maintain an internet connection so you might need a USB->ethernet dongle as well.
(I forgot to get pictures for the next few steps, may update the post later but my subscription runs out soon)
Click the "Connected Vehicles" tab at the top. You should see your car automatically populate the list of connected vehicles. Click the "Connect" button. It's going to ask you to do a readout. I opted to do this the first time, but since it took several minutes, just re-used the readout all times afterwards.
Once you get through the pop-ups, click the "Software Installation" tab at the top. You should now see a page like this:
Click order. As of Jan 11, 2022, the popup that comes up from here requires an active Volvo VIDA subscriptions with software download entitlements. This is an entirely different VIDA subscription from the polestar one. Polestar tech support tells me this will eventually be fixed but they couldn't provide a timeline.
Log in and continue with the software ordering. The system says it's $0.01 to order, I'm guessing the system just doesn't let them enter in zero. Strangely I have a pending charge on my card for $1.01.
Once you've ordered the software, the button that said "Order" should now say "Retrieve". Start this process. It's a pretty big update so it can take a while to download and process. When that's done, you will be prompted to install. If your install button is greyed out like my screenshot, it means your car isn't connected.
I thought the bolded language on this is confusing. Personally I would reword this to "Important! The battery must be able to maintain the supply of power while installation is in progress" You definitely should connect the 12V battery to an external power source. The part of the screen that shows the voltage does not update while this process is ongoing. It was 5°F outside when I did my update and the 12V battery system got very low, but it stated 13V until the end. I did not connect an external source, but you might not get as lucky.
Click Install, and be ready to wait a while. I sat in the car the entire time but I don't think you need to.
It ended up taking closer to 35 minutes for the entire process. It suggested it was going to take 25. Somewhere in here it shuts the car completely off. If you're doing this outside in the winter, wear a jacket, it gets cold fast!
During Post Installation the car will cycle on and off a few times. You will get some strange beeps and some noises. The driver's display quickly flashed about being in transport mode, but returned to normal on it's own.
If you get a green checkmark, hurray! We did it! Click OK and wait for the car to finish the startup sequence.
Pre-delivery check: I wasn't sure what to do for this. After driving a short period, the car told me it saved the tire pressures, so it's a good time to make sure you have your pressures set correctly. I'm not sure if there are other calibration concerns involved, but your mirror position will need to be reset. P1.8.1 seemed to fix the "no heat" complaint as heat was already turned on in my screen.
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There's a software to order to change to EU
Correct, you can change the reference market code (31 for the US), but the unintended consequence there is that Polestar (and Volvo) deploy software specific to regions and builds for a particular region. So for example, if you change it to EU market code, you might gain Adaptive High Beams, but you'll lose SiriusXM support. Or another one that's happened on the Volvo side is that the sign recognition goes all haywire.There's a software to order to change to EU
So when Polestar/Volvo deploy software the country code is one factor that determines the deployed package, and there's a ton of software module part numbers that are within that. Example:
So that's just a long way of saying there's a whole host of potential unintended consequences.
For those interested, I really encourage also testing out vDash on the Polestar.
I guess it might be worth defining terms for people new to Volvo products.
CMA = Compact Modular Architecture, and those vehicles are designed as ICE, PHEV, and BEV, and currently are the XC40, C40, and Polestar 2 (and some other Geely offerings)
SPA = Scalable Product Architecture, and those are designed as ICE and PHEV only, and that's basically all the other current Volvo offerings plus the Polestar 1.
The last platform before SPA and CMA was P3. Those cars (think all of them) were dependent on having what's called a DiCE (Diagnostic Communication Equipment) tool. You then ran a CD based version of VIDA on a laptop that was connected to the car through the DiCE. On SPA and CMA vehicles you don't need the DiCE to interface with the car, and the now web-based, subscription format, VIDA on your laptop. You only need a simple OBD2 to ethernet (or USB) connector, like what I have here:
![Font Electrical wiring Cable Eyewear Personal protective equipment]()
However, you can still connect a DiCE to communicate as a passthrough, and it's needed on SPA cars at least, to do some of the functionality of vDash. The problem is when you get some of he knock-off DiCE, they won't communicate or work at all.
![Gadget Networking cables Adapter Electrical wiring Adapter]()
CMA = Compact Modular Architecture, and those vehicles are designed as ICE, PHEV, and BEV, and currently are the XC40, C40, and Polestar 2 (and some other Geely offerings)
SPA = Scalable Product Architecture, and those are designed as ICE and PHEV only, and that's basically all the other current Volvo offerings plus the Polestar 1.
The last platform before SPA and CMA was P3. Those cars (think all of them) were dependent on having what's called a DiCE (Diagnostic Communication Equipment) tool. You then ran a CD based version of VIDA on a laptop that was connected to the car through the DiCE. On SPA and CMA vehicles you don't need the DiCE to interface with the car, and the now web-based, subscription format, VIDA on your laptop. You only need a simple OBD2 to ethernet (or USB) connector, like what I have here:
However, you can still connect a DiCE to communicate as a passthrough, and it's needed on SPA cars at least, to do some of the functionality of vDash. The problem is when you get some of he knock-off DiCE, they won't communicate or work at all.
I know it's just a random example, but I'd give up a low quality music app a thousand times over to get working Adaptive High Beams.
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