MG5 iSmart - how to activate on car?

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CarlH

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Hi,

New MG5 owner here (new to MG tbh), I have a query just in case someone knows how to access it and it might seem like a stupid question, but watching the iSmart video that MG have put out, I don't get any sort of iSmart menu in the car on activation.

So car is brand new, driven from dealers (impressed with EV so far) and the car is very nice indeed - am a happy man.

I have managed to connect using Android Auto, all good on that front and when I open up the iSmart App to connect to the car, it wants to read a QR Code, but the video says when you switch on the car it will ask for activation - but it doesn't.

I've even gone and factory reset the car setup but alas, no iSmart connection options appear - none that jump out at me, like it does on the video that MG have put out.

Any ideas?
 
What made you think it was compatible with the current car?
 
As it got delivered to my dealer last Friday and is a 22 plate, dont say they've sold me a 2021 model under the guise of a 22.
 
its th MG5 EV Long Range Exclusive, or at least thats what I was told. The salesman even said that I can schedule charging etc.. which, without iSmart, I am unable to do.
 
It will be 2023 before we see an MG5 that will be able to use the APP I think. The facelift model is not on sale here yet.

/edit as far as I know.
 
Jeez. So I dont have any scheduler charging capabililty. Do you think it will come as a firmware update perhaps?
 
CarlH said:
As it got delivered to my dealer last Friday and is a 22 plate, dont say they've sold me a 2021 model under the guise of a 22.
Click to expand...

They have sold you a 22 plate car as such. The facelift will be available as 72 plate at the earliest.

CarlH said:
its th MG5 EV Long Range Exclusive, or at least thats what I was told. The salesman even said that I can schedule charging etc.. which, without iSmart, I am unable to do.
Click to expand...
emmrecs said:
Actually, you can schedule charging if you have a suitable home charger which includes an app that provides exactly that facility.
Click to expand...

The LR Exclusive is a trim level that's carried over from the current model so doesn't allow you to determine which you have. The obvious difference is the wheel diameter (17" on the new version) and the deletion of the chrome strip grille from the original. And of course no iSmart.
If you were lead to believe that iSmart was on the car and it isn't the law allows you to reject the car, particularly easily in the first 14 days.
 
This question keeps coming up, which leads me to think there's some dealers misleading people at point of sale.

I did a bucket load of research before placing my order, as it was a big leap to go EV and in terms of expenditure. So I fully understood the limitations. I'm guessing not everyone is doing that and are relying on the sale guy telling them the whole truth.
 
CarlH said:
Jeez. So I dont have any scheduler charging capabililty. Do you think it will come as a firmware update perhaps?
Click to expand...

No, current models do not have the hardware in them. There was a reason for this but I forget what it was.
 
To be fair, one of the information sources in anyone's research ought to reliably be the dealer.

You are absolutely right that there is more info here and (we know that) the likelihood is that we are correct but you'd tend to think you could trust what a salesperson at a dealer at least as much as some blokes on an internet forum.

Having said that, I'm also fairly untrusting of certain types of salesperson (with apologies to any estate agents or double glazing salespeople here :) ) so would try to verify anything I regarded as important via another source.
 
Ive told the sales guy to put my name down for the ZS SUV when it comes out with deliveries in about a year, I'll part-ex this MG5 for one of those. Now I just need to find out IF or WHERE there's an SD card slot for my music as I had my music playing in my Mitsubishi Barbarian. No doubt there isnt one and I'll be copying onto a USB stick, if it'll play them at all that is. Oh the fun of changing cars. :) Thanks all
 
CarlH said:
Ive told the sales guy to put my name down for the ZS SUV when it comes out with deliveries in about a year, I'll part-ex this MG5 for one of those. Now I just need to find out IF or WHERE there's an SD card slot for my music as I had my music playing in my Mitsubishi Barbarian. No doubt there isnt one and I'll be copying onto a USB stick, if it'll play them at all that is. Oh the fun of changing cars. :) Thanks all
Click to expand...
I've not tried it, but it should work with a USB SD card reader, plugged into the USB port.
 
CarlH said:
Ive told the sales guy to put my name down for the ZS SUV when it comes out with deliveries in about a year, I'll part-ex this MG5 for one of those. Now I just need to find out IF or WHERE there's an SD card slot for my music as I had my music playing in my Mitsubishi Barbarian. No doubt there isnt one and I'll be copying onto a USB stick, if it'll play them at all that is. Oh the fun of changing cars. :) Thanks all
Click to expand...

USB works fine.

There's a good chance your MG5 will be worth more in a year than it costs you to buy :)
 
5teep said:
No, current models do not have the hardware in them. There was a reason for this but I forget what it was.
Click to expand...
No UK/EU based data processing for SAIC, all based in China, therefore they were unable to put that capability in UK/EU vehicles without breaking data protection laws. They opted to not install the hardware required (which is a shame as it could have been software patched later).

SAIC have done some deals with Amazon to use AWS servers/data processing to support the face-lift models and remain compliant with local laws.
 
CarlH said:
As it got delivered to my dealer last Friday and is a 22 plate, dont say they've sold me a 2021 model under the guise of a 22.
Click to expand...
I have a Hypervolt charger and I schedule it to charge my MG5 LR between 1 am and 8am. There is no built-in scheduler in the current
MG5's. My charger comes with an app so I can charge it remotely if I leave it plugged in.
 
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