Help a Brazilian decide on buying an MG4 XPOWER

[Truc]

Hello mates,

I write from Sao Paulo, Brazil, where MG4, MG5S and Cyberster have just been launched this past weekend.

I currently have a 2 yr-old BYD Dolphin Plus (exactly the same model that is sold across Europe) and thinking of trading it in for the XPower. I have come to appreciate some features of my BYD and wonder if you could help me assess if they exist in the MG4 to help with my decision.

First, I resent the absence of a sunroof or panoramic roof in the MG4, but there is nothing I can do about it...

Second, and most important, is the ability to natively install 3rd party apps like Waze and Chrome. There is more than one way we found in Brazil to upgrade the Dolphin' s multimedia and unlock it for installing apps. The MG4 I saw in the dealer had no app store. Skimming here it looks like if you keep pressing a comma button in the keyboard it would allow to install apks is that correct? If I cannot install Waze in an MG4 I probably would not buy it.

Also important for me is to have a command to turns off the external LED lights while the car is on, this may look dull, but many places in Brazil are dangerous, so if you need to wait for someone in your car, you want to leave it on (to listen to music, or to be ready to fly if some suspect bum approaches your car) but with the lights out so you don't draw attention. Is it doable in the MG4?

Thanks in advance for any lights on that, I really apreciate. And should you have any doubts about Brazil or the BYD Dolphin, I am at your service to help.

Cheers!

 

[salty]

To the forum.

 

[siteguru]

If you are able to get into the native Android OS that underpins the MG4 infotainment (if, and how, to do so varies by software revision) then it is possible to sideload apps.

Have a search of XDA forums to find the relevant thread.

 

[T1 Terry]

The side lights stay on when the car is turned on, but there are work arounds to turn them off, just not from factory ......

T 1 Terry

 

[tsedge]

AFAIK there's no way to turn off the sidelights manually, except to cover them (there are magnetic covers you can buy) or to pull the relevant fuse.

On the sunroof, you could always cut your own.....

 

[ReintjeWA]

I think most things on your wish-list are do-able with one or two work arounds, but none of them are out-of-the-box options on an MG4.

 

[Anon70]

The other thing you need to know is that as soon as you turn on pre conditioning (using the iSmart app) the car will light up like a Christmas tree. So if a car with lights on is an issue this may be a problem.

 

[OzricEV]

The other thing you need to know is that as soon as you turn on pre conditioning (using the iSmart app) the car will light up like a Christmas tree. So if a car with lights on is an issue this may be a problem.

This is only on older software. I know on my xPower and other newer ones, the indicators flash once but no other lights come on when preconditioning through the app.

 

[Rolfe]

AFAIK there's no way to turn off the sidelights manually, except to cover them (there are magnetic covers you can buy) or to pull the relevant fuse.

On the sunroof, you could always cut your own.....

I resisted the fuse-pulling idea for a while until someone pointed out exactly how to do it and how easy it is. Just over a minute from thinking about doing it to closing the bonnet, job done.

The only little snag to this is that if you do need to scarper in a hurry, you're doing it without front lights. I'm told it's possible to fit a switch that will do the job, but it seems quite fiddly.

 

[Truc]

Thanks everybody for the responses, on the LED thing it is a pity as it seems easily implemented by the manufacturer - BYD included that in a multimedia update earlier this year, they also changed the remote preconditioning in a way it does not turn the car on, neither the leds nor it unfolds the mirror as it used to do before the update.

We have a powerful BYD forum in Brazil, there is even a BYD R&D official registered that interacts with us on improvements and even market probing (I even had a 1-to-1 in their local HQ). Many of our asks have been implemented globally in these software updates or made available in the '26 models for the Brazilian market (like Smart Start for example).

I don't know what is SAIC / MGs involvement with this forum, but I suggest you have them participate and interact, I have seen a Wish List here (that included the LEd on/off thing), it would be great to have them acknowledging and promising efforts on the asks.

On the "cutting my roof myself" idea, I actually did it 40 years ago in a black Chevette, now I think it would be quite a wild thing to do (have I changed or have the cars and the market changed?).

 

[salty]

Seems like your BYD forum has a good relationship with BYD. Which is great.
Trouble is, think we've probably got more chance of Winning the Lottery, than MG having the same relationship, with us. They think the problems with some of the MGs are "characteristics" of the car, and therefore just get on with it.
Overall MGs are excellent cars, spoilt by MG, themselves. Which is a shame.

 

[T1 Terry]

Seems like your BYD forum has a good relationship with BYD. Which is great.
Trouble is, think we've probably got more chance of Winning the Lottery, than MG having the same relationship, with us. They think the problems with some of the MGs are "characteristics" of the car, and therefore just get on with it.
Overall MGs are excellent cars, spoilt by MG, themselves. Which is a shame.

I think a lot of the problems in the UK are with the UK importer, not SAIC as such.

I applaud BYD for their connection with the customer to sort issues including the change of servicing agents in Aust to more in house rather than contracting it to a chain who really were fairly clueless when it came to servicing any EV ..... The customers here complained and BYD listened

T1 Terry

 

[salty]

Agree, probably should have worded it better. Not blaming SAIC, they probably haven't got a clue, what's happening here.
It's MG UK, l was getting at.