Phone erratic when using Bluetooth for Android Auto

[KafueRob]

I replaced my MG4 EV with a 24 plate MG5 EV. I tried using the old Bluetooth dongle to connect my phone for Android auto use. That worked fine but incoming phone calls would often not connect to the infotainment audio, which is useless!

So I'm back to connecting the phone via USB cable which isn't great (I end up leaving the phone in the car).

I'm guessing that the car's Bluetooth connection algorithm gets confused, as the phone already has a Bluetooth connection to the car for the phone app.
Is there a way round this?

 

[kevin ellard]

I replaced my MG4 EV with a 24 plate MG5 EV. I tried using the old Bluetooth dongle to connect my phone for Android auto use. That worked fine but incoming phone calls would often not connect to the infotainment audio, which is useless!

So I'm back to connecting the phone via USB cable which isn't great (I end up leaving the phone in the car).

I'm guessing that the car's Bluetooth connection algorithm gets confused, as the phone already has a Bluetooth connection to the car for the phone app.
Is there a way round this?

The phone call side of things works fine on my FL 5. It does have other weirdness to do with play/pause getting confused but incoming calls work fine. I have an extremely cheap dongle from aliexpress.

 

[KafueRob]

The phone call side of things works fine on my FL 5. It does have other weirdness to do with play/pause getting confused but incoming calls work fine. I have an extremely cheap dongle from aliexpress.

Thanks. So your phone is paired with the BT dongle to give you Android Auto. Do you also have your phone paired with the car infotainment centre?
I wonder if you have to have one or the other, but not both

 

[kevin ellard]

Thanks. So your phone is paired with the BT dongle to give you Android Auto. Do you also have your phone paired with the car infotainment centre?
I wonder if you have to have one or the other, but not both

I think Android auto automatically pairs the phone to the car. It looks to me like the phone pairs briefly to the dongle with Bluetooth then switches to wifi then pairs to the car.
In order to sort out my other problem I have to disable/enable bluetooth on the phone and Android auto stays connected during that process. Perhaps your dongle is doing something different.

 

[EVLover]

I replaced my MG4 EV with a 24 plate MG5 EV. I tried using the old Bluetooth dongle to connect my phone for Android auto use. That worked fine but incoming phone calls would often not connect to the infotainment audio, which is useless!

So I'm back to connecting the phone via USB cable which isn't great (I end up leaving the phone in the car).

I'm guessing that the car's Bluetooth connection algorithm gets confused, as the phone already has a Bluetooth connection to the car for the phone app.
Is there a way round this?

What model is your phone? I had a Samsung S20+ which kept dropping out via USB connection but when I upgraded to an S25+ everything works perfectly.

 

[KafueRob]

What model is your phone? I had a Samsung S20+ which kept dropping out via USB connection but when I upgraded to an S25+ everything works perfectly.

It's a Moto g54.
I've tried a few suggestions from AI and I'll try some "start from scratch" resets tomorrow.
It's obviously quite complex!

 

[KafueRob]

Well I've found a solution - it seems to work but I haven't tested it much yet.
It's from an AI search "Bluetooth issues with an MG5 when using a wireless Android Auto dongle". I can't find the exact phrase I used but here is the solution that worked:

The "Clean Setup" fix:

1. In your car unplug the Android Auto dongle
2. Remove your phone from the car's Bluetooth list (go to Home> Settings > Bluetooth phone and click the bin symbol against your phone)
3. On your phone's Bluetooth settings unpair the MG connection
4. On your phone's Bluetooth settings delete the dongle's connection (mine has the name SmartBox_3F25)
5. In your car let the infotainment centre power up
6. Plug in the dongle, wait for it to pair up with the phone (apparently, they say this is usually a Bluetooth handshake followed by a 5GHz WiFi connection). I was asked to agree to the connection.

That was it. I ended up with 2 paired items on my phone's Bluetooth settings, named as MG and
SmartBox_3F25. The MG one has details (click the gearwheel symbol) of HD audio, Media auto, and Phone calls. The Smartbox one has Phone calls. Both have access to contacts and call history.

A brief test of the phone call worked - but not in my driveway (no audio) because there was a conflict with my house BT/WiFi I guess