MG5 Facelift USB music and Android Auto simultaneously

[DrAndyPerry]

Well that was annoying.

After trying loads of different USB sticks with different formatting in the right hand side USB port on my facelift MG5 Trophy and none of them working, I decided to actually read the manual.

The manual reports that the right hand side is for USB power only. The left hand one being for Android auto (+ACP) as well as for USB sticks with music on. That's a pretty crap design decision, in my opinion as with faffing you can't have USB music as well as android auto at the same time and without plugging and unplugging one of the least friendly positioned USB ports there are! I tried a USB splitter cable with no joy (it was a super cheap one so I suspect it just had power to one end.

So, I had a brain wave, a USB hub. I ordered a cheapo one from Amazon, only about £5.... and it works!!! Android Auto AND USB music at the same time!

There seem to be a few limitations with the USB music playback though. Although it indexed all 10,000 songs on my stick, it seems to only playback the first 1000... in song name order, so I've only got from A to Be!

I've stuck it with some sticky patches out of the way. I'll see if it holds.

Anyway, I thought I'd report my experience incase some of you are dislocating your wrist removing and plugging in USB sticks and want a solution.

AJP

 

[Alb]

I've been playing music from my RH USB socket since the day I got the car!
Perhaps some aspects of the Mk1 are better?

 

[snowyy]

Well that was annoying.

After trying loads of different USB sticks with different formatting in the right hand side USB port on my facelift MG5 Trophy and none of them working, I decided to actually read the manual.

The manual reports that the right hand side is for USB power only. The left hand one being for Android auto (+ACP) as well as for USB sticks with music on. That's a pretty crap design decision, in my opinion as with faffing you can't have USB music as well as android auto at the same time and without plugging and unplugging one of the least friendly positioned USB ports there are! I tried a USB splitter cable with no joy (it was a super cheap one so I suspect it just had power to one end.

So, I had a brain wave, a USB hub. I ordered a cheapo one from Amazon, only about £5.... and it works!!! Android Auto AND USB music at the same time!

There seem to be a few limitations with the USB music playback though. Although it indexed all 10,000 songs on my stick, it seems to only playback the first 1000... in song name order, so I've only got from A to Be!

I've stuck it with some sticky patches out of the way. I'll see if it holds.

Anyway, I thought I'd report my experience incase some of you are dislocating your wrist removing and plugging in USB sticks and want a solution.

AJP

Hi Andy thanks for the info i might be interested in a hub can you put details please. i agree with your comments i'm beginning to find a number of irritating issues with this car compared to my old leaf i hardly had to go on the Nissan forum. a real annoyance i have found is the radio will stop whenever there's any use of the mobile apparently it's to do with Bluetooth! ridiculous!

 

[DrAndyPerry]

Hi,
The hub I bought is this one.

4 Port USB Hub Special with 1 USB 3.0+ 3 USB 2.0 Hub Ultra Slim Portable Multiport Expander Charging Splitter Compatible with MacBook Desktop Computer PC (USB 3.0) https://amzn.eu/d/46vkjIQ

This is the USB3 one, you can get a USB2 one for a few pounds less.

I'm sure most will work though.

P. S. The Bluetooth interruption is quite common in cars. That drives me mad too. Its whenever the phone makes a noise the radio assumes you want to switch to Bluetooth output. If you put your phone on silent, it doesn't do this any more.

I've not found another way around this yet.

 

[snowyy]

Hi,
The hub I bought is this one.

4 Port USB Hub Special with 1 USB 3.0+ 3 USB 2.0 Hub Ultra Slim Portable Multiport Expander Charging Splitter Compatible with MacBook Desktop Computer PC (USB 3.0) https://amzn.eu/d/46vkjIQ

This is the USB3 one, you can get a USB2 one for a few pounds less.

I'm sure most will work though.

P. S. The Bluetooth interruption is quite common in cars. That drives me mad too. Its whenever the phone makes a noise the radio assumes you want to switch to Bluetooth output. If you put your phone on silent, it doesn't do this any more.

I've not found another way around this yet.

thanks for that on a spending spree at the moment having realised there's no type 2 to type 2 cable! so might add it to the list. didn't have any issues with Bluetooth in the Leaf. Also connected my dashcam but it won't work via the 12v Cigarette lighter but it will through the spare USB connector.

 

[Syd M]

I have a new MG5 Trophy facelift version. I can confirm that after much fiddling around , the right hand USB does not accept data, it is purely a charging port.
I do have a couple of issues with the infotainment system and would appreciate some help in resolving them.
1. Using the left hand usb with a memory stick containing several music abums, on plugging in the system recognises over a thousand individual tracks. The playback system does not allow me to access tracks from any particular album, and plays back from an alphabetical list of all tracks. I would like to be able to access selective album tracks but have not yet found a way to do this, any suggestions.

2. I'm using a USB hub to provide for Android Auto and music from a memory stick. When Google maps is plotting and navigating a route, The music output fades and is disabled. Again, any suggestions as to how I can fix or work around this issue?

 

[MickeySw]

any suggestions as to how I can fix or work around this issue?

Copy all your files from the USB to a micro SD card and put it into your Android phone, play them through Android Auto and ditch the “legacy “ USB stick is what I would do…

 

[kevin ellard]

I've been playing music from my RH USB socket since the day I got the car!
Perhaps some aspects of the Mk1 are better?

Does the pre-FL run android auto on the left socket or did they just switch them round in the FL?

 

[SimonomiS]

Does the pre-FL run android auto on the left socket or did they just switch them round in the FL?

Pre-FL uses the LH socket for data too. The other(s) just provide power for charging

 

[Alb]

Does the pre-FL run android auto on the left socket or did they just switch them round in the FL?

Yes, I connect for AA is on the left and music data on the right

 

[Amun]

I would like to be able to access selective album tracks but have not yet found a way to do this, any suggestions.

Yes, it's a fairly brain dead system, as it doesn't recognise folders. AT least it recognises and play flac files, though.

2. I'm using a USB hub to provide for Android Auto and music from a memory stick. When Google maps is plotting and navigating a route, The music output fades and is disabled. Again, any suggestions as to how I can fix or work around this issue?

I'd imagine that they clash - AFAI it's not meant to be used this way. Music on the phone seems to be the best option, but it's not something that I'm keen on.

 

[Syd M]

Copy all your files from the USB to a micro SD card and put it into your Android phone, play them through Android Auto and ditch the “legacy “ USB stick is what I would do…

Thanks for this. I've done as you suggested and it has worked out brilliantly. Thanks a lot.

 

[smokingblack]

Thanks for this. I've done as you suggested and it has worked out brilliantly. Thanks a lot.

For others I use iPhone Apple Music allows you to copy all your own music onto the site without subscription. Done it last week works bloody lovely I was amazed .