BYD Seal tips, tricks and help

[Luuk Chaai]

4 hours ago, Bandersnatch said:

 

Turns up at a BYD discussion and posts a picture of a Tesla

 

 

Do some research before posting so you don't look like a complete ....

if it was an  "ELECTRIC" Etzel in the picture would it matter ?

guess you missed the concept ..   ok  you can go charge your battery now

[Bandersnatch]

4 hours ago, Luuk Chaai said:

if it was an  "ELECTRIC" Etzel in the picture would it matter ?

guess you missed the concept ..   ok  you can go charge your battery now

 

Good sun today and so both my EVs fully charged from excess solar power after powering the house.

[Bandersnatch]

There has been some chat on the forums that BYD wants customers to do their free services in a timely manner as not doing so could void their warranty.

 

Our BYD Seal service is due today, a Sunday so my wife phoned them and asked if they were open on a Sunday and if not was there an issue if the service was late. This is what they said:

 

No problem if the service is done within a month of the due date and not more than 1,000km over the due  service km interval.

[Pib]

12 hours ago, Bandersnatch said:

No problem if the service is done within a month of the due date and not more than 1,000km over the due  service km interval.

Exactly what my Bangkok BYD dealership told me when picking up my Atto.

[Bandersnatch]

Currently at BYD Buriram for my free annual service. They asked if we wanted the tyres rotated. They charge ฿300 for balancing.

 

We asked if they had official BYD touch up paint, but they said no but we could buy online. The ones I previously purchased from shopee and Lazada didn't match the colour of the car.

[Andrew Dwyer]

Time for a little feedback me thinks.

 

Most of us regular posters on this thread have had the Seal for around a year so ….……

……. What are your feelings about your Seal purchase ??

 

1) Which other model would you have gone for if the Seal wasn’t around.

2) What would you like to see in the next OTA ?

3) Have you made any major changes ?

( wheels, tyres, wrap, etc )

4) Have you installed film, the supplied cover or nothing on the glass roof ?

5) How long will you keep your Seal ?

6) What things do you wish were better ?

[Andrew Dwyer]

Okay, here goes:

 

1) Probably Atto 3 but like the 2 x Deepal models ( S07 + L07 ).

2) The ability to add anything as a shortcut to the much underused shortcut screen. ( add a button on all screens )

3) Nothing major, considered front end clear wrap, mainly aesthetic changes ( de-chrome ).

4) 80% film on glass roof, don’t think about it now except when stationary in direct sunlight for a while .

5) As long as possible, would need a major change ( solid state batteries etc ) for me to consider.

6) Missing front parking sensors annoyed me, the physical door handle buttons ( proximity unlock would be great ).

[JBChiangRai]

If the Seal wasn't around, I would have continued waiting for my MG Cyberster.

 

In the next OTA I would like to see seat memories at startup or better sill position 1 linked to key 1 and so on. Also I would like to see the driver's seat ventilation default to what it was set to on power off.

 

I have replaced the wheels with alloys that are wider but with stock tyres, it has cured the loss of traction from a standing start under full acceleration on dry tarmac.  When the tyres are exhausted I will by wider tyres.  I have also wrapped the car in Porsche Frozenberry.  Windows are tinted at 40% cut in black (I don't like mirrored windows).  I have not filmed the roof glass, it never bothers me and I read somewhere it needs to be on the outside or it will make the glass panel hotter. I also fitted the BYD camera and memory card removed most of the badges replacing what's left with black badges.

 

I prefer the look of the Deepal saloon and the colours it is available in, but the performance is a deal breaker for me.

 

When I am finished with my Seal it will go to my eldest daughter.  I normally only keep a car for 12-24 months, at approaching 12 months I am still enjoying it every day & have no plans to consider changing.  I have only ever kept 3 cars longer than 2 years, one of those was not my main car, it was a weekend car and not appropriate for work, another was a Honda NSX (I still miss that car) and the other was a Ford Ranger 3.2 Wildtrak here in Thailand.  It's not that I loved the Ford, it was more that nothing else excited me until I had a ride in my friends E-Class, so I bought one.

 

My German EV had proximity unlock on the door handles.  It was great when away from home but a PITA when it was in my garage.  It often made me go and hang the key up.

[Andrew Dwyer]

7 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

 

 

My German EV had proximity unlock on the door handles.  It was great when away from home but a PITA when it was in my garage.  It often made me go and hang the key up.

Thanks, i did wonder if proximity unlock could be annoying.

My Honda Jazz would unlock by sensing the proximity of my hand when the key was within 1 metre i think.

I would be happy with that rather than physically pressing the button which seems a little fiddly, especially at night when that welcome light doesn’t illuminate anywhere near the door handle.

[JBChiangRai]

I like that when it's charging it turns on the display so you can see SoC via proximity.

 

I also noticed another behaviour.  If I have been driving the car the cooling fan doesn't operate when I stop the car but as soon as I lock it, the cooling fan kicks in.  This also happens if charging.  I used to leave my car unlocked but in the garage, I don't do that anymore.

[Andrew Dwyer]

Forgot to mention:

I fit the Sinjet front/rear cameras with LED rear view mirror, gives an excellent rear view except for when it is raining heavily ( should have gone for the inside rear view camera option instead of outside ). Has a 24 hour “ sentry “ view, albeit only front and rear.

Also have BYD front dash cam.

[Andrew Dwyer]

Seeing a lot of chatter on FB BYD groups about changing the SIM card to enable downloading the GBox app ( and subsequent Google apps, YouTube, Netflix, etc ).

This is apparently being initiated by BYD dealerships for free and so far i have seen posts from Dolphin and Seal owners.

 

Also an update is performed at the same time , presumably V1.3.1 as already released in Europe.

 

Note new ventilated seats shortcuts on main screen and the multitude of new apps.

 

 

 

 

 

Apparently takes a couple of hours to complete, will enquire when I get the 1 year service at the end of the month.

[mistral53]

1 hour ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Seeing a lot of chatter on FB BYD groups about changing the SIM card to enable downloading the GBox app ( and subsequent Google apps, YouTube, Netflix, etc ).

This is apparently being initiated by BYD dealerships for free and so far i have seen posts from Dolphin and Seal owners.

 

Also an update is performed at the same time , presumably V1.3.1 as already released in Europe.

 

Note new ventilated seats shortcuts on main screen and the multitude of new apps.

 

 

 

 

 

Apparently takes a couple of hours to complete, will enquire when I get the 1 year service at the end of the month.

Thanks for posting, I am seeing the same chatter and was wondering how this will go down.

 

Some say they were contacted by BYD - nothing from our dealer (yet), our sales girl is for the birds, or maybe too busy selling cars....lol

 

 

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

16 minutes ago, mistral53 said:

Thanks for posting, I am seeing the same chatter and was wondering how this will go down.

 

Some say they were contacted by BYD - nothing from our dealer (yet), our sales girl is for the birds, or maybe too busy selling cars....lol

 

 

 

Yes, i think it is early days, some reports that dealers are denying knowledge, some doing the SIM change but not loading GBox app and some doing both.

Don’t think the update is related other than the new SIM requires some update/reset and the latest version is available, but not for OTA apparently.

 

Our turn will come.

[Pib]

A few minutes ago I used the Rever Automotive app to ask under the app's  Help "Talk To Use" section about SIM swap/upgrade as there was Facebook chatter about it.  I asked them if there is such a SIM swap/upgrade program.  And I told them I had a 2023 Atto. 

 

I got a response within about 10 minutes saying a person can avail of the SIM card replacement service at the car showroom if your SIM card is nearing the 2 year expiration.   Simply provide the VIN number to the showroom and you can schedule an appointment to have the SIM card replaced. 

 

Maybe some of this SIM replacement chatter is dealing with those folks who bought their BYD vehicle in 2022/early 2023 which means their SIM card subscription would be expiring soon or recently expired....just guessing.  Probably best for a person to visit their dealership and ask face-to-face regarding your specific BYD vehicle.

 

 

 

[Pib]

Snapshot from the a BYD Facebook page....the BYD Sonkhla dealership is advertising the SIM swap/upgrade.   This is kinda like how I found out about the Atto/Dolphin Rat Guard free modification from a Chonburi/Pataya BYD Facebook page....and when I went to my Bangkok BYD dealership they schedule an install for me. 

 

 I'll stop by my dealership here in Bangkok over the coming days and ask....will show them below snapshot.  It says it for the Atto, Dolphin, and Seal.  

 

 

 

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

31 minutes ago, Pib said:

A few minutes ago I used the Rever Automotive app to ask under the app's  Help "Talk To Use" section about SIM swap/upgrade as there was Facebook chatter about it.  I asked them if there is such a SIM swap/upgrade program.  And I told them I had a 2023 Atto. 

 

I got a response within about 10 minutes saying a person can avail of the SIM card replacement service at the car showroom if your SIM card is nearing the 2 year expiration.   Simply provide the VIN number to the showroom and you can schedule an appointment to have the SIM card replaced. 

 

Maybe some of this SIM replacement chatter is dealing with those folks who bought their BYD vehicle in 2022/early 2023 which means their SIM card subscription would be expiring soon or recently expired....just guessing.  Probably best for a person to visit their dealership and ask face-to-face regarding your specific BYD vehicle.

 

 

 

BYD Seal released in Thailand in late September 2023.

[Pib]

46 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

BYD Seal released in Thailand in late September 2023.

 

Yeap...so for any Seal owner the 2 year SIM free subscription would not be expiring before  Sep 2025.   

 

But after seeing the Facebook  page I posted above a few minutes go it appears what the Rever Automotive Help/Talk To Us  representative told me during the online chat session may have been incorrect...the representative was apparently talking the typical SIM expiration guidance instead of info regarding the a BYD SIM swap/upgrade program talked about in above SongKhla BYD post.    And maybe the Rever Automotive rep simply didn't know anything about SIM swap/upgrade program....missed a company memo so to speak. 

 

I will go to my Bangkok BYD dealership over the coming days with the Songkhla Facebook post in-hand and ask for more info such as is it available to me right now for my 2023 Atto and/or is there some fineprint related to the SIM swap/upgrade. 

 

This may turn out to be like the free Rat Guard battery modification that I would have never known about unless a Chonburi BYD dealership put info on a Facebook page about it....I don't remember ever seeing anything about it on the Rever webpage....and my dealership never contacted me about its availability.    I then went to my Bangkok BYD dealership...asked about the Rate Guard install....and they said yeap and then scheduled the install for a few weeks later.   

 

Yeap...this SIM swap/upgrade program once again may be some upgrade BYD does not advertise "widely"; instead, just leaves it up to their local dealerships to get the word out or the customer to find out about thru the grapevine/social media.

 

 

[Bandersnatch]

1) Which other model would you have gone for if the Seal wasn’t around.

-A year ago I didn't see anything else I liked, but now some interesting models are appearing 

 

2) What would you like to see in the next OTA 

-A quick access to swap connected phones 

 

3) Have you made any major changes ?

( wheels, tyres, wrap, etc )

-None

 

4) Have you installed film, the supplied cover or nothing on the glass roof ?

-No film fitted and cover is also not fitted and not finding the car hot

 

5) How long will you keep your Seal ?

-A while yet, love driving the car and using the V2L. Glad I got the AWD it's such fun and don't miss the extra range.

 

6) What things do you wish were better ? 

-paint on the plastic chin and bum

 

[JBChiangRai]

9 hours ago, Bandersnatch said:

-A quick access to swap connected phones 

I can think of another way of doing this, the car could have primary connected phone and secondary connected phone, either can be used on a journey but when the car needs to push to the phone, it goes to the primary phone if it’s connected and the secondary phone if it’s not.

[mistral53]

16 hours ago, Pib said:

Snapshot from the a BYD Facebook page....the BYD Sonkhla dealership is advertising the SIM swap/upgrade.   This is kinda like how I found out about the Atto/Dolphin Rat Guard free modification from a Chonburi/Pataya BYD Facebook page....and when I went to my Bangkok BYD dealership they schedule an install for me. 

 

 I'll stop by my dealership here in Bangkok over the coming days and ask....will show them below snapshot.  It says it for the Atto, Dolphin, and Seal.  

 

 

 

 

 

Wife just got a message from BYD to get the SIM card swapped out......... this might move more briskly than I thought.

[Andrew Dwyer]

6 minutes ago, mistral53 said:

 

Wife just got a message from BYD to get the SIM card swapped out......... this might move more briskly than I thought.

How many months have you had your Seal ?

[mistral53]

2 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

How many months have you had your Seal ?

It was one of the first, maybe 3 days after they opened the deliver - so a little over 13 months ago.

 

We will go in tomorrow morning, I can tell more what changes after that.

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

28 minutes ago, mistral53 said:

It was one of the first, maybe 3 days after they opened the deliver - so a little over 13 months ago.

 

We will go in tomorrow morning, I can tell more what changes after that.

 

Please do, am interested to see what benefits there are with this.

I did get my system downgraded to sideload some apps but my GBox app has since gone a little sideways ( seen others on FB with the same problem ) can see my installed apps but cannot install more. 

 

Good to know that it is being offered to 13 months old cars, mine is 12 months old in a couple of weeks so will see what happens.

 

A few FBers being refused SIM change if their car is not old enough.

 

It may be a coincidence but seems to coincide with the 2 year anniversary of release of Atto 3 here and the original plan was to start paying for a SIM plan after 2 years.

Wonder if BYD have had a rethink and extended the original 2 year plan @BKKBike09 ?, or if the SIM change is to facilitate the new content, YouTube, Netflix etc

[Bandersnatch]

8 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

I can think of another way of doing this, the car could have primary connected phone and secondary connected phone, either can be used on a journey but when the car needs to push to the phone, it goes to the primary phone if it’s connected and the secondary phone if it’s not.

 

My wife and I recently swapped our iPhones for Samsungs and Android Auto connects wirelessly to whichever phone it sees first.

 

Recently my wife was in our MG HS PHEV while I followed her home from the MG dealer in the Seal when it started playing some random Thai Boy Band at me. I tried unsuccessful to persuade the Seal that it was talking to the wrong S24 Ultra without much luck.

 

Thai Boy Band .... Steely Dan....Thai Boy Band..

 

Rebooted the infotainment system and created bigger gap between the cars...

 

Steely Dan...Thai Boy Band Muted

[JBChiangRai]

I dictate most of my messages and emails.

 

I can’t at the car wash because they don’t shut the car off and my phone remains connected in their customer lounge, calls get defaulted to car too.

 

Regarding Bluetooth, it can support 7 simultaneous connections so it would make sense for it to connect to all registered phones at the same time.

[Pib]

23 hours ago, Pib said:

Snapshot from the a BYD Facebook page....the BYD Sonkhla dealership is advertising the SIM swap/upgrade.   This is kinda like how I found out about the Atto/Dolphin Rat Guard free modification from a Chonburi/Pataya BYD Facebook page....and when I went to my Bangkok BYD dealership they schedule an install for me. 

 

 I'll stop by my dealership here in Bangkok over the coming days and ask....will show them below snapshot.  It says it for the Atto, Dolphin, and Seal.  

 

 

 

 

 

Last night after the Rever Customer Support Chat line closed at 8pm I sent them a message showing above BYD Songkhla SIM upgrade poster.  This morming around 11am Rever responded saying: "If you car is approaching 2 years of service, you can get the SIM card replacement service at our service center."  

 

A few hours later I went to my Bangkok BYD dealership and showed them a snapshot of the BYD Songkhla SIM poster...and fortunately I was able to speak to a rep who knew some English.   He said the SIM swap includes multimedia software upgrade where GBox, Youtube, Netflix, etc., are added. 

 

Their service dept made me an appt for two weeks down the road to get it installed...install and software upgrade takes a couple of hours.   Most anything my dealership does service-wise takes at least 2 hours (even if it seems to be a 10 minute job)....it's like a 2 hour service window is their minimum for any task of significance.   

 

Now I intentionally didn't ask if this SIM swap/upgrade "extends" the 2 year subscription of my current SIM or will the original SIM 2 year period still be ticking for this new SIM....or does a new subscription period of X-years begin.    Also didn't ask if it provides more than a 2GB allotment per month.   I intentionally  didn't ask for more detailed info as the English speaking rep got pulled away to help another customer interested in buying a car.... plus, at this point I just want to get the SIM upgrade soonest even if it don't extended my current 2 year subscription which doesn't expire for another 11 months....I will ask the detailed questions after the SIM upgrade as to remaining subscription period, GB allotment, etc.

 

 

[Pib]

3 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

It may be a coincidence but seems to coincide with the 2 year anniversary of release of Atto 3 here and the original plan was to start paying for a SIM plan after 2 years.

Wonder if BYD have had a rethink and extended the original 2 year plan @BKKBike09 ?, or if the SIM change is to facilitate the new content, YouTube, Netflix etc

When I picked up my Atto in Oct 2023 the dealership said the SIM subscription period was for 2 years but BYD was talking about extending it to 3 years...and was still developing a subscription plan as to if it would be free or cost X-amount, etc. .  Basically the rep (who could speak a fair amount of English) said BYD was still deciding on how they would handle SIM upgrades, extending subscriptions in Thailand, etc.,...it was still a work in progress.  

[Andrew Dwyer]

39 minutes ago, Pib said:

When I picked up my Atto in Oct 2023 the dealership said the SIM subscription period was for 2 years but BYD was talking about extending it to 3 years...and was still developing a subscription plan as to if it would be free or cost X-amount, etc. .  Basically the rep (who could speak a fair amount of English) said BYD was still deciding on how they would handle SIM upgrades, extending subscriptions in Thailand, etc.,...it was still a work in progress.  

Well that is good news and seems like they will extend FOC as there must be some 2 year old Atto’s out there and no mention of requesting payment for extending subscriptions on the FB gossip groups.

[BKKBike09]

16 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

It may be a coincidence but seems to coincide with the 2 year anniversary of release of Atto 3 here and the original plan was to start paying for a SIM plan after 2 years.

Wonder if BYD have had a rethink and extended the original 2 year plan @BKKBike09 ?, or if the SIM change is to facilitate the new content, YouTube, Netflix etc

 

I just called BYD Ramintra. They said:

• Original free SIM Subscription expires after 2 years
• Replacement SIM will extend free subscription for 3 months 
• They are waiting to hear from Rever what happens after that - don't know if will need to pay or if still free etc
• SIM change is free of charge

My car is due for it's 2-year service in Jan so I'll get them to change the SIM then. No SIM = no OTA updates. I don't care about YT, Netflix etc but do use the Navigation.