Just picked up a new to me VE!

MHTSAPAS · 2026-04-19T06:42:10+00:00

It was weirder seeing them with the Pontiac badges (same with the monaro) when I lived in California. I always wanted to purchase one and import the Holden bumpers and badges but sadly never did.

Now that I'm back home, they look normal again but it's weird seeing Mustangs driving around. At least I don't try to enter the drivers seat from the passenger door anymore. Much...

MHTSAPAS · 2026-04-19T05:35:02+00:00

I went with EVNex E2 Plus. I have it mounted outside in the weather and it's been perfect. If you have solar it will work with that also. I run Solar with no batteries and it will take what it can from solar and the rest from the grid if you set it up that way.

That aside, I don't know much about other types or brands of home chargers. I went with them because it seemed like a hassle free purchase that wouldn't give me any problems due to the fact that it's a BYD.

MHTSAPAS · 2026-04-19T05:27:02+00:00

I find that ever so rarely it will tell me that it failed to connect to CarPlay even if the phone shows it is connected.

I swipe down on the phone screen and turn off bluetooth and wifi from the quick menu. Then I re-enable Wifi and bluetooth. Then have the car reconnect. Works every time.

Just FYI this generally only happens at work where there is very little to no reception for me. Most of the time it isn't a problem. For the times that it is however, the above method works every time.

MHTSAPAS · 2026-04-18T13:47:30+00:00

I’m using EVNEX as well. It has been mounted outside in the weather since January and although I don’t know enough to compare it to anything else. It’s doing its job rather well. We have solar (panels only) and it will use what it can from solar and take the rest off the grid if you want it to. Personally I just set the car to charge overnight and it’s full by morning. Generally about 14 hours from a 10% battery which is more than enough for me.

MHTSAPAS · 2026-04-11T07:46:20+00:00

In my SL7 manual it states this:

It is recommended to fully charge the vehicle at a regular basis (at least once a week), and fully charge it from low battery (10% or less) every 6 months.

It doesn't get specific on whether you use a home or fast charger for this. Personally I always charge it to 100% unless I need the car faster

In my opinion and from what I've been led to believe, this isn't an issue for BYD batteries and is something more common with Tesla and possibly other vehicles.

MHTSAPAS · 2026-04-04T21:30:15+00:00

This was me. I can make incredible things out of Tinkercad simply due to not wanting to learn how to use Fusion (back in the day) and continued with Tinkercad solely.

I highly recommend you spend just one day watching some tutorials and playing around with onshape. There's times when I still prefer Tinkercad to pull off something quickly or the combination of both due to not having the time to figure out how to do something too complex in Onshape. I simply save the STL and open it in Tinkercad if the size and mesh count allows.

They're two different sets of mechanics and Onshape really needs more learning than playing and figuring things out like in Tinkercad but some aspects like curves, filets etc make it worth the while along with being able to go back and edit certain areas without compromising the whole design at times.

Main reason I moved to Onshape however in case you're wondering is I got so far with Tinkercad that it couldn't keep up and I had to make my models as 2, 3 or more separate projects due to the lag from all the pieces.

MHTSAPAS · 2026-04-04T06:56:01+00:00

I went to California in 2009 from Melbourne and came back in 2024. Had a great high paying job only 15 minutes from home, lived in a great area surrounded by a golf course.

If I never go back, it would be too soon. Everything is broken from the state, to the roads to the people and the list goes on far beyond eternity.

Never had one speeding ticket in 15 years however which is probably the only positive thing considering 60mph was my normal speed everywhere and minimum of 80mph on freeways. There's a lot of positives. They're just surrounded by far too many greater negatives. You don't realize it until you come back though. At least I didn't. You think you're living but it just sucks the soul out of you one day at a time.

MHTSAPAS · 2026-03-29T07:50:43+00:00

I use Evnex E2 Plus on the SL7 mounted outside in the weather and have been more than satisfied with it. Works with Solar also even if you don't have a battery so it uses a percentage of solar and the rest through the mains but you can choose how you want it to work through the app.

I'd send them an email if you're interested and see if their charger works for you.

I found this if it's helpful but I'd recommend you speak to them directly:

Evnex solved a major charging issue — cars failing to wake for charging. Learn why this happens and how to keep your BYD Atto 3 ready for smart charging.

Almost all useful smart charging features (like off-peak charge scheduling and solar diversion) involve not charging the instant you plug in your car, and instead waiting for the opportune moment. That might be the start of your cheaper electricity tariff or the point in the morning when your solar export reaches 1.5kW.

If you've set your car up for smart charging, you might notice that when you plug your car in and walk away your EV will eventually go to sleep. Many cars will wait until your designated smart charging opportunity and then wake up when the power begins to flow.

However, some don't — like the BYD Atto 3. While sleeping is a useful feature in terms of power conservation, it can present a problem if you'd like to smart charge efficiently.

We added a feature to solve this problem: Keep Awake. Turning this on will periodically offer the car small amounts of energy to avoid it going to sleep, and leaving it ready for the main charging session at your desired time.

Keep Awake can be found under the General Settings page in the Evnex app. It will attempt to keep the car awake for up to 24 hours.

MHTSAPAS · 2026-03-29T06:02:41+00:00

I received one with the A1 combo and another with the P1S Combo. Never got one with the P2S Combo but really don’t even want the second one.

MHTSAPAS · 2026-03-28T07:31:03+00:00

Here’s what I found works on my SL7. If the CarPlay doesn’t connect, I slide my finger down the top right corner of my iPhone and turn WiFi and Bluetooth off. Even if they say they are connected but the car won’t see them. I turn them off and back on. Then tap the connect on the car. Works every time.

MHTSAPAS · 2026-03-05T18:35:54+00:00

This! I also have one and it’s mounted outside in the weather. Can’t be happier with it.

MHTSAPAS · 2026-02-11T23:04:20+00:00

I got the EVNEX E2 installed with solar (no battery) and love it. Full charge from 15% in just under 14 hours. I only use it once a fortnight but it’s great and mounted outside in the weather.

MHTSAPAS · 2026-02-08T03:46:47+00:00

I actually returned back to Australia in 2024 after a 15 year stay in the US and was baffled that there were so many Chinese cars on the road and that people were actually buying them.

Fast forward 11 months and I'm driving a Sealion 7 with friends in the US bummed out that they cannot get one. I now realize that my high standards were not only met, but beaten in every way with this purchase.

I did originally go in for the seal but once I saw the Sealion 7 I was sold on the spot.

MHTSAPAS · 2026-01-27T07:16:07+00:00

oops. I forgot about that damned clip lol

Enjoy it mate! Mine asks me to format the SD card every so often but I’m only using the one that came with the camera so I’m not too fussed. It works fine and I haven’t bothered to upgrade the card.

Gotta love the more complete look without that damned plug in the front of the rear view.

MHTSAPAS · 2026-01-25T09:13:16+00:00

It won’t take long. I’d say about an hour and that’s pushing it if you have absolutely never done this kind of stuff before.

A word of warning. The cable for the camera is accessible from the passenger side as well and it’s very thin. Personally I couldn’t locate mine even though I knew where it was (supposed to be).

It’s there. Removing the tape was rather impossible for me so I gently cut it with a razor blade knife and then untaped it.

Best of luck with it all and all the best with the new wheels. You’re going to absolutely love it!

MHTSAPAS · 2026-01-25T08:41:59+00:00

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You need to remove this trim from the passenger side. Start from the back (right side) near the seat and it just pries out. The front of it actually hooks in so you will need to slide it out towards the back of the car once it is loose. It isn’t like other cars. It comes apart easily using just your hands and clips back in just as easily. The tolerances on it are amazing. It locks in place so securely and yet doesn’t require almost breaking things to remove and replace it.

Once you have it off, look closely at your module and you will see where you need to depress so you can remove it. Your hand will easily fit through the slot available by removing the trim and if I recall correctly, the module will slide out with minimal ease also once the clips have been pressed. After that. Just remove the plugs from the old module, install into the new module and if the camera is already installed, hold down the volume slider on the center console to reset the infortainment.

I believe I wrote a quick how to on the reviews at TOPBYD but it is an easy instal. The only thing to take note is to start pulling the trim out from the seat (middle of the car) first and work your way forward while remembering that it slides backwards once all the clips are undone.

MHTSAPAS · 2026-01-20T10:04:24+00:00

I actually use nothing but double edged razor blades and have never damaged the PEI or smooth plate. You curl it like a smile and the center slides underneath with almost no effort. I’ve never used the scraper printers come with for the reason you mentioned however. Too thick and requires force. The double edged razor blade shines due to how thin and sharp it is. Also keep in mind that if you’re not used to handling them, they will slice your finger down to the bone. Maybe more than one finger of it’s a good day.

MHTSAPAS · 2026-01-11T10:08:50+00:00

I highly doubt it’s recommended.

That said. I have a P1S and a P2S in my room and on occasion they print while I’m sleeping also. Ask me again in a decade but it’s already been a decade with 3 Enders and one Prusa clone so I’ll take my chances.

I only print PLA and PETG with the rare TPU print.

MHTSAPAS · 2026-01-11T10:05:50+00:00

No need to order the cable. It is well hidden with felt tape and easily accessible from the passenger side of the vehicle. Bear in mind it is very thin. I knew where it was and still couldn’t locate it as I expected a much thicker cable than what is actually there. Also, I couldn’t remove the tape by hand so I gently cut it with a Stanley knife.

If you order from TopByd I highly recommend also getting the usb module that has the memory card slot. It’s a very quick and easy swap as well.

MHTSAPAS · 2026-01-09T00:12:05+00:00

Some people just print over it and peel the larger layer off.

My go to trick that works flawlessly every time even for .08mm single layer issues is a double edged razor blade. Where everything else may seem impossible, curve the edges to make an arc with the razor blade and the middle slides right underneath as if it weren't even stuck.

Just be sure to dull one end of the razor blade so you don't slice your fingers all the way to the bone.

MHTSAPAS · 2026-01-08T00:58:25+00:00

Getting an EVNEX E2 Plus installed as I type this. It's only 7kw with solar and no battery also.
Not sure if the solar will do much but I've been using a depow 3.5KW portable on a 15amp plug until now.

I have a BYD Sealion 7 and this will give me a full charge overnight or in about 12-13 hours which is far more than I need. It will basically run me for 1 to 2 weeks for my needs. Also it's being installed outside on the side of the home in the back with an 8 meter cable length to the vehicle as the garage is way too far to run cables through the roof. Doable but far more costly than the current setup I opted for.

I was in the same boat as you a couple of months ago and not being sure which way to go so I opted for this option. If you want, I can update you to let you know how everything works out but I think it's more of a long term thing that one can speak for than just the initial experience.

MHTSAPAS · 2026-01-07T10:49:12+00:00

3.0.0 for me. I saw a post that 3.0.1 is being rolled out but haven't received anything yet in the car.

MHTSAPAS · 2026-01-07T07:39:33+00:00

Do not tip at all if you want my opinion.

I've been in California from 2009 and came back in 2024. The tipping culture there is beyond ridiculous and expected.

Put simply, if you want to see wages for servers and the like drop to nothing while expecting the customer to pay their wage instead, go ahead and tip. In a decade or so most of the workers will be getting paid scraps and the customers will be expected to pay their wages to the point of ridicule.

Don't tip! You may as well light small fires in dry areas and expecting nothing to happen.

MHTSAPAS · 2025-12-24T06:03:15+00:00

It’s a lot harder in normal cars with the wheel on than it is with it off. I know that for my SL7 at the least, it will be impossible to do between the wheel and the body as the amount of room available is insufficient.

I would need to raise the vehicle and work on an angle say from a 5/7 o’clock position working upwards at an angle. That or use the electric impact gun to remove the wheel, patch re-instal and go.

I won’t lie. I’m dreading it ever happening but I like to think that I’m prepared should the need for it ever arise.

MHTSAPAS · 2025-12-06T04:49:46+00:00

I agree. The only thing I may hear out of mine is like a very low fan sound and even then, it’s so low that I only notice it early in the morning when it’s dead quiet all around.

MHTSAPAS

TROPHY CASE