I think you should be able to update the filter based on what the user has entered, either on LiveChange or suggest event.
Something like:
suggest: function(oEvent){ var sValue = oEvent.getParameter("suggestValue"); var oFilter1 = new sap.ui.model.Filter("name", sap.ui.model.FilterOperator.StartsWith, sValue); oAutoComplete.getBinding("items").filter([oFilter1], sap.ui.model.FilterType.Application); }