Retrofit: Radio Controlled Clock
 

As per title, after purchasing two receivers last year I managed to get round to fitting it this afternoon after a few productive days around the car.

This should not take more than one hour if you have the correct tools, you know what to do and are not scared of taking things apart.

Cost of the receiver from Audi is around £40 depends on the discount you can get and the cost of the plug which you can get either from Audi as well or eBay for around £6

Part numbers:
Radio receiver 4B0 919 145 B
Plug 3D0 973 703 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1415809412...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I started with wiring the plug for the receiver base on this diagram.
I have used 0.5 wires instead of 0.35 as that is what I have left after AFS retrofit which I have completed last weekend and a separate thread will follow up shortly, also colours of wires are different.

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432569933

Please note that pins on receiver are in different order than on the plug.
Plug pins are 1 - 2 - 3
Receiver pins are 2 - 3 - 1
Pin 2 is marked on the receiver, first one from the left

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432570963

I have used terminal connectors for 0.5 wires not much thicker ones which are supplied with the plug from eBay link

N 103 357 06
and N 907 647 01 for the connector on the back of the cluster

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432571355

So, that is the plug wired and wrapped with a fabric tape for wiring looms
I prefer TESA brand tape, £4.49
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25m-x-25mm...item56655e45d8

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432571156

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432571156

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432571156

I've used the JPT crimping tool which is the best tool you can have for any electrical repair/mods around the car, £19.99
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1716253073...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432572611


Removing cluster:
Remove the thin dark grey plastic trim from the dashboard which runs just under your wood/carbon trim.
Next remove the air vents. There are two locking clips on each vent, use a thick ish, not to flexible, steel wire bend in U shape or use two very small allen keys. Lift the clips and pull the vent out but be carefull as there is a electrical connector on each vent.

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432571506

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432571506

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432571506

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432571506


Next undo the hex bolts as per pictures below and pull the cluster's trim.
Before you do that:
- insert the key to ignition and turn it right
- lower and pull out the steering wheel as far as possible
- turn the ignition off, left, but leave the key to stop the steering wheel going into exit position (up)
- indicator lever down
- hold wipers lever down while removing the trim

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432571506

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432571506

Next on each side of the actual cluster there are two metal retaining (silver) brackets, sorry no picture, push them out to the side and pull the cluster out.
This is a bit fiddly but nothing to hard. Wiring loom is fairly long so keep turning and moving the cluster until you will have an easy access to the connector on the back which you will have to disconnect.


Originally receiver is installed behind the rear bumper, in all honesty, I couldn't be bothered to go through so much hassle in order to have this retrofit which would involve rear bumper removal and running wires from the rear bumper to the back of the cluster. Call me lazy but I've done a lot of much more significant and complicated work around the car so I basically could be bothered. Plus previous 8s had them fitted behind the cluster anyway.

In order to fit the receiver behind the cluster you will have to chop off two fixing points with cable cutters or whatever you have in hand.
Then I wrapped the receiver in fabric tape to prevent any possible ratling or whatever.
Best location is on the left of the Xenon Range Module (black box with blue connector). There is an open space on the right but nothing to rest on the receiver will just fall through.

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432572790

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432572790

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432572790


As earth (purple wire) I have used the bolt for the Xenon Module bracket.
I taped the wires to the existing cluster wiring loom.
Then I crimped the connectors to the green wires and took the cluster's connector apart in order to plug them in in the position of pin 9 and 10.
Then I just finished taping the loom and new wires together and thats it.

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432573256

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432573256

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432573256

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432573256

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432573256

Put all back together and next VCDS

Go to [17] Instruments
then Adaptation
select Radio Controlled Clock from the drop down menu
Change New Value from 0 to 1 or as per instructions in the picture below (1-50 - minutes)
TEST
SAVE
DONE, GO BACK
Exit Controller, close VCDS, unplug the cable and you are done.

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432573428

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432573428

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1432573428

Not sure if on D3 there should be an icon of radio tower like on the D2s, but I assume thats only when receiver will receive the signal from the radio tower in Frankfurt, and from my experience with radio controlled clocks this may take a while and its sync process is only at certain times or something like that.

....or, I messed up something :rolleyes:

Congrats Marcin! I've been hoping someone would lead the charge!

I think you should get the radio symbol on your DIS but would be interested ton see if it does in the next few days!

+++

Oli

Cracking dude.

+++

I need this. +++


I think the radio icon only comes up when its up dating the time.

Great write up Marcin and nice upgrade +++
I've added this to the section sticky so that people can find it in future

Great stuff
 

Off to trawl the net for parts :D

Excellent post Marcin +++

Just noticed something Marcin and my CDO won't let it go.

Wire colours are wrong:tuttut:

:rolleyes:

According to the manual if radio clock receiver won't pick the signal for 3 consecutive days then clock will switch manually to quartz mode.

Also, the radio clock symbol should be lit at all times.

The good old manual.

Is the symbol on yours now?

Well done Marcin, another excellent guide.

I dont have a symbol yet, which kind of worries me because as far as I remember sync time is anytime between 3am and 5-8am.
So, tomorrow I may look for another location, maybe even in the front bumper because I've realised today that the received sits just under big metal piece, which may cause issues.
I found a nice and easy ish (glove box out) route on the passenger side so it's not a big job.

I have also wondered if D2 receiver isn't a better one as it was fitted previously behind the cluster and it worked. It may have a battery aerial.
I'll be checking wiring of a D2 receiver soon, I can't see it being different than a D3 one, it's just am aerial, I think, on the end if the day.

...Or i Just have to be more patient :rolleyes:

Lol ooh look I've just seen a pig fly past the window!! :ROFL:

Ha ha ha, so funny Neil :rolleyes:

Anyway, diagram for D2, Yellow wire I believe is earth?

Today was the first 24h since fitting it so I would expect it to pick the signal by now, or I'm just super inpatient :cool: ??

I believe transmitter is transmitting time continuously, it's just the car who only looks for it at certain times, to save battery usage I presume. If I remember it was at 3am for D2 and you could trick it by setting time to couple of minutes before 3am. So when the time turned to 3am couple of minutes later car would check for time signal and update time as necessary. It might be different on D3 and I could be mistaken something as I have not fitted one myself, search for D2 radio clock retrofit on forum it could have some useful information there.

So, a quick update. I'm in the car and no symbol so I followed above advice and changed the time to 2:56am in quartz mode and then switch it back to radio clock. As soon I change to radio clock the time comes back to correct one 8:22am which is the current.zone time not cet :Confused:

How's that possible if last saved time in quartz mode was 2:56am??
Is the radio clock working without the icon on the dash!?

Video will follow shortly

Video below

Maybe if the car knows where it is either from country setting or GPS it chooses the correct time zone?

I think 8.22 was the time that is running in your RADIO clock, my theory it it has a separate running clock rather than merely adjusting the QUARTZ clock but it's only a theory.

To prove this, if you note the RADIO time again and change the QUARTZ clock in the interim, look an hour later has the RADIO clock incremented in the background by an hour? If so, the clock in your RADIO clock module is incorrect and needs to update.
You have set the update interval as a value in minutes in your adaptation.
I don't have ELSA anymore, but there was a good explanation of how it updates and it was as usual - complicated.
There is a TSB about water getting in the connector and ruining it and it may have been in that document.
You could try parking the car for a day facing Anthorn in Cumbria which is where the transmitter is these days.
***EDIT-Is this it?

Great stuff snap.
I will change value from 1 to 25 for example and follow the instructions attached.
When you change the time in settings radio time changes in mmi as well
Cheers mate +++

I edited my post as the grammar wasn't great :D
When you get this working it would be interesting to see if the QUARTZ clock then shows the same time or if they both run completely separate clocks.

I have this option and was confused by it.

It has never lit up a symbol, however, I am informed that Australia has no atomic clock broadcasting facility.

Mike

I got one of these instead, connects to the atomic clock broadcast each night.

Less wiring too!!!

Holy thread revival batman!

So, was this an option on S8's? I would have thought it should be standard, especially on facelifts? I need to see if mine has it, or were they present but need coding in?

It's certainly not listed as an optional extra in either the 06 brochure or 09 facelift brochure but in the time/date settings within the MMI, there is the option to change between quartz and radio clock. The setting is enabled at least, but as to whether it actually has the radio clock from factory, I'm unsure.

Should RTFM really :p

It never seems to be on UK models. Searching for the part on ebay, they are pretty much all in central and eastern europe.

I'll have a look next time I'm in the car with my VCDS handy. Thanks chaps

Here's the option in the MMI.

http://i65.tinypic.com/11qs4kl.jpg

Well got the VCDS out and all enabled in 17 and in the MMI. Need to test and see if it actually works :)