A8 D5 Heated Wheel Retrofit?

[Tj2k]

1st of all, apologies for not spotting the A8 D5 section if there is one?

I'm looking to see what tasks would be required to retrofit a heated wheel to a 2018my A8 4n d5 50 tdi. It's the 1st car in many years I've had without this function & I miss it.

Clearly, I'll need the wheel (which I've sourced), I need to understand - should anyone else know / have already done this, if a new clock-spring is required (I'm guessing not as there's no dedicated heated-wheel button) and then wiring for the heat function itself. Finally, the coding.

It could be there's module required too which I doubt but I don't know. I'd preferably like to hand this off for someone to do for me - if that's a recommendation (I'm Cheshire / Chester way but can travel).

Thanks!

[paulrstaylor]

I've fitted a few heated wheels to Audis over the years, but not a D5.

That said, they all are very similar - new wheel(and airbag if needed), clock spring, usually a power feed and fuse and a little coding.

The clock spring is needed not for the switch, but to supply power to the hearing element. They are very car specifcation specific, so you will need to match your current and also have the heated wheel contacts.

[Tj2k]

Thanks for the reply (I didn't know you'd replied sorry, or I'd have thanked you sooner).

I'd also asked at "Parts" within a dealer plus asked a steering-wheel supplier and as a result, have additional information -which as usual, is all a little conflicting.

I won't bore you with the detail (unless interested!) but I'm going to check to see if my existing steering column has a specific "y-connector" under the airbag for the heating element / function. I very much doubt it will - but am told it's 50/50 of them do / don't. If I do, I'll explore it further but I seriously doubt I will have (this info from a tech in Germany) & that'll be me giving up on it - as no way I'll be going to the expense of changing out a steering column - it just isn't that valuable a function to me.

I've actually not long bought this car (used, 35k miles), having in the past had a new 22my RS7 vorsprung but shortly after, selling it back to the dealer because I changed my priorities (regained my senses more like). This car is better value for money for me (a lot of car for my used car-money) & spec.

I've now managed to get some of its MMI bugs ironed out (e.g. Drive Select wasn't working, an Adaptive Cruise related persistent laser-module error) plus an inspection, oil change and Adaptive Wipers adjustment - all done at a main dealer (Macclesfield Inchcape Audi). I've actually been impressed with their (technical) work. All in my bill was £1100 but £600 of that was a service plan.

I'm having a trans-service (at a trans-specialist) done on the 1st March & then finally a refurb of its' wheels (it's just had 4 new Michelin Ps5's), so it's ready & hopefully reliable for the next couple of years to come fingers crossed.

The digital service history hasn't updated yet but I expect that to be good after this weekend.

It did have a rattly sunroof (dealer couldn't fault it when it went in, sods law, must have gone quiet on the days they had it) but I seem to have fixed that with silicone lube on the outer-most rubber seals (need something slightly more viscous mind, the white creamy stuff?? as I don't think it'll be permanent) but am very happy about that - it instantly stopped rattling. I didn't saturate it in the stuff, just wiped it down with a silicone-sprayed bit of cloth.

I do miss having a heated wheel - but spec-wise, I got a reasonably high spec car otherwise, so mustn't grumble!

I have a OBDEleven pro btw & I think it's pretty good!

[paulrstaylor]

You won't need to touch the steering column, but you may need a new clock spring/slip ring/squib and stalks with the right options for your car plus heating contacts.

Here is an example https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/374026328939 - You can see the "Y" connector at the top left in the pictures. That one has adaptive cruise and a rear wiper, but does not have lane assist..... so won't work for an A8..... but they are interchangeable across the MLB platform which means it is exactly the same install as my current Q7.

As you already have a wheel, Kufatec will source one and sell it along with the wiring and a coding dongle for €790 https://www.kufatec.com/en/comfort-r...audi-mlb-45370.

Or you can source one from ebay or a dealer and just use the cable https://www.kufatec.com/en/comfort-r...i-vw-mlb-45367 and code with OBDEleven or VCDS, which is what I have typically done.