i saved them becuase they were fantastic pics

heres a few more

Attachment 12466
Attachment 12467
Attachment 12468

Cheers mate.

I've got copies of them all.

Before I purchased the car I went through the previous owners forum posts and made sure the car was looked after and maintained. Since it was, to a very high standard, I purchased it. That was 4 years or so ago now.

I thought everything was upside down in Aussie Land, not sideways :ROFL:

What unit are you fitting for the reverse camera?
I used an X-Carlink, and used a transmitter/receiver pair for the video feed. Not as good as the OEM but does the job well enough. SWMBO likes it now she has used it a bit and more reliable than PDC. For some rather strange reason PDC just fails when she is in the car, driving or passenger. :cool:

http://jku.com.au/media/catalog/prod...s/dsc_4936.jpg

This is what I am using. It will connect between the control head and the screen, serving as an adapter.

I already have oem Bluetooth phone and Bluetooth audio streaming so I only need the video.

The camera will be wired as I prefer that sort of connection. It isn't hard to do anyway.

Mike

Nice one Mike.
I purchased a camera that fitted in the number plate light position. It included LEDs to replace the original light. This meant that the video feed had to be routed from the boot lid into the car which is a bit of a boogie. I avoided that by fitting a transmitter to the camera output and a receiver behind the glove box that then supplies the video to my X-Carlink interface. The interface plugs into the MMI control unit. The plug that I had to take out of the MMI control unit was plugged into the X-Carlink.
Hope that makes sense.

I have tested the camera module with the MMI and it works flawlessly.

As a bonus, it has an infrared receiver and a remote control, to allow for video modes and 4 inputs to be selected if you hit the NET button apparently. I have not hooked this up, but have placed the receiver for the remote in the passenger side fuse box to allow for future install possibility.

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps7uwpd759.jpg

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/p...pso7ay23v0.jpg

So, now I have fitted the unit, and am just running the video cable through to the back into the boot. I am a bit stuck on how to do that.

Anyone have ideas?

Mike

It's quite easy, not nearly as bad as you may think.

Pull up the sill trims, and rear seat bench then remove side trim on inside of boot at the side, you will see the harness trunking runs from front to back along that route

Thanks Del!

How do you remove the seat base?

Mike

fingers in under the front edge and a swift pull up, just a heads up there is wiring for airbags attached to seat base too.

Thanks mate! That is a big help!

Mike

Where are you planning on fixing the rear view camera?
I put mine in one of the nuber plate light positions. The camera incorporated a couple of LEDs so that it could fit there and still illuminate the number plate.
If you do this then the video feed has to be passed from the boot lid to the main body and is the reason why I opted for a transmitter/receiver pair.

I am going to fix the camera using one of the screws for the number plate light. I have worked out how to get it into the bootlid from there, and I have already run the video cable into the boot lid from the car. The interior of the car and boot are back together are fine.

Mike

Well done Mike.
It was threading the video cable through the cable hose from lid to main body that put me off. I nearly cut one of the video connectors off to make it easier but then came up with the transmitter pair idea. I guess that I am just bloodie lazy.

It's not lazy it's innovative ;)

Bill Gates would employ you +++

All done.

The camera is pretty decent for the cost, the wiring is easy, and the car is back together. It comes up on reverse automatically.

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps3ii2kud8.jpg[/url]

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/p...pskldwqcbk.jpg[/url]

And a photo for fun.

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/p...psx0buirek.jpg[/url]

That's a nice little mod, one I would benefit from in the land barge that is the A8.

How much did it cost all in May I ask?

Does anyone know of any suppliers for this kind of thing in the UK?

It cost me all up about 110gbp for the camera and the module delivered.

I installed it myself and used the wiring it came with.

It's not as good as a factory camera but I was quoted well into $1500 aud for parts alone. So stuff that.

Mike

Not bad at all.

I was just reading the front page of this thread and saw you had TV installed already. I don't, so imagine it would be as straight forward (or economic) to install on mine.

Well done for the install fella.

The module I used doesn't need a tv installed. It is an adapter between the screen and the control head.

You need a control head with fbas only if you want a factory camera module installed.

You can install this module on any 2GMMI with a screen. It also has the capability of remote control for adjusting between 3 video inputs plus the camera. You can use the "net" button to turn it on while driving if you wish.

The camera was just a normal cheap camera from eBay. Any camera will work as long as it uses RCA plugs.

Mike

Cheers Mike.

That's where my comfusion came in, I read about it not needing the TV module, and then noticed you had it anyway.

I think I need one of these in my life.

Have a look at my write up about this:-
http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=9310

This is still working really well, and SWMBO has stopped complaining about the very slight misalignment.
I still have the PDC problem, does not like the near presence of management :ROFL:

The X-Car Link thingy in after thought is rather expensive for what I am using it for, just the reverse camera. If I used some or all of the other facilities that it has then it would be excellent value for the money.

As I said in my write up, please do not be shy, any queries just ask.

Well, last weekend was terrible for the A8.

I found a small coolant leak. No idea where it is coming from but it is somewhere low at the back of the engine.

In addition, I use a leather cleaner and it took lots of the indigo out of the armrest and the steering wheel. Bugger.

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps9te83npw.jpg

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/p...psnvnulthw.jpg

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/p...psja42gqgl.jpg

I have ordered some colour matched dye to refurb these trims and I will stick to Swissvax for the conditioner next time.

However, thanks to a mate, I have updated the Nav dvd to the latest. So the entire MMI is completely up to date.

And I am still in love with the Northern Blue Pearl.

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/p...pskzlqxr9i.jpg

Mike

Oh crickey! You could probably dye that back with a decent repair kit I think.

Hope you get it sorted mate!

Oli

I know you say indigo, but is it black leather?
I would be interested how you get on with the dye, as my steering wheel could do with doing. What make of leather cleaner - will avoid that.

It's definitely indigo. I ordered the refurb dye from Germany colour matched already and I will post the pics of it when its done.

The cleaner used was Autoglym, and I will stick to using it on my other car instead.

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/p...psedb718ec.jpg

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps78ebe275.jpg

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps9cf22c31.jpg

There are pics of the interior in full sun.

The dye still hasn't arrived but no surprise coming from Europe.

I also managed to secure an indigo leather lower console from Germany.
Aussie cars do not ever seem to have aluminium interior trim pack or extended leather packs at all.

I tried for the door trims but alas, the interior colour is rare.

I also fixed the boot not motoring up by adjusting the little bump stops on the bottom of the boot. It works every time now.

Mike

Well it has been a **** week for the Audi.

First, my car wouldn't go into lift mode and the ride was appallingly hard. The car has sports air so it was especially crap.

I scanned the car and there was a compressor overtemp code and the lack of pressure at the valve block so I decided to rebuild the compressor.

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/p...psypp2zl8e.jpg

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/p...psm7ctztwk.jpg

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/p...pskewgx0pu.jpg


The suspension is back to perfect. The ride has been excellent since and the car goes up and down normally.

However,

While under the car I discovered a coolant leak which I have traced to the common oil cooler plastic tube. In labour here I was quoted around $2000 plus parts. So I am going to attempt this myself. Apparently it is a **** of a job at about 10 hours without removing the engine but it has to be done as the car loses 1L of coolant every 3 weeks even when parked.


As well, one of my tyres is chamfered a great deal on the inside edge, would this indicate new control arms (lower?)

Extended Leather console fitted. Awful job. But I am very impressed with the build quality of the car in the bits you can't see.

I just need the aluminium rear vent part to finish the alum interior pack. And I am considering heated seats for the rear Just for the hell of it.


http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/p...pszfkyfjwy.jpg

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/p...psc6v2eu45.jpg

I also had all the wheels refinished at vast vast expense :( But one had a tiny crack so it needed a mend. New tyres for the front also will keep the beast rolling along.

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/p...psbcbgb9su.jpg

I have ordered special tools and the spigot for the oil cooler to fix it myself.

Mike

Nice work. Bet that was a faff

Yes nice job!
I fitted an extended leather centre console into my D3 Daily Driver and its a bit of a faff to get everything to line back up when you fit the new one!

Oh thats nice, been so long since I have been in mine I'm not sure if mine is like that or not.

Looking really good mcs, did you paint your calipers too? They look much better than in your compressor rebuild post.

Yeah, the console was a large faff. I am not sure I will do another one.
I need to adjust the armrests slightly as they are vertically unaligned but I undid a bolt I didn't need to so that was the reason there, and I have to adjust the ashtray.

The wheels turned out superb! I am super chuffed.

The brake calipers all round and the hubs have been painted yes.

The company that redid the wheels thought the stopping gear looked tatty against the new wheels so they cleaned and painted them for me.

Mike

It just hasn't been a good month for A8 ownership.

Three tyres with tread separation, a misfire ( it was a dirty MAF and hasn't repeated)

Aircon compressor refusing to work (it was a low battery and hasn't reoccurred)

The coolant leak is still an issue

but most of all, the bonnet cable snapped. I have to say, removing the box at the end of the cable and pitting my lumpen hands in a miniscule space to access the cables from the drivers side wheel well, was the MOST awful job yet.

The cable replacement is on its way, and for the moment a coathanger has been repurposed to do the job of pulling the bonnet releases.

But the car has been given a large wax and seal so it at least looks good.

Wow. That's a lot to deal with but at least nothing on the list was a catastrophic failure. +++

Add to the **** list a return of the misfire due to a suspected air leak and a snapped boot motor cable (2nd one!)

The bonnet cable has been replaced, a suspected air leak at the intake has been found and the car seems to be rnning well.

The boot motor will be replaced tomorrow and other than a slight wheel imbalance at speed, all is very well.

Mike

The old girl is still kicking.

I have changed it's oil myself now, and reduced its use (I bought a new RS Skoda as a daily) but it is nice to use for long distance trips.

I only have one slight issue with the car.

When it is coasting at speed, it does a rev bounce thing. It isn't the lock up clutch on the torue converter as it locks if i stab the throttle. I cleaned the MAF and it reduced in severity markedly. The PCV is new and I am now out of ideas for the cause. No codes of faults from the box or the motor.

Any ideas?

Pics for reference

https://i.vgy.me/WwYJlj.jpg
https://i.vgy.me/FMgMtE.jpg
https://i.vgy.me/MSug3b.jpg

It is still in perfect nick after all these years.

Update:

The cost of D3 ownership is paid with the following 'maintenance items"

New Suspension Compressor
New upper control arms
New stabilizer bar links
New Lower Control arms
New brake pads - rear
New tyres _ again!
New rocker cover gaskets

As this is a hot country, my lock buttons at the front have peeled. So these are being replaced also. The locals want $200AUD for them each - insane.

My reverse camera interface died and so I am investing in an Apple Carplay interface with camera unit which uses the MMI controls from factory.

I will post the install info and the details of the unit for info but I am excited as I missed Apple Carplay when my Skoda went.

Mike