Multi-function Steering Wheel
 

Hi Guys,

I didn't think this was an option on the D2 S8/A8 and have seen some threads on using later car wheels and issues with airbags and stuff, but I just came across this on an ebay advert

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...1&d=1363982977

Which is an S8 multifunction jobbie!!! Am guessing they are rare, but could they be retrofited ???

Lee

I have one on mine (see my album). That is an S8 sticker that the owner has added....they don't have one.

I love it.

Ian knows about retrofitting - needs a different slip ring (right term?) if I recall, but not too difficult.

Zip

Yes, MFSW retrofit isnt difficult if youre competent with a bit of wiring.

Its better to get the one with the tiptronic controls on too, its not a great deal harder to fit.

You can make do with the original sport wheel slip ring iirc as the sport wheel uses more connections than the MFSW one. You only really need to change the slip ring if you go from MFSW to sport.

I have a black perforated leather MFSW tiptronic wheel from Amars RS6, complete with MFSW controller module... if interested, drop me a PM, Alternitively, a8parts will have some available I'm sure +++

This steering wheel comes without tiptronic buttons and is non-heated. Buttons on airbag come in two different options: one for radio controls only and another for radio, Bluetooth and voice control. You can usually change between these two options via soft coding of MFSW ECU. Of course, button pictograms stay the same. If you want to remove steering wheel from breaking car don't forget slip ring and ECU. Remove all electrial parts together with connectors and also cut a length of wire which comes from connector.

You sure its soft coding? I was prettty sure it was the 3 buttons themselves that generated different signals on the MFSW bus depending on the buttons types, and then once the MFSW controller receives them it just sends the messages onwards on the Infotainment canbus, which has connection to both phone (if fitted) and radio/nav. The buttons come on a small PCB, which has some intelligence...., one board on each side of the airbag.

Was pretty certain Id simply changed the type of buttons over before now and done no coding to get extra function.....

I could be wrong though, been a long time since I did MFSW work... +++

Soft coding 100%. Yes we have small electronic board in steering wheel to pack all buttons into one wire, but it only sends 'scan codes' to the wire. Actual interpretation of button meaning and decision of what control messages will be injected into infotainment CAN bus is prerogative of MFSW ECU. You can basically map buttons with different CAN bus signals in the MFSW ECU.

There are two types of ECU: '616' (non-Tiptronic) and '618' (with Tiptronic) .

The codes are:

For the '616' controller, soft code = 0100X
For the '618' controller, soft code = 0101X

Where 'X' is:
1 for Telephone only,
2 for Radio/Nav only,
5 for Radio/Nav, Telephone and Voice Recognition

This setup works perfectly with RNS-E too, including Telephone and Voice Recognition.

ulfilias, if you decide to buy steering wheel from that car I'd suggest to remove S8 decal/logo before you install it to your car. It is dangerous to have it at that place of airbag since the moment airbag fires the logo will fly into driver's face with huge velocity. No time to blink.

But the main reason is because it looks sh1t.

Ah. Didn't realise it wasn't a pucker S8 tag. Branding doesn't bother me that much and saftey does. MFS is one of the few down sides I have to the car. Admitedly i'd also have to get some form of PAC box to translate to the Kenwood Stereo I have, but I miss Volume, mute and next track that I had on my previous car - Actually an IR set-up on the back of the steering wheel, but the S8 Wheel to stereo IR is too close to work!

I'm in two minds. Seems a fair bit of work now and I'm tempted with upgrading the car full stop, though I don't think you can retrofit a stero to the D3's and I like Satnav with speed cameras, a hard drive that can do Flac (phatbox) and Ipod (audiobooks) & USB (for ocasional instant new stuff).

Lee

Such as?