Some numpty questions about the MMI in 2005 D3s

[Jonny]

Hi all.

I'm going to look at a couple of A8s over the next few days, both are 2005 cars (and W12 flavour ) and as I understand it, they will have the 2G MMI fitted.

As such, I believe they don't have Bluetooth connectivity, i.e. as standard I wouldn't be able to connect my own mobile phone to the car for hands-free use, as the hands-free only works with a built-in handset which needs its own SIM card. And nor do they have a USB input for a flash drive or portable hard disk, or a DAB tuner.

First and foremost... Is any of the above correct? Or am I more of a numpty than I previously thought??

And secondly, what is required to add these capabilities to the 2G MMI (or is it even possible)?

I've become used to my company car (a 2012 Passat) having handy things like USB, Bluetooth and DAB built in and when I eventually buy an A8 I'd like to have the same features.

From a bit of Googling it seems fitting an AMI module will give the USB functionality, but does this necessitate a software upgrade, and is another module needed for the Bluetooth? In fact, how many additional modules can these poor cars accommodate, as the DAB would of course be another module... Or do modules exist with more than one function?

As you can tell I'm not really clued up on these things! Sorry for the dumb questions, I'm sure they've been asked before but I like to be certain, as I'd most likely go and buy the wrong bits then bugger the car up royally trying to make it all work!

Any help much appreciated!

[snapdragon]

Yes, you can Add AMI if it doesn't have one. It will be at the top of the glovebox if it has one. There is two DIN sized apertures there, most cars came with a single CD player and a stowage slot, but the stowage slot could be replaced with a second CD player or an AMI.

I would hope the W12 would have had a DAB fitted as standard or option.

Bluetooth was an option, but there don't seem to be many with it, ad it is quite an expensive retrofit, but there are many who have done it judging by forum posts.

Please note that if you fit second hand parts, a security feature called Component Protection (CP) eill kick in on the newly-fitted component and only the dealer will remove it ~£30 but they like lots of ID and details of donor car.

Try the kufatec website to see what can be retrofitted eitehr aftermarket or OE...
http://www.kufatec.co.uk/shop/en/audi/a8/a8-4e

[Jonny]

Snapdragon, thanks very much, lots of useful info there! Much appreciated

The W12 I looked at yesterday had 2 CD changers in the glovebox, and already had DAB. So assuming I had a new AMI module such as those on offer fron from Kufatec it would be a simple swap for one of the CD changers?

Bluetooth does look like it'll be expensive, perhaps would be better to use a PAYG SIM in the built-in phone and divert calls to that.

As an aside... Having tried a W12 I now know for certain that I'm going to have one! The one I tried had a few problems and wasn't massively well specced, but I'm utterly sold on the drivetrain and that awesome interior

[Architex_mA8tey]

Yes if you have the 2 x CD players then you can just slot one out and the AMI will slot straight back in

[audifin]

PsYcHe has written very good write-up about retrofitting Bluetooth: http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=908

It doesn't mention anything about component protection?

[mannyo]

Originally Posted by Jonny

Bluetooth does look like it'll be expensive, perhaps would be better to use a PAYG SIM in the built-in phone and divert calls to that.

Thats what I do and it works fine.

[PsYcHe]

Bluetooth is one of the few modules that doesnt have CP.

[Jonny]

Thanks chaps!

I viewed and drove the second W12 today. Less impressed, it looked the better car on paper but turned out to be grubby inside, and rather overpriced.

However... I did have a more extended tinker with the MMI in this car. Like the previous one there was no handset in the centre console, and also no obvious "pairing" mode in the menu which had led me to believe the first car was Bluetoothless, whereas to pair all I actually needed to do was search on my phone and give it the PIN from the MMI. So at least I'm a little wiser now!