question from the dark side.....

HI all, not posted here for a while as I defected across to the dark side with my newly delivered Golf 7 GTD. Whilst it pretty much exceeds all my expectations,there are a couple of niggling little issues, that I would like an Audi owners (A3 8V) perspective on - all to do with the infotainment units (which I expect large chunks of the hardware are shared across all the VAG MQB platform brands).

Basically, the two "issues" I have are the following, and I wanted to know if A3 8V drivers have the same issues or if the "VW" units are just crippled ? I have opted for the top of the range Discover Navigation Pro by the way.

1. In the drivers DIS (the colour screen between the tacho and speedo), when I'm in the Phone menu, I only have access to last calls list, and can't select my contacts list. VW UK have confirmed that I do indeed need to access this via the actual infotainment touch screen, which obviously means taking a hand off the steering wheel and eyes off the road ? Can you guys access contacts using the DIS and the MFSW controls, or do you have to use the MMI control and the central screen in the dash ?

2. whilst the Ipod integration via the MDI (AMI) socket is pretty good (with album art, albums, songs, artists etc) all being searchable, there is no longer any option to play Ipod playlists ? Can you play standard Ipod / Iphone playlists vis the AMI socket ?

Both of the above options were available in my older technology Scirocco and was just wondering if you Audi boys have these, and whether or not its going to be a VCDS thing, or are they not available to anyone ?

Hope you don't mind a lowly VW owner treading the hallowed ground of an Audi forum

Thanks Stef, so it looks like VW have crippled this in the VW via software. I've just checked the part numbers of the infotainment control package (the box that's in the glovebox), and apart from the first bit (VW vs. Audi signifier), they are both the same part.

cemerson said:

I'm not sure if the infotainment units are the same any more are they? They used to be, but the new A3 has the MMI which I think is totally Audi specific, and not shared with the other brands in the VAG group

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I'm pretty sure that's just the input method. Audi uses MMI and VW use touch screen, however they are both connected by the same optical cable to the processing unit (which houses the DVD and SD card slots) in the glovebox. It's this box that does all the processing. Obviously the software loaded into each unti must be different as Audi screens are different from VW screens etc, but I'd bet my bottom dollar, that the basic hardware units are the same and it's just the programming of them that's different.

Cool, you mean I'm actually welcome

cemerson said:

And I hear the bluetooth works too

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Ouch !