Retro Fit SD Card Sat Nav

[sparkymarky321]

Hi there! I have recently ordered a New A3 1.4 sport. However i have no decided that i want the SD card sat nav. I have spoken with the company that i'm leasing from and they said that it wasn't possible to amend the order (they did try). I contacted one of my local Audi dealers and they said it was possible to retro-fit it but it would cost £680 to supply and fit. No as far as I'm aware all they need to do is enter a code to enable it and supply the SD card for the maps. I could be wrong, but that seems like a lot of money! Has anybody had this done for cheaper?

Thanks

 

[mjcourtney]

The SD NAV upgrade comes as a kit / part from Audi. The kit includes the SD card with the maps, your license to use it, and the activation codes to enable it on the car. List price for this is around £500, plus then the dealer labour on top to install it. Only a dealer can fit this, as it has to be authorised by Audi. As you say, minimal work required, but I can see a dealer charging a minimum of an hour so that's another ~£100 on top of the kit.

£680 is one of the higher prices I've seen mentioned on the forum, I reckon you might be able to knock them down to £600 if you ask nicely.

 

[NHN]

Welcome to the site.

The hardware is generally fitted factory but not activated based on the buyers choices, so they subsidise this until such time its activated, which then covers towards the hardware you didn't pay for initially, its a fair POV for them & allot less hassle for you retrofitting from scratch.

 

[sparkymarky321]

Thanks. I can see audi's point of view. But asking the dealer to fit an extra that normally costs £495 when you buy the vehicle for £680 seems a bit greedy if you ask me.

 

[NHN]

With respect, why cant the dealer make some money out of the deal, afterall you bought the car from a nice fancy showroom that cost several million to build etc & costs a lot to run, in grand scheme of things, £180 isn't that much for there take especially when the tool they use for it is £10K plus each, plus all the bills & salaries, its small change overall, just suck it up & pay if you want it enabled

 

[driver_tim]

Does anyone know what the map update situation is with the built in satnav? On the A3 I have on order I've not specced it, but may look to upgrade later. The thing that has put me off built in systems in the past has always been that map updates have always been infrequent and expensive compared to portable units. Is this still the case with the 8V unit?

 

[Vertigo1]

It may seem like a lot of money just to enter a code and supply an SD card but, by the same logic, it costs Microsoft pennies to produce and package a DVD with Office on it - would you expect them to sell it for a fiver though? The cost isn't just the tangible hardware you're purchasing, it's the licence to use the software and data and the development and production cost of that is incorporated into the price.

 

[a6_chris]

Does anyone know what the map update situation is with the built in satnav? On the A3 I have on order I've not specced it, but may look to upgrade later. The thing that has put me off built in systems in the past has always been that map updates have always been infrequent and expensive compared to portable units. Is this still the case with the 8V unit?

If its anything like 3G MMI then it will be Audi only for map updates due to needing a connection to Germany to activate.

 

[sparkymarky321]

Great news! Ive found a dealer that will do it for the cost of the optional extra! So with respect i think the dealer were having a laugh trying to charge an extra £180!

 

[Yolo_8p3]

What dealer out of curiosity??

 

[mjcourtney]

Great news! Ive found a dealer that will do it for the cost of the optional extra! So with respect i think the dealer were having a laugh trying to charge an extra £180!

That's excellent! £180 was definitely too steep for fitting

 

[sparkymarky321]

Oxford Audi are going to do it for £500.

 

[kenny_boon]

does the roof ariel need to be retro fitted aswell? not sure if this comes on all A3s or it needs to be added?

 

[c.grex]

I think that comes on all models, with all the prep for sat nav. As pointed out you just need the SD card and then it activating.

 

[driver_tim]

Yes, my understanding is that all UK spec A3s have the GPS receiver in place. If your car is an import it may be a different matter though.

 

[NHN]

No need for antenna install, all 8V's come pre-spec'd with gps antenna afaik.

 

[Cumbrian_bob]

Looks like your local audi dealer is adding a little too much to the price.

Good job on finding a better offer, shows its certainly worth shopping around.

 

[royalsteve68]

The SD NAV upgrade comes as a kit / part from Audi. The kit includes the SD card with the maps, your license to use it, and the activation codes to enable it on the car. List price for this is around £500, plus then the dealer labour on top to install it. Only a dealer can fit this, as it has to be authorised by Audi. As you say, minimal work required, but I can see a dealer charging a minimum of an hour so that's another ~£100 on top of the kit.

£680 is one of the higher prices I've seen mentioned on the forum, I reckon you might be able to knock them down to £600 if you ask nicely.

laughable really, £680 for a sd card with a few maps...how much is a cheap but reasonable sat nav now? £100 max, lol you have to love Audi!

 

[Martinbanshee]

Anyone know if the S3 has the NAV button installed (next to gear lever) as part off the sat-nav prep?

 

[RYuill]

Anyone know if the S3 has the NAV button installed (next to gear lever) as part off the sat-nav prep?

Yes there is also one on the steering wheel

 

[Martinbanshee]

Thanks, even though I don't spec Nav from the factory?

 

[MA3RC]

Every A3 comes prepped with Sat Nav. You're ultimately paying £500 for a SD card, is the easiest way of putting it

 

[Martinbanshee]

Yeah, I was just wanting to check that when you don't spec Nav from the factory that you still get all the Nav buttons and all in the same place.

 

[cemerson]

Every A3 comes prepped with Sat Nav. You're ultimately paying £500 for a SD card, is the easiest way of putting it

You're paying £500 for the SD card, mapping data and licence more accurately...

 

[Martinbanshee]

Excellent, cheers for the info folks

 

[jasso86]

Guess I'll stick to Google maps on my Moto X... hehehe

 

[Abzz]

Hi Guys, Newby here, currently got an '06 8P 2L TDI SB S line and swapping for a '13 8V 2L TDI on Saturday.

As it hasn't got Sat Nav was interested in this "upgrade" by buying SD card from ebay and paying for fit only.
however there seems to be two types of SD card on ebay "mmi navigation (mib-s)" and "RMC" what one do I need for the A3?

 

[jasso86]

Hi Guys, Newby here, currently got an '06 8P 2L TDI SB S line and swapping for a '13 8V 2L TDI on Saturday.

As it hasn't got Sat Nav was interested in this "upgrade" by buying SD card from ebay and paying for fit only.
however there seems to be two types of SD card on ebay "mmi navigation (mib-s)" and "RMC" what one do I need for the A3?

You need to buy it from the dealer. Period.

 

[Abzz]

OK Jasso, that doesn't answer my question but thanks for the quick reply! does anyone know the difference between the MMI and the RMC? i.e. which one does the 8V A3 take?

 

[cemerson]

I think jasso was saying that the dealer will know so if you buy it from them you won't have an issue. The main cost is in the licence, not the card or data itself, so getting it from ebay isn't going to save you much/any money. Worth getting quotes though from the dealer for the part + activating, and activating only if you supply your own part, to see what the difference is - I could be wrong.

 

[Abzz]

Thanks Cemerson, as its for an MMI display I am going to assume I need the "MMI" SD card.
I will ask for a quote and let you know how I get on.

Cheers

 

[cemerson]

I have no idea which you'll need, what the difference is (or whether there is one!)

 

[frazzeld]

(mib-s) is the card, if you buy one from ebay (Audi dealer) it will cost you around £195.....and then you will still need to have an Audi dealer activate it

 

[jasso86]

I think jasso was saying that the dealer will know so if you buy it from them you won't have an issue. The main cost is in the licence, not the card or data itself, so getting it from ebay isn't going to save you much/any money. Worth getting quotes though from the dealer for the part + activating, and activating only if you supply your own part, to see what the difference is - I could be wrong.

Exactky this is what I meant. But hey, asking never hurt anyone.

 

[jaybv6]

But surely anyone with Vagcom can activate it?

 

[Martinbanshee]

I think the car has to connect to Audi in Germany via the internet to have it unlocked.

 

[philip.levis]

I have just bought a A3 2015 it has a disc and card reader in the glove box can I just buy the SD card from ebay 50/60 quid and put it in will it just work? thanks

 

[Martinbanshee]

If the Sat Nav hasn’t been activated by the dealer it won’t work.
The Sat Nav needs to be activated at the factory or by a dealer and the cards are apparently paired with the car. I’ve seen some people claim they’ve bought a card from eBay and it worked in a used car but if that’s true the car would have had the Sat Nav activated beforehand.

 

[mindstorm]

If you have Android/Apple carplay I would use Google maps as I think it is now Carplay compatible . I paid for the SD upgrade in 2014 and don't use it as both TomTom and Google Maps are better and thats just using a phone. The SD mapping is ok but doesn't get updated, not sure in a FL car but scrolling around the map is difficult and as soon as you zoom out a bit, minor roads disappear. Traffic info is also slower than both apps can do live.