Connecting an external HDD

Psyman79

Psyman79

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Hi there,

I've just ordered an A3 s-line with the sd sat nav. i was just wondering if anyone has connected an external hard drive to the MMI through USB to be used as music storage. From the brochure i see that SDXC cards up to 1TB are supported but a hard drive would be a much cheaper option if it worked.

Thanks in advance.

Kind regards,

Simon.
 
I thought the reason sd cards were used because of the flash memory?
I'm guessing the sd slots are capable of 32gb each?
64gb is surely enough for anyone's music collection :p
Plus ud have the cable coming from the hd to the unit always on show.
Interesting to see if plugging in a hd will work :)
 
RobbieWebs said:
I thought the reason sd cards were used because of the flash memory?
I'm guessing the sd slots are capable of 32gb each?
64gb is surely enough for anyone's music collection :p
Plus ud have the cable coming from the hd to the unit always on show.
Interesting to see if plugging in a hd will work :)
Click to expand...

Surely you just need a USB socket for the HDD and it would be recognised as a source?
 
Yeh, should work fine - I'll try it with my HDD next week if I remember (it's at work at the moment).

I have a 64gb SD card in mine without a problem so 32 isn't the max there - I think other people have tried higher as well.
 
audi upgrades
The USB socket in the armrest comes with connect and the phone box, and as far as I know provides power only - you'll need to connect the HDD to the AMI with the appropriate AMI cable (which I have)
 
I'm pretty sure AMI is on all models.... not just the connect/phonebox. Have a look in the brochure on the SE level of equipment
 
Yes, AMI comes with all models, the USB socket doesn't though (and provides power only on the ones it does).
 
Wasn't sure if you'd need to leave 1 sd card with just the nav info on it or not. A3 brochure says 2TB for SDXC but when you can get a 500gb HDD for the same price as a 32gb SD card, i know what i'd rather have.

As for capacity, i recently moved house and decided to back-up 800 odd cd's onto an HDD so 64gb wouldn't be enough :)

cemerson,

If you could try and let me know that would be awesome.

Si.
 
There are 2 slots so even if you have to leave one for the nav (I'm not sure as I have the HDD nav with the tech pack) there is one free for SD, and doesn't take up any room under the armrest!

Bump this thread next week at some point if I forget :p
 
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cemerson said:
Yes, AMI comes with all models, the USB socket doesn't though (and provides power only on the ones it does).
Click to expand...
Right... For the avoidance of doubt...

AMI is on all models. With an AMI<->USB cable, you should be able to hook up a USB HDD on any 2012-> A3. This needs to be tried just to prove it.

A USB socket is also supplied with the connect/phone box but supplies power for charging only.

Correct?
 
From brochure:

Audi Music Interface (AMI) –

provides

connection to Apple iPod from 4th generation and Apple iPhone, as well as USB storage media and MP3 players. Located in the centre console and operated using the MMI control panel, multi-function steering wheel or voice control
Hopefully should be okay :)
 
Yep - make sure you ask for / get the right AMI cable though if you order or you'll end up paying an extra £30 for it, but it's peanuts to Audi so make it part of the order agreement (and any others you want)
 
I use my iPhone with iTunes Match giving me access to my entire iTunes library via the cloud with unlimited storage.

If I plug my iPhone into the MMI I have complete access to all of my music as if it was stored on the phone :) the only issue is if I connect via WiFi using the connect app I am only able to see what is stored locally on the phone, this unfortunately is down to the limitations of the app :(
 
Psyman79 said:
From brochure:

Audi Music Interface (AMI) –

provides

connection to Apple iPod from 4th generation and Apple iPhone, as well as USB storage media and MP3 players. Located in the centre console and operated using the MMI control panel, multi-function steering wheel or voice control
Hopefully should be okay :)
Click to expand...

Thats correct. I connect the AMI to USB cable to the AMI and plug in a USB stick to play music.
I have 3 sources of music, SD card, USB stick via AMI and iPhone connected via BT. In practice I only use the SD card.
 
cemerson said:
Yep - make sure you ask for / get the right AMI cable though if you order or you'll end up paying an extra £30 for it, but it's peanuts to Audi so make it part of the order agreement (and any others you want)
Click to expand...
Or buy one through e-bay at a fraction of the cost....
 
Can someone please clarify, exactly how many different types of AMI cable exist? And how many should I expect to be given at handover?
 
Having to have cables to connect to a USB device is a new one to me as all my cars have always had a USB socket. This doesn't seem very good of audi to force us to buy adaptor cables at all. Most devices come with a USB cable so why do audi have to be different?
 
Last edited:
cuke2u said:
Having to have cables to connect to a USB device is a new one to me as all my cars have always had a USB socket. This doesn't seem very good of audi to force us to buy adaptor cables at all. Most devices come with a USB cable so why do audi have to be different?
Click to expand...
Because things like ipods don't have a USB interface. At a guess, there is more to the AMI than just a USB interface (ubiquitous though it seems to be on technology these days).

The adapter cables are available for £5-£10 on ebay
 
Not everyone use apple products as there are better if not equal devices on the market and the majority use USB. Other car manufacturers use USB there is no need to cater for a minority of users. I certainly will not be purchasing a overpriced cable from Audi themselves and surely Audi realise this will happen.
 
cuke2u said:
Not everyone use apple products as there are better if not equal devices on the market and the majority use USB. Other car manufacturers use USB there is no need to cater for a minority of users. I certainly will not be purchasing a overpriced cable from Audi themselves and surely Audi realise this will happen.
Click to expand...

There is no need to cater for the minority of users? That's a ridiculous statement to make when you're talking about apple products!

I can't find 2013 figures without properly looking into it but by June 2012 there were 400million iOS devices. That doesn't even include iPods other than the touch which don't run iOS!

There is a multi billion pound industry dedicated to providing services to owners of iPhones, iPads and iPods and it's ludicrous to think Audi wouldn't profit selling cables to apple customers which a) are proven to be of higher average wealth and b) are more likely to buy accessories for their device than any other segment in that market - just look at androids App Store figures to apples, google enjoy more purchases but apple enjoy far more revenue per user.

I don't know this for a fact but I'd image the proportion of people who own Audi's and an Apple product is higher than the average apple ownership rate, just because those who drive an Audi probably have higher disposable income and buy into the whole branded & premium product hoopla.

I don't think I have one friend who doesn't at least own 1 apple product and most of them use iPods to play music in their cars.
 
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However Samsung outsell Apple smartphones by more than twice the amount and Apple can't even keep up with demand. Smartphone sales pass 250M in Q3, and Samsung grew twice as fast as Apple | VentureBeat BBC News - Smartphones outsell basic feature handsets Thus are you suggesting I have to purchase a product I do not need just so I can use it in my Audi when other car manufacturers cater for the majority of products and they all work perfectly well without necessitating a special cable. I have a 32gb USB stick, it works fine in my Ford and in all other Fords, I do not see the reason to have to pay Audi for a cable to make it work.
 
cuke2u said:
Not everyone use apple products as there are better if not equal devices on the market and the majority use USB. Other car manufacturers use USB there is no need to cater for a minority of users. I certainly will not be purchasing a overpriced cable from Audi themselves and surely Audi realise this will happen.
Click to expand...
Wind your neck in... I don't use Apple products either - won't have them in the house, but some people do and that is their choice.

I was just explaining why they might choose a proprietary connection method over USB (in fact there are a variety of interfaces supported on AMI - e.g. analogue audio). Nothing more, nothing less....

Cables are available on ebay at ~1/10th the price from Audi.
 
I agree with you, it is about choice, however the number of products that use usb is far greater then the number requiring a 'apple' interface. It would have been far better of Audi to have put a usb port in the car and then everyone would be happy...
 
cuke2u said:
It would have been far better of Audi to have put a usb port in the car and then everyone would be happy...
Click to expand...
No, YOU'd be happy, but what about the people who have devices that don't use a USB port?

I'd like a bluetooth system fitted with rSAP without having to spend £1k on the technology package, but I don't have that option (nor am I going to spend £1k on the technology package). It's all part of the decisions we make in purchasing a car.
 
Hi, sorry but I meant it to suggest a usb port as well. Audi can do it whatever the system is fitted...
 
audi upgrades
cuke2u said:
However Samsung outsell Apple smartphones by more than twice the amount and Apple can't even keep up with demand. Smartphone sales pass 250M in Q3, and Samsung grew twice as fast as Apple | VentureBeat BBC News - Smartphones outsell basic feature handsets Thus are you suggesting I have to purchase a product I do not need just so I can use it in my Audi when other car manufacturers cater for the majority of products and they all work perfectly well without necessitating a special cable. I have a 32gb USB stick, it works fine in my Ford and in all other Fords, I do not see the reason to have to pay Audi for a cable to make it work.
Click to expand...

Audi will supply at least 1 AMI cable with the car FOC if you need any others you just pay for them. Although I know some people on here have negotiated more from Audi at time of sale.

So if you want USB just request one when ordering your car.

Yes a lot of car manufacturers fit USB as standard and maybe a 3.5mm jack but that is it. Audis AMI system offers much more compatibility than that, for example USB, Micro USB, iPod, iPhone, 3.5mm audio jack, even a composite video and audio input for cameras games consoles etc, all you need to do is chose what cable you want FOC then buy any others you may need at a later date.

Personally I think this equals and exceeds what almost any other car manufacturer offers! ;)
 
I really can't see the problem only 3 types of cable needed - iPhone 4S size bigger cable, iphone 5/s lightning cable and the generic one that all androids use.
U get one with the car.
U need another one u pay for it.
Can't believe folk are moaning about cable costs after buying a NEW car!
Only new thing I want is wireless charging ... Now that would be something ;)
 
Mine came with an Apple cable (pre lightning) and a USB cable as standard. I didn't ask for anything special, so I was assuming that was the same for everyone... The car has one Audi specific socket under the armrest, and I plug in one short adaptor cable if I want to connect an iPhone or iPod, and the other short adapter cable if I want to plug in something USB.

I've also now got myself a 3.5mm jack adaptor cable, as I figured that'd work for absolutely anything, and would carry on working once phones have all moved onto a different way to connect. I think they also make adaptor cables with small USB sockets rather than the standard full size one.
 
Last edited:
Has Audi actually made a Lightening AMI cable yet. I've only seen the old Apple connector cables.
 
Silky-S3 said:
Has Audi actually made a Lightening AMI cable yet. I've only seen the old Apple connector cables.
Click to expand...
No, I don't think so. A couple of people over on the A1 forum had been told that one was becoming available end of November, but I've not idea if that's accurate.

Until then, although I've never tried it, from what I gather the genuine Apple adaptor works fine with the old-style cable provided with the car, but cheap eBay ones don't.
 
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AJB said:
No, I don't think so. A couple of people over on the A1 forum had been told that one was becoming available end of November, but I've not idea if that's accurate.

Until then, although I've never tried it, from what I gather the genuine Apple adaptor works fine with the old-style cable provided with the car, but cheap eBay ones don't.
Click to expand...

That's correct must be genuine :) if you get a cheap one you will only be able to charge with no audio ;)
 
Had a call from Audi UK today regarding this.

He said that he thinks an HDD up to 512gb will work as Audi used to have 1 in the accessories catalogue so would make sense that this was supported.

Si.
 
I don't think it'll have a size limit, probably more defined by the filesystem on the drive.

I was looking at my drive today at work thinking 'i must test that' and then... didn't! Will look tomorrow.
 
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