OEM Retro Fit / Upgrade Options

[illingworth22]

Anyone know what Extras can be added to the S3..... just for us who purchased nearly new..... or even for those who have purchased then realised they wanted or missed that one option!

i.e. can the reverse camera be added if required?

 

[cemerson]

Yes, but it's not cheap for most bits...

 

[h5djr]

Anyone know what Extras can be added to the S3..... just for us who purchased nearly new? i.e. can the reverse camera be added if required?

Have a look at this website. Quite a few items that can be fitted, but not cheap.

A3 8V - 2012>

 

[steeve]

Certainly reverse camera, or reversing sensors, cruise is a common retro fit too.

 

[slipped_disc]

Anyone know if it's possible to upgrade from the standard system to the Audi Sound System?

 

[h5djr]

Anyone know if it's possible to upgrade from the standard system to the Audi Sound System?

I would think anything is possible, at a cost. The website I mentioned earlier will upgrade to B+O for £1895.00 + VAT so I'm sure they could upgrade to the Audi Sound System. It will cost a lot more than the option when ordering.

 

[Andy1608]

Have a look at this website. Quite a few items that can be fitted, but not cheap.

A3 8V - 2012>

Some of the stuff on there is so over priced

 

[slipped_disc]

I would think anything is possible, at a cost. The website I mentioned earlier will upgrade to B+O for £1895.00 + VAT so I'm sure they could upgrade to the Audi Sound System. It will cost a lot more than the option when ordering.

Most things in life are available or possible at a cost. What I had hoped to gain from this thread was some advice like, "Yes, there's a cable hidden in the boot that the sub-woofer would connect to", or "No, you would need a new wiring loom and you'd have to rip half the car apart."

 

[h5djr]

Some of the stuff on there is so over priced

Your may be right but it cost at lot more to add an option after the car has been built. It most cases the option price is just the additional cost of the components used as it takes very little extra time to install them as the car is being built. But with a retro-fit a lot has to be taken apart before any additional items can be installed and then it has to be put back together again. All of that takes time and that is what you are paying for.

One of the disadvantages of not being a new car. When buying new you can specify exactly what options you want when the car is ordered so your don't have to pay retro-fit prices.

 

[h5djr]

Most things in life are available or possible at a cost. What I had hoped to gain from this thread was some advice like, "Yes, there's a cable hidden in the boot that the sub-woofer would connect to", or "No, you would need a new wiring loom and you'd have to rip half the car apart."

Most members on here have purchased a new car so it's unlikely that will have any idea what is there as standard if the did not choose a particular option. Perhaps in a few years time this will change but there currently very few who are trying to retro-fit items that were not included in the original build. This tends to to happen more cars are sold as second-hand and people want to add items that the original purchaser did not specify. One of the big advantages of buying new is that you can have exactly what you want fron day one.

 

[alistairm1]

However, even those ordering new suffer from "buyers remorse" as is evidenced by the threads (and there are quite a few) where people are changing their specifications between ordering and build.
There are some who leave it too late and the car spec. is locked so no amendments can be made.
I have it, as I didn't specify ACC.

But too late now, it's been built and will be delivered next week.

 

[cemerson]

Your may be right but it cost at lot more to add an option after the car has been built. It most cases the option price is just the additional cost of the components used as it takes very little extra time to install them as the car is being built. But with a retro-fit a lot has to be taken apart before any additional items can be installed and then it has to be put back together again.

That and the fact that often options mean that a part is replaced with an upgraded one, so Audi wouldn't have to use the original part. Take heated seats for example - they are expensive because you have to buy the whole lot, even though you already have seats. In the factory though, the seats would be put in and Audi wouldn't have to spend the money on the standard seats, so you are only paying the difference. You might be able to sell your originals afterwards to recoup some cost though.

 

[slipped_disc]

However, even those ordering new suffer from "buyers remorse" as is evidenced by the threads (and there are quite a few) where people are changing their specifications between ordering and build.
There are some who leave it too late and the car spec. is locked so no amendments can be made.
I have it, as I didn't specify ACC.

But too late now, it's been built and will be delivered next week.

Retro-fitting ACC - now, there's a project for a Saturday morning.

I do agree with your comments, I'm probably in the "buyers remorse" club to some extent.

 

[h5djr]

Retro-fitting ACC - now, there's a project for a Saturday morning.

I do agree with your comments, I'm probably in the "buyers remorse" club to some extent.

Probably more like a whole weekend project at the very least. A lot will depend on whether any wiring needs to be changed. I will have a look at the parts catalogue to see if different looms are used for standard audio and ACC.

 

[cemerson]

Retro-fitting ACC is very expensive from what I remember about the cost of the radar unit alone... although other than that and the ACC stalk (which is different to the standard CC stalk), I'm not sure that much would need to be done. You'd also have to order a new grill though that will take the radar unit.

 

[alistairm1]

As this is a company car, I'm not sure that I'll be attempting a retrofit.
Just feel I should have added it to the spec when I ordered.
Still, it's nice to see just what is possible.

 

[Cruiser89]

Ok so with all new cars it takes a while for the retrofits to come through...

The only big ones are:

+ Rear OPS
+ Front & Rear OPS
+ RVC Low
+ Bluetooth Low
+ Cruise Control

Audi are really starting to lock down the systems with a lot of components needing to be activated "Online" via Germany. Unfortunately VCDS cannot do this.

 

[GreatBallsofFire]

Ok so with all new cars it takes a while for the retrofits to come through...

The only big ones are:

+ Rear OPS
+ Front & Rear OPS
+ RVC Low
+ Bluetooth Low
+ Cruise Control

Audi are really starting to lock down the systems with a lot of components needing to be activated "Online" via Germany. Unfortunately VCDS cannot do this.

I think that's pretty mean by Audi, why don't they instead try to make good business out of a demand and offer these retrofitting to reasonable prices to customers - that's the way to go for the future.

 

[h5djr]

Probably more like a whole weekend project at the very least. A lot will depend on whether any wiring needs to be changed. I will have a look at the parts catalogue to see if different looms are used for standard audio and ACC.

Sorry my reply was complete rubbish. Too many abbreviations. I was thinking about *** (Audi Sound System) rather than ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) when I said about checking the wiring looms.

If fact with the wiring looms for the doors at least there only seems to be one loom listed for each type of door so I assume it's the same for the standard sound system and the Audi Sound System and the B+O sound System. Don't know if the connection for the luggage area sub-woofer is there on a standard system model.

 

[h5djr]

Looking at the ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) the Radar sensor with the software is around £1000 and I new grill to take the sensor is £270 which makes the optional extra of Adaptive cruise control (PCG) at £575 or £350 with the Comfort pack look good value for money.

 

[madrussa]

For the *** would you not need to take the entire dash out to fit the centre speaker as well? I'm pleased I've ordered B&O!

 

[cemerson]

Looking at the ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) the Radar sensor with the software is around £1000 and I new grill to take the sensor is £270 which makes the optional extra of Adaptive cruise control (PCG) at £575 or £350 with the Comfort pack look good value for money.

Don't forget the stalk too - probably another few hundred!

 

[h5djr]

Don't forget the stalk too - probably another few hundred!

There are 25 different steering column combi switches as they are called and the one with ACC is £154.00. It all begins to mount up.

 

[slipped_disc]

For the *** would you not need to take the entire dash out to fit the centre speaker as well? I'm pleased I've ordered B&O!

Wouldn't you just remove the grille on the top of the dashboard and fit it in there? After groping about and hopefully finding the speaker cable and plug taped to the main wiring loom!

 

[s3 owner]

the annoying part about audi is they do not just fit a standard wiring loom and just not use items,or blank them off that aren't ordered ( like Vauxhall etc etc). this means if you want to add anything you have to add wiring.
as somebody pointed out audi are missing a market opportunity by supplying retro-fitting services but its business for the likes of kufatec, hazzydayz, richter sport etc etc.

 

[h5djr]

the annoying part about audi is they do not just fit a standard wiring loom and just not use items,or blank them off that aren't ordered ( like Vauxhall etc etc). this means if you want to add anything you have to add wiring.
as somebody pointed out audi are missing a market opportunity by supplying retro-fitting services but its business for the likes of kufatec, hazzydayz, richter sport etc etc.

As I said in an earlier post, looking at the parts catalogue, there only appears to one wiring loom for parts of the A3/S3 irrespective of the various options fitted.

 

[s3 owner]

As I said in an earlier post, looking at the parts catalogue, there only appears to one wiring loom for parts of the A3/S3 irrespective of the various options fitted.

that's the point I'm making if you wish to add 'extra's', the wiring to do it is not there, a special wiring 'add on ' has to be used.
I retro-fitted TPMS to a TTRS. audi said it couldn't be done,well yes it can but just not by them, but it did involve adding wiring supplied by a parts firm specialising in retro's.

 

[slipped_disc]

As I said in an earlier post, looking at the parts catalogue, there only appears to one wiring loom for parts of the A3/S3 irrespective of the various options fitted.

Taking the *** as an example. If it is correct that there is only one wiring loom manufactured for the boot area, then it follows that it must have a branch connection for the sub-woofer, whether one is installed or not in the factory.

Is there an image of the relevant loom showing the various plugs on it?

 

[GreatBallsofFire]

Has anyone seen the possibility to retro fit side and lane assist?

 

[h5djr]

Taking the *** as an example. If it is correct that there is only one wiring loom manufactured for the boot area, then it follows that it must have a branch connection for the sub-woofer, whether one is installed or not in the factory.

Is there an image of the relevant loom showing the various plugs on it?

The parts catalogue shows illustrations of some of the wiring looms but not others. There are illustrations for the loom for the doors and these show the speaker connections but there is mention of the wiring loom for the interior-left side and interior-right side but no illustrations. It may be that they are just too complicated to illustrate easily.

 

[h5djr]

Has anyone seen the possibility to retro fit side and lane assist?

I may well be possible but it would need so may parts to be changed it would probably be cheaper to buy a new car with them already fitted !!!

 

[GreatBallsofFire]

You may be right, but still.. Need new rear mirror with camera and two rear mirrors with sensors, the rest is just system things i assume? I am slightly regretting not ordering it. Luckily I did go for ACC witch seems to be a great (safety and comfortable) gadget.