Retro Fit DAB radio

Chris-Vspec

Chris-Vspec

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Has anyone retro fitted DAB radio into there B8?

my S4 has the 3G MMI and I want to look into getting DAB added to it, providing the cost is reasonable.

Any Help would be appreciated
 
£600 is about what I was expecting to pay.

Does anyone have it and reckons its worth that sort of out lay?
 
I've driven 3 audis with the DABs, think its really useful to have. At the moment I got the FM Radio, which has limited stations depending on location, and reception can be rubbish for some.

But I thought its not worth the £600 to retrofit. Unless I can invest some time and do it myself for cheaper.

Would be good to hear some other views as well…..
 
I've installed a DAB radio with my MMI 3G retrofit. Audi DAB units are pretty common on eBay Germany at around £300. Some do appear cheaper from time to time. You will need a DAB antenna amplifier for the drivers side rear pillar at around £30-£50. I used a 2G DAB amplifier and it works fine. In my early B8 car the aerial is in the back windscreen so no extra aerial needed. You will need component protection removal from Audi, but should be a pretty easy DIY job as you have the existing MMI 3G set up.
 
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Stonefish said:
I've installed a DAB radio with my MMI 3G retrofit. Audi DAB units are pretty common on eBay Germany at around £300. Some do appear cheaper from time to time. You will need a DAB antenna amplifier for the drivers side rear pillar at around £30-£50. I used a 2G DAB amplifier and it works fine. In my early B8 car the aerial is in the back windscreen so no extra aerial needed. You will need component protection removal from Audi, but should be a pretty easy DIY job as you have the existing MMI 3G set up.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, do you rate the DAB radio? I am not a great DIY'er so would probably look to pay someone to fit it.
 
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IMO the DAB is a lot better than my old FM Concert radio, although I'm not sure if its fair to compare them. But I'm definitely glad I went for the DAB. It's probably worth asking people who live near you and have DAB what the reception is like. Round me the reception is very good, but in rural areas it will probably be poor?????

I forgot to add I used a 3 metre female to female fakra (with 90 degree angled connectors) cable which I got off eBay £12 which I ran across the parcel shelf between the antenna amp and the radio unit.
 
We are semi rural here but my commute is between Bournemouth and Southampton so would assume the reception will be good
 
Stonefish said:
I've installed a DAB radio with my MMI 3G retrofit. Audi DAB units are pretty common on eBay Germany at around £300. Some do appear cheaper from time to time. You will need a DAB antenna amplifier for the drivers side rear pillar at around £30-£50. I used a 2G DAB amplifier and it works fine. In my early B8 car the aerial is in the back windscreen so no extra aerial needed. You will need component protection removal from Audi, but should be a pretty easy DIY job as you have the existing MMI 3G set up.
Click to expand...

Which part number radio unit did you use? I've narrowed it down to either 4F0 035 061 or 4G0 035 061. Any idea of the VCDS coding info for 56 Radio and the 5F Infotainment unit to get it set up ready for CP removal?

Thanks
 
Radio is 4G0 035 061
Radio Coding is 010103010000000001 (this code is for an external amp, in my case B&O)
I didn't change the original coding of the radio as it works fine. I can't remember having to code the 5F for the DAB install. I'm sure one of the guru's on here can answer that bit.
 
Stonefish said:
Radio is 4G0 035 061
Radio Coding is 010103010000000001 (this code is for an external amp, in my case B&O)
I didn't change the original coding of the radio as it works fine. I can't remember having to code the 5F for the DAB install. I'm sure one of the guru's on here can answer that bit.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info Stonefish. Possibly a tweak in the MMI hidden menu or the CAN gateway then, or no change needed. What confuses me is I use Partsbase for info and my original radio unit 4F0 035 056 B is listed as for 'Active Speakers' and I've seen a Kufatec offering of all original Audi kit that states 'not suitable for passive speakers'. Solid info is a bit scarce for the DIYer.
I'm just assuming that if I have MMI Nav plus the DAB radio from the same variant car will slot in without any coding change. The biggest issue is B&O or not B&O as that probably has the biggest impact with the internal amp being switched off but then again active speakers / passive speakers...internal amp being coded off would make no difference for me with active speakers !?!….this is driving me bonkers trying to figure it out.
 
Do you now how I can tell if my arial is in the rear window?

Does this work for DAB?
 
jamin128 said:
Do you now how I can tell if my arial is in the rear window?

Does this work for DAB?
Click to expand...

Saloon or Avant? I have an Avant. The aerial is printed on the glass in the rear right quarter pane. As the Aerial is printed on the glass you should be able to spot it just by looking. Not exactly sure about the saloon. I think it is one the rear window on the right. have a look at this:

Audi Workshop Manuals > A4 Mk3 > Vehicle electrics > Communication > Infotainment > Aerial system (saloon) > General notes

It's a great (and free resource).

The real issue is the antenna amplifier and the wiring from the antenna amplifier to the antenna on the glass. There wires run from a connector on the antenna amp and need to be soldered to the pads on the glass. I've read mixed things about the quality of signal after DIY fitting.
 
Saloon, this is what I have on the drivers side which does not connect to anything, and looks like a DAB aerial:


And this is on the passengers side:
 
I have OEM DAB on my 2009 S4 (2g MMI high). It's so bad as to be unusable. Reception is on and off like a switch, one moment all is fine, the next I cannot get any DAB station. Seems to be related to location but the difference between having reception or not can change within 10 yards. Great swathes of Somerset and Devon give me this problem (eg a lot of the M5). The DAB signal can't be that bad surely so I would love to know how I can check the car out. As ever Audi's response is just to take it to a dealer for a ridiculously expensive diagnosis. I'd strongly suggest you get a demo in your area before shelling out . . .
 
audi upgrades
liffy99 said:
I have OEM DAB on my 2009 S4 (2g MMI high). It's so bad as to be unusable. Reception is on and off like a switch, one moment all is fine, the next I cannot get any DAB station. Seems to be related to location but the difference between having reception or not can change within 10 yards. Great swathes of Somerset and Devon give me this problem (eg a lot of the M5). The DAB signal can't be that bad surely so I would love to know how I can check the car out. As ever Audi's response is just to take it to a dealer for a ridiculously expensive diagnosis. I'd strongly suggest you get a demo in your area before shelling out . . .
Click to expand...

To be absolutely honest DAB is not the ideal system for a receiving device that is moving. Cars are moving at speed. With analogue the signal quality can vary enormously and you still get some continuity of service i.e the audio quality will drop but you can at least keep listening and mentally tune out the shash. Digits is two state, on or off. There is either some valid data to decode and you get very HQ audio or there is nothing - zero output. If we all had 10 meter masts on our car roofs it would all be peachy...
 
Ha ha, so am I best off using an external one rather than the one built into the windscreen if I want a chance of getting reception?
 
Nah, but for the time being you're better of sticking to analogue or find a lay-by near a transmitter and park up every time you want to listen to DAB ;-)

No seriously, the DAB coverage is very sketchy in parts of the UK and you can't guarantee a continuously good signal on the move. I've been toying with retrofitting but the cost and hassle probably isn't worth it until closer to the big analogue switch off, by which time I'll likely be either deaf or dead LOL
 
Hi
Stonefish said:
Radio is 4G0 035 061
Radio Coding is 010103010000000001 (this code is for an external amp, in my case B&O)
I didn't change the original coding of the radio as it works fine. I can't remember having to code the 5F for the DAB install. I'm sure one of the guru's on here can answer that bit.
Click to expand...

Hi, i have a A6 C7 2013 w. MMI 3G+ and this unit was retrofitted from my dealer (which is far away). The unit works fine, but i cannot get the traffic information functiont to work. When i do a scan with my OBDeleven i get this:

56 Radio

System description: Radio U DAB
Software number: 4G0035061S
Software version: 0154
Hardware number: 4G0035061
Hardware version: H60
Serial number: 109A00E7857672
Long coding: 000000000000000000

Trouble codes:
01042 - Control module not coded
static
03175 - invalid data record
static


I see that the unit is not coded and is wondering if coding the unit would enable this function AND if i can use the same unit code as mentioned in the above post? Thanks in advance for all replies!
 
You will definitely need to code the radio, but traffic information is enabled in the MMI 3G (the 5F module) adaption channel 69 add +32768 to the existing value you have in the channel and reset the MMI.
 
Thanks for quick and relevant reply!

1. Regarding traffic info, I have the option available in the mmi, it just doesnt work when activated. Do you still suggest to edit 5F ?

2. Regarding coding of the unit itselft, would it be okay to code 56 and use the code in the beforementioned post?
 
audi upgrades
Sorry to resurrect an old thread but can anyone confirm if I replace my radio unit (FM only no B&O 3G) with the DAB version, can I use a standard DAB aerial rather than the Audi DAB Amplifier?

Thanks
 
MarkWizard said:
Sorry to resurrect an old thread but can anyone confirm if I replace my radio unit (FM only no B&O 3G) with the DAB version, can I use a standard DAB aerial rather than the Audi DAB Amplifier?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Anyone?

Sent from my SM-T715 using Tapatalk
 
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