A3 S Line Sportback Audi Phone Box...Is it needed?

paul8852

paul8852

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Just about to go ahead with the purchase order of an A3 S Line Sportback and immediately ticked the phone box option for my Iphone.
Having thought more about it & seeing that most people aren't including it amongst their options figured that you're getting an armrest with a box below anyway which has a USB connector/charger within, is there any point to purchase this £325 option, wondered if you need it for album artwork, or Audi Connect...If someone could enlighten me it would be appreciated.
 
Personally, I looked at it the other way... If it's not physically connected, it's not charging...!

Chris
 
Hi there

i too had this option ticked but after having a demonstration vehicle over night I chose there was no point.
I thought my iPhone 5 worked fine for making and receiving calls and the music streamed fine via Bluetooth.
as for the album artwork I couldn't be sure about that as I had an iPod connected under the armrest.
I also decided to pass on the technology pack, much better screen I admit but not worth £1000
 
Tech pack for 1k, thats a steal tbh.
 
I must admit I ticked the Tech Pack because I am currently using the SD based low res nav in my A6, having taken a drive in an A3 last week with the Tech spec on it blew my one out of the water, with the promo price too presently until 28/02/13 agree with last post, its the future value too, when Audi Connect finally gets going I understand will only be compatible with the HDD based system, agreed at £1495 it does seem strong, no wonder Audi are receiving so many A3 orders presently!
 
I have the phone box option but I'm not really sure if it does anything at all. It's supposed to "boost" the signal somehow but I'm not sure exactly how this works or whether all phones are supported. I got it more for the USB socket to be honest, so I could charge the phone when needed as I miss this feature of the cradle in my 8P. Found the world's shortest USB charging cable too, at all of three inches long :)
 
Thanks for your input guys, general consensus seems to be it not being required, can't believe its this price and that it doesn't play a more major role to the phone/audio experience, I was informed this evening by my local dealership that there is nothing more it offers apart from a more amplified reception..the Bluetooth sorts out the calls & the AMI lead I have already will plug into the USB for charge up, if my dealer can't find a reasonable reason for this £325 option why bother!?
 
I wouldn't have paid my own money for it, let's put it that way :)
 
Vertigo ,

i purchased a charging tray from a stealership yesterday that so say fits in the bottom of the arm rest and then my phone sits on this and is connected by a USB cable for charging . I think I have been sold a unit for the old model - any views ?

chester
 
Yes I think this is for the 8P, not aware of any such accessory for the 8V as the phone is designed to sit in the box.
 
I guess I need to see an internal view if a central arm rest with out the phone box fitted . Looks like I may need to return it for a refund then

thanks

chester
 
sorry I'm a bit confused - do you get a usb socket even if you don't have the Phone Box option?
 
This is what I am not sure of so will have to check with the stealership .
 
Surely if you have the Audi MMI, with the socket in the centre console, then plugging (for instance) an Iphone into that instead of an ipod, accomplishes the same thing of charging the phone (it does in my current Scirocco with the MDI interface which is VW's version of MMI and uses the same cables )? If that's the case and you purchase the USB MMI cable, will this not charge other Phone makes as well ?

Obviously you won't get the aerial booster function, but as Vertigo said, the jury's out on whether that adds much. I certainly won't be adding it at over £300 !
 
I think you are correct and the cradle that I was sold is for the old model , so in theory I connect a USB cable from phone to socket but do not get the signal boost which is no biggie , just annoyed that the parts dept at Audi sold me stuff for the wrong car !
 
This came on my car when I got it; I personally have found it makes no difference whatsoever to reception or call quality either on my iphone 5s or galaxy s2. If anything it's just a pain having to mess around putting the phone in and them remembering to take it out again when you leave the car! I wouldn't have paid for it on a new car.
 
You get the USB port for charging with the phone box option, but you also get that with Audi Connect. That's the only thing I wanted really, and didn't think I would have it until I picked the car up. As for the signal boosting stuff - not sure how effective that is, someone with the option may be able to say, but I don't usually have connection problems anyway.
 
audi upgrades
I had phone prep in my 8P which used the external aerial and was great. My 8V S3 doesn't have this and during my journey home from work the signal isn't as good. Saying that i am using an iphone which is a great tablet but a crap phone.
 
I've had phone box for a year now and I can pretty much categorically say it does nothing for my phone signal. And I've never used the USB socket either. So it was my one mistake out of a whole bunch of successful options.
 
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