Grrr

Vertigo1

Vertigo1

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Decided not to spec the phone kit on the new car as I didn't want the ugly bracket on the dash and what do Audi go and do now? They've changed the options to allow the holder to be located in the centre armrest, out of sight.

Too late to change the order :(

Gah!
 
bummer, cant they fit it aftwerwards ?
 
I doubt it as the phone kit requires a module to be fitting inside the dash, somewhere behind the RNS-E nav unit I believe, which would probably make it a factory-fit only option, like the nav itself.

Just have to live without. I don't use the phone that much in the car anyway but it would have been handy now and then.
 
How did you find out about this change to the spec? It seems AUDI are making a few changes what with the CD head-units and now this. I just wondered how people are keeping abreast of what's happening?

Gary
 
There's a new price list PDF available for download now on the Audi website. It mentions both the armrest phone mount and the new Symphony unit plus it incorporates details of the S3 and 170TDI engines at last.
 
The new Symphony unit has a much bigger display and supports MP3 CDs.
 
Thanks, any changes to the Concert?

If I burnt a CD at home then would it not work in my Concert?
 
Its not all bad the bluetooth phone module fits under the passenger seat. Craigyb makes up the looms, fits the module and codes you car for phone prep. You may be able to buy a lead of him and just fit the module yourself(if your prepared to do that to your lease car). I bet you can even get the centre consul parts to retro fit that too although its probably pointless unless you fit an aerial.
 
cdb2, sounds like there's some confusion here about "MP3 CDs". The Concert and older Symphony units will play standard audio CDs but won't play a data CD simply loaded with MP3 files. Of course you can burn an audio CD using MP3 files but your burning software just decompresses the MP3 files back to PCM prior to burning.

The new Symphony *will* play a data CD containing MP3 files, thus allowing many times as much music on each disc. Don't know if it displays ID3 tags though.

Dandle, I really don't want to retrofit anything to the lease car as if I get any electrical issues down the road I could end up with warranty problems. I've enquired with the lease company whether I can amend the order as the car isn't due to be built for two weeks but it's more a case of contracts and so forth, don't want to have to re-do all the paperwork. Have basically asked whether I can fork the £385 for the option here and now and leave the lease contract itself unchanged. Don't hold out much hope but we'll see. As I said, not the end of the world if I can't get it as I don't use the phone that much (I'm not a sales rep :) ) and on the bright side it'd save me £400 :)
 
Does anyone know if the Audi phone prep kits are bluetooth? Looking at the pricelist, it mentions phone cradles for specific brands of phone (an additional £100). I imagine that this then clicks onto the phone and into the phone kit. Would be nice if it was bluetooth, so no need for the cradle. Anyone???
 
They are bluetooth, the cradle only charges the handset and connects it to the sharkfin aerial on the roof for better reception.

The phone will connect up to the car system without being placed in the cradle at all so you can simply not bother buying the cradle attachment altogether.
 
Vertigo1 said:
They are bluetooth, the cradle only charges the handset and connects it to the sharkfin aerial on the roof for better reception.

The phone will connect up to the car system without being placed in the cradle at all so you can simply not bother buying the cradle attachment altogether.
Click to expand...

Thanks Vertigo.
 
Hey Vertigo, do you have a link to the pdf on the audi site? probably my eye's playing up but couldn't find the link anywhere!! cheers :smile:
 
Vertigo1 said:
They are bluetooth, the cradle only charges the handset and connects it to the sharkfin aerial on the roof for better reception.

The phone will connect up to the car system without being placed in the cradle at all so you can simply not bother buying the cradle attachment altogether.
Click to expand...

Are you sure about that?
Thought the phone prep in the A3 was the wired in type which is why you need the cable/cradle fitting. The bluetooth kit is available on the A4 or if you get someone like craigyb to fit it to your RNS in the A3. I asked in my local dealer and they said you cant get a bluetooth kit for the A3!!!
 
stratos said:
Are you sure about that?
Thought the phone prep in the A3 was the wired in type which is why you need the cable/cradle fitting. The bluetooth kit is available on the A4 or if you get someone like craigyb to fit it to your RNS in the A3. I asked in my local dealer and they said you cant get a bluetooth kit for the A3!!!
Click to expand...
The phone prep in the A3 has Bluetooth, trust me. I used it earlier to receive a call (my phone was in my jacket pocket on the back seat!) :)
 
stratos said:
I asked in my local dealer and they said you cant get a bluetooth kit for the A3!!!
Click to expand...

Inspires great confidence when the dealers don't know the products they sell.....
 
To be fair to the dealers, there's no official information on the website or the PDF price list that actually mentions bluetooth so how are they supposed to know if Audi won't tell them.
 
So what option do you specify to be able to take calls via bluetooth? How does it work does the sound come out of the stereo speakers? But your saying you dont have to have the cradle in the dash? i wouldn't want that putting holes in the dash!
 
JohnS3 said:
Inspires great confidence when the dealers don't know the products they sell.....
Click to expand...

Spoke to one today who thought the Sport upgrade on the A3 was sportier than the S-Line and I should only go for the Sport if I travelled windy roads. If not I should be alright just going for the S-Line. !!!! He also thought Quattro made you go faster!!
Still at least people like him are there to go to for advice and are responsible for ordering your new pride and joy when the time comes.........
 
steve184 said:
So what option do you specify to be able to take calls via bluetooth? How does it work does the sound come out of the stereo speakers? But your saying you dont have to have the cradle in the dash? i wouldn't want that putting holes in the dash!
Click to expand...
Yep the connectivity is all bluetooth and it does integrate with the stereo, using the built-in speakers.

See my original post regards the mount, it used to be only on the dash which I didn't want but you can now have it in the front centre armrest although if you weren't planning on speccing this then you'll need to add that too.

On top of the kit you're supposed to buy a bracket for your specific type of phone but these cost extra and a fairly limited range of phones are supported so many people don't bother at all and don't use the mount, just relying on bluetooth. This results in an ugly and unused mount on the dash but, with the new option, this can be hidden away in the armrest.
 
Says "MUST be combined with front centre armrest (obvious), DIS and multifunction wheel". So £650 for the armrest phone :sign_omg: (+£235 if you need DIS).
My local dealer told me you also need the "through load" option as well though how true this is I do not know as he seems to have no idea about the cars he is selling..
 
Sorry but that's complete rubbish. You just happen to need those other options in order to have the phone mounted in the armrest, that doesn't mean it's "£650 for the armrest phone".

That's like saying you want black headlining but, as this only comes on the S-Line, that's £1550 for black headlining.
 
My A3 has the Bt phone kit with the dash fitted holder, the phone works fine using Bt but it is limited unless you have the multi function steering wheel. I don't have the MF wheel and it means you still have to dial and accept incoming calls using the phone. So just a glorious speaker and mic system in my case, very disappointing, unless anyone knows of a source for obtaining the MF wheel and fitting...dealer wants £1000!!!!
 
My A3 has the Bt phone kit with the dash fitted holder, the phone works fine using Bt but it is limited unless you have the multi function steering wheel. I don't have the MF wheel and it means you still have to dial and accept incoming calls using the phone. So just a glorious speaker and mic system in my case, very disappointing, unless anyone knows of a source for obtaining the MF wheel and fitting...dealer wants £1000!!!!
 
Although it works by itself, the phone kit is obviously better with the MF wheel, and far better still with the RNS-E satnav.
 
stratos said:
Says "MUST be combined with front centre armrest (obvious), DIS and multifunction wheel". So £650 for the armrest phone :sign_omg: (+£235 if you need DIS).
My local dealer told me you also need the "through load" option as well though how true this is I do not know as he seems to have no idea about the cars he is selling..
Click to expand...

Ithink he is getting the front and back armrests confused.....
 
Out of interest, how well does the phone kit integrate with Nokias in general? I'm enquiring with the lease company as to whether the option can be added but if they say it can I still have to decide if I want it as I'd have to fork out for it myself so I need to know if it's worth it.

I'm getting the RNS-E and multifunction wheel so I'll have the full integration with those but I've read that the level of integration varies with different phones. I've heard that ONLY the Nokia 8800 works to the fullest extent possible, and I'm not about to fork out for one of those so I need to know what functionality I'd get with my 6230i or similar "non-hideously-expensive" Nokia. Prepared to change phones for better functionality but not to stupidly expensive ones like the 8800. I was under the impression that the 8800 and 6230i used the same software anyway but apparently not.

If anyone can give me some idea of what I can expect functionality-wise I'd be grateful (Dandle where are you m8 :) )
 
Vertigo1 said:
Sorry but that's complete rubbish. You just happen to need those other options in order to have the phone mounted in the armrest, that doesn't mean it's "£650 for the armrest phone".

That's like saying you want black headlining but, as this only comes on the S-Line, that's £1550 for black headlining.
Click to expand...

:tapedshut:

Actually you can get the black headlining without having an S-Line so not quite the same really.
I was just making a comment that as with most Audi options you appear to HAVE to spec 5 things to have the thing you want which bumps up the price of any prospective buy from the dealer. :shrug:
I am saving the money to upgrade and do not get a company car or allowance so all the cash will be coming out of my small pockets. It just frustrates that all the "toys" I would like in my dream car seem to put the purchase further away.
 
Are you able to retro fit the bluetooth module, and then answer calls using the sat nav plus as I dont have the MF steering wheel?
 
I know what you mean with regards to the option combinations but the way they set it up is logical. If you want the mobile phone in the armrest then of course you need the armrest. Your alternative is to have it dash-mounted.

As for the MF wheel, yes you can live without it but, from what I can gather, it's even more essential to the phone kit's operation than the RNS-E is as I think that without it you have to use the handset to initiate and answer calls.
 
Not sure tbh. You may be able to answer calls using the RNS-E but you'd presumably have to navigate through the menus to do it. Not sure if it's possible tbh and no easy way to check as the manual for the RNS-E isn't freely available to download.
 
audi upgrades
W00t! :arco:

Managed to get the armrest-mounted phone prep added to the car.

Unfortunately it was too late to factor it into the lease contract so I'll have to pay for it outright but they've confirmed it will be added to the spec.
£385 but at least I already had the RNS-E, MF wheel and armrest so I didn't need to add these.

Well happy :)

(Anyone know offhand how much they charge for the model-specific phone adapters which attach to the cradle? Not sure I want to know this right now as it'll no doubt be eye-watering)
 
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