Audi A3 8V Reverse Camera (High) DIY Retrofit guide!!

Hi folks,

I see that they replaced the separate camera/module set up with a camera handle with the module built it.

My question is, can this new built in unit be used on both PFL/FL cars and does that also include cars with no nav/Low MMI as well as cars with nav?

Basically I'm asking if this, along with the required looms, be used in place of the old set up with the separate module in all situations on the 8V?

Thanks

Craig
 
Audigit said:
Hi folks,

I see that they replaced the separate camera/module set up with a camera handle with the module built it.

My question is, can this new built in unit be used on both PFL/FL cars and does that also include cars with no nav/Low MMI as well as cars with nav?

Basically I'm asking if this, along with the required looms, be used in place of the old set up with the separate module in all situations on the 8V?

Thanks

Craig
Click to expand...
Yes :)
 
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DJAlix said:
Yes :)
Click to expand...
Wow, that was a lightening fast reply ha ha.

That's great, it really simplifies the install!

Thank you for getting back to me. I do have another question for you but I'd like to send it via PM if you don't mind?
 
Audigit said:
Wow, that was a lightening fast reply ha ha.

That's great, it really simplifies the install!

Thank you for getting back to me. I do have another question for you but I'd like to send it via PM if you don't mind?
Click to expand...
sure. however I will not be checking pm's until later on today.
 
So, from the comments above; if I have a PFL car with 'low' MMI, I can buy the new camera with the integrated module and it will work. Which is good news, as this will be my next retrofit and it seems the new version is easier and cheaper to get hold of than the original camera with the 'low' loom.
The looms supplied with the new style cameras have full cabling for the 'high' MMI version, what do I do with the extra wires that are not required in the 'low' MMI? Do I remove them from the loom or does the camera/module expect them to be connected to something?
 
Can anyone advise which format the genuine Audi cameras use i.e. PAL or NTSC. Not just the new integrated one but the PFL versions as well.

Thanks
 
Last edited:
Ok, I have read all the pages on this tread, still wanting to retrofit :) I have 2017 Facelift Sedan S3 with sd-sat nav and with both front and rear radars.

Is this the only hardware I need?
http://vagtec.co.uk/eshop/genuine-a...ear-view-camera-high-a3-8v-facelift-2017.html

What about coding the facelift version? (I have some knowledge of VCDS and have the RossTech cable) Is the coding same as in the guide for PFL-version?

And as I read from previous pages I also need Recalibration, am I right? (I don't want to leave any "errors" showing up on scan) And it can be done with VCDS as it was in that guide, right?

Thanks in advance!
 
day 1 (today): parts arrived, boot disassembly, camera install, routing wires from bootlid to right hand side of the boot. Then ripped apart almost whole dashboard (both driver and MMI-side) because the ****er LHD- layout gave me some surprises. Ok, need some more parts and additional wiring from fuse board at least...
day 2 (tomorrow): get more parts, rip some more interior bits apart, complete all wiring and get it all working with VCDS
day 3 (day after tomorrow): finalise everything (incl. Calibration, I have the calibration board ready).

So it's gonna take some time... Hopefully it's worth it :)

Can anyone tell me where can I find earthing point in the front, near A-pilar maybe?
 
J0n3 said:
day 1 (today): parts arrived, boot disassembly, camera install, routing wires from bootlid to right hand side of the boot. Then ripped apart almost whole dashboard (both driver and MMI-side) because the ****er LHD- layout gave me some surprises. Ok, need some more parts and additional wiring from fuse board at least...
day 2 (tomorrow): get more parts, rip some more interior bits apart, complete all wiring and get it all working with VCDS
day 3 (day after tomorrow): finalise everything (incl. Calibration, I have the calibration board ready).

So it's gonna take some time... Hopefully it's worth it :)

Can anyone tell me where can I find earthing point in the front, near A-pilar maybe?
Click to expand...
Passenger or Drivers side footwell. This image is the passenger side and the main earth point is located below the brown wires at the bottom.

IMG 7821

Edit: However you should have grounded to one of the points in the rear to be honest, which on the right side (if looking from the rear) would be around the area parallel to where the trunk hinge pivots for the saloon.
 
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I noticed that once the retrofit is complete, the video image takes up the entire screen for those that have posted.

@DJAlix would you know if getting the video full screen can be done via VCDS coding for those cars with the camera installed from the factory? On my FL 17 S3, the image is windowed to allow the overhead vehicle image to be shown over a black background for the parking sensor bars. Would be nice to have the camera image full screen and the parking sensor info ghosted over like shown in the retro screen shots.
 
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Thats normal with the FL. Even factory equipped has the windowed screen.

@J0n3 calibration needs to be done with Odis on a MQB car.

A3 8V Facelift Limousine
 
DJAlix said:
Edit: However you should have grounded to one of the points in the rear to be honest, which on the right side (if looking from the rear) would be around the area parallel to where the trunk hinge pivots for the saloon.
Click to expand...

I got it all working yesterday evening, thanks to this thread and great forum users like you guys! :rockwoot:

I got the ground from the base of the A-pilar (passenger/MMI side). I wired 12VDC from fusebox (drivers side) to the back of the MMI and took the ground wire to the same place. My wiring harness (from camera) is bundled together so it has 12VDC/ground + CAN High/Low + Video signals all in the same wire bundle. Wiring from the boot to the front of the car was truly painful. I don't know how you guys did it but my fingers are hurting a lot.

I got some weird things when coding the camera, but it works now. I will inform you later if any of you have had any similar "problems".
 
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RJ-8V said:
Thats normal with the FL. Even factory equipped has the windowed screen.

@J0n3 calibration needs to be done with Odis on a MQB car.

A3 8V Facelift Limousine
Click to expand...

Can it be done remotely perhaps?

Does the camera throw faults without calibration?
 
Amused said:
Can it be done remotely perhaps?

Does the camera throw faults without calibration?
Click to expand...
Camera does not need calibration in order to work correctly, but in order to be OEM and "tidy" people complete the process. You need a domino / light board which is placed behind the vehicle in order to perform the calibration, so technically while this could be completed remotely you would need a fair amount of equipment to do it.

*example image attached, found via google jedi skills :)

Kalibreringsplade
 
DJAlix said:
Camera does not need calibration in order to work correctly, but in order to be OEM and "tidy" people complete the process. You need a domino / light board which is placed behind the vehicle in order to perform the calibration, so technically while this could be completed remotely you would need a fair amount of equipment to do it.

*example image attached, found via google jedi skills :)

View attachment 164001
Click to expand...

Thanx for the fast reply! Ok, then it’s not a necessity, just a case of OEM placement of the camera and the guidelines, right?

I guess the coding for the FL camera (the new one with the module built in) can be done remotely, right? I am compiling a potential list of remote coding services for you ;)
 
Well the camera does need calibration if you want that the red line is accurate. When not calibrated it can be a bit off.

A3 8V Facelift Limousine
 
Just to check, is this the right part number for the FL camera with built in module: 8V0827566B?
 
RJ-8V said:
Well the camera does need calibration if you want that the red line is accurate. When not calibrated it can be a bit off.

A3 8V Facelift Limousine
Click to expand...
Testing the retrofit completed by Jungle, within the guide, we recorded no before and after differences. I have noted the same for every installation I have completed since investing in a light board.
 
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DJAlix said:
Testing the retrofit completed by Jungle, within the guide, we recorded no before and after differences. I have noted the same for every installation I have completed since investing in a light board.
Click to expand...
Then you are lucky

Had multiple cars that had a difference with before and after calibration. Even factory fitted ones.

A3 8V Facelift Limousine
 
DJAlix said:
5Q0 980 556 B
Click to expand...

Hey @DJAlix, does that mean the part no. I wrote is not compatible with the 2017 A3? I sent the VIN of the car to an online seller, and he said 8V0827566B is the part number for the car.

Now I am totally confused here. What is the difference between 8V0827566B and 5Q0980556B?
 
Applogies, did not read the post in full. The number you have posted plus the one I have posted will work. There are a number of different cameras / part numbers which will work.
 
DJAlix said:
Applogies, did not read the post in full. The number you have posted plus the one I have posted will work. There are a number of different cameras / part numbers which will work.
Click to expand...

Oh, thanks. In that case I will proceed with the order.
 
Will the above part number be compatible with a 2014 A3 with the tech pack larger screen?
 
Is there any way to fix the 8V FL reverse camera to not be so narrow and horribly out of resolution for the screen?

Seriously makes reversing harder with the windowed image!
 
Davesc63 said:
Is there any way to fix the 8V FL reverse camera to not be so narrow and horribly out of resolution for the screen?

Seriously makes reversing harder with the windowed image!
Click to expand...

I asked this earlier but seems that is the way it has to be for FL vehicles. My guess is that it has to do with the high line screens resolution and the camera not being able to output the same.
 
MarttiMAT said:
I asked this earlier but seems that is the way it has to be for FL vehicles. My guess is that it has to do with the high line screens resolution and the camera not being able to output the same.
Click to expand...
I’ve read it’s in firmware but surely there’s more configuration hidden. The car overlay takes up too much room and I find the skewed resolution makes it harder to park
 
Davesc63 said:
I’ve read it’s in firmware but surely there’s more configuration hidden. The car overlay takes up too much room and I find the skewed resolution makes it harder to park
Click to expand...

Yes, I agree. No reason to not ghost the car image over the actual video feed allowing for full screen image. If I find time over the weekend, I will see what configs there are via VCDS.
 
MarttiMAT said:
Yes, I agree. No reason to not ghost the car image over the actual video feed allowing for full screen image. If I find time over the weekend, I will see what configs there are via VCDS.
Click to expand...
After reporting as a bug I was informed that this is by design, in order to maintain feature continuity across the range. The problem is the GUI has been badly ported across from the MIB2 units which use widescreen, such at the A4. When ported to the A3 the live video is "squashed to fit".

There are no settings to control this within VCDS (or alike) as its all in the MIB2 firmware. Take a gen 1 camera from a PFL vehicle and install it to an MIB2 and the display is the same. Take a FL camera and install it with an MIB1 unit and the display is full screen with the ghost as per the PFL vehicles.
 
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Does the guide in the first post apply to FL A3’s as well when installing the new type of camera with the built in module?
 
DJAlix said:
Aye
Click to expand...

Thanks again!

The screenshot of Bit 4 – Other Installed systems in the 6C module long coding says that Optical Parking System (OPS) Illustration should be checked as active. From my understanding, if a car lacks front parking sensors, then there will be no “illustration” on the screen. The only way to get illustration is to retrofit front sensors. Right?

If the above is correct, should the OPS option be activated anyway through coding as the guide suggests?
 
Amused said:
Thanks again!

The screenshot of Bit 4 – Other Installed systems in the 6C module long coding says that Optical Parking System (OPS) Illustration should be checked as active. From my understanding, if a car lacks front parking sensors, then there will be no “illustration” on the screen. The only way to get illustration is to retrofit front sensors. Right?

If the above is correct, should the OPS option be activated anyway through coding as the guide suggests?
Click to expand...
Good observation there!

Correct, the only way to get Visual Parking Display on a facelift vehicle is by having the correct parking module with both front and rear sensors. This does not change if you add a camera, you will still need front sensors.

Should you still activate the bit? No, but nothing bad will happen if you do.

Advice to all:

When following any retrofit guide or anyones posted advice you have to remember that all cars are different and you need to use some common sense (and must still research) in order to complete your project, to the point of where some further testing may still be needed for everything to work correctly.

The guide contained within this thread is valid for both FL and PFL cars but there are differences between the models. Nothing within the guide will produce any errors or issues within a FL car. The only potential problem would be faulty parts or indeed the person sitting in the chair between your computer screen and the chair :)
 
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