Audi drive select essential?

Sherv

Sherv

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I currently own a A3 TDI sportback & have just test driven a A4 avant 3.0 V6 TDI. https://www.cbautosales.co.uk/used-...-s-line-quattro-5dr-kirkcaldy-201804265939857

The car is stunning to drive & the interior is like new but it doesn't have drive select & sat nav. I know I can retro fit sat nav but as it doesn't have drive select I declined other wise I would have bought it. The sales man said without it it will always be in "auto" mode but I thought this sounds like ********. Is drive select really that good for throttle response (dynamic) & comfort mode (good mpg).
 
I didn't have it in my A4 2.0TFSI but enabled it via VCDS so I can change the settings via the MMI. I only added the engine/gearbox and steering settings of the ads as I don't have the adaptive suspension.
 
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I have all options on mine i.e. dampers, steering and sports diff etc, cant compare with an S5 without them as I havent driven one without but would say they make a decent difference when in dynamic mode - sharper steering response, stiffer feel to the car, and the sports diff helping me make up for my skills shortage when cornering :D
 
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Thx guys, the car didn't have the sports diff, that would be my dream. Didn't realise you could change it via VCDs. Might look into this.
 
Mine helps the car stay planted/level when cornering. Nice nice chicken and rice
 
I've got it, and I use it quite alot - several times a journey in fact. However, the main things I use it for wouldn't apply to that car.

For me, the primary reason I switch modes is to change the damping - with wife / baby in the car it's almost always in "comfort". Day to day driving is "auto" mode, and if I want to have some fun on a backroad it's "dynamic".

The second reason is to alter the gearbox mapping. Sometimes I might whack it in comfort to lighten up the steering and knock down the throttle response when parking, but rarely.

If I was looking at a manual car, I wouldn't miss ADS. I'd be far more concerned about the lack of sat nav - even if you don't actually use navigation that much, I'd hate to try and browse music with the MMI controls mounted vertically like that. When they're by the gear lever (ie in a Nav enabled car) they fall to the hand so easily.

Hope that helps :)
 
Thanks again guys. I read the links concerning VCDs & manually installing the button but I'm defo going to hold off & get one with the drive select. Ironically I've just seen another A4 avant 3.0 that has all the bells & whistles but no xenon drl (SE not S-line).
 
I can only speak for the S5. I have sports diff, adjustable dampers and dynamic steering, so of course I need ADS for those, however I can comment for what it just does to the engine/transmission.

For the engine it changes the throttle response in dynamic. Not only during my many test drives before I ordered my S5, but of course when I first got it, I clearly experienced the difference between putting the gearbox into S alone, and ADS dynamic which puts the 'box into S but also improves the throttle response. For my the difference is significant and that change in throttle response improves driveability in "fun" mode. I'd recommend any S4/5 owner to go for the VCDS mod to add it just for the throttle response. I don't know what it would be like on the 3.0 diesel but I could imagine that its worth it.

For the transmission ADS adds the E shift points. On the S5 the D points are already quite low and on a leisurely drive the 'box will quickly get to the high gears. In E the points are even lower and those high gears come sooner, turning the car into something which should be ashamed to have an S badge. But on an average drive would the car be any more economic in D6/D7 compared to E6/E7? I doubt it.
 
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Dippy said:
For the transmission ADS adds the E shift points. On the S5 the D points are already quite low and on a leisurely drive the 'box will quickly get to the high gears. In E the points are even lower and those high gears come sooner, turning the car into something which should be ashamed to have an S badge. But on an average drive would the car be any more economic in D6/D7 compared to E6/E7? I doubt it.
Click to expand...
I selected E once, just out of curiosity. Never again!
 
I have a mapped 3.0 TDI V6 Avant '09 - manual. Its has ADS and I use it all the time. :superman:
 
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I have a mapped 3.0TDI V6 With Factory fitted Drive Select... I use "Indivdual" mode all the time. (Suspension & Steering on 'Comfort' and Engine on 'Dynamic')

This really sharpens up the Throttle response and I have gotten so used to it to the point that the car feels sluggish and unresponsive if I ever forget to switch it to "Individual".

FYI, I coded Drive Select using VCDS to a friends A5 (just steering and engine control) - and setting it to "Dynamic" didn't give it the same sharp feel as it does on my OEM Audi Drive Select.

Possibly because his was Auto and a 2.7TDI but it didn't give it the same crisp feel that mine has when in Dynamic mode which was a bit disappointing.
 
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deanosabby said:
I didn't have it in my A4 2.0TFSI but enabled it via VCDS so I can change the settings via the MMI. I only added the engine/gearbox and steering settings of the ads as I don't have the adaptive suspension.
Click to expand...

What year is your car? I’ve got a 2010 2.0TFSI and have got carista but don’t see the option to enable ADS via MMI
 
My 2L A4 B8.5 doesn't have drive select, however having just driven a brand new 2L A5 S-Line, it seemed to make a night and day difference to the car. Switching between Eco, Comfort, Dynamic, you could really see and feel the differences. The most noticeable was how late or early the gear changes were but also the response of the accelerator and steering too.
 
777GE90 said:
My 2L A4 B8.5 doesn't have drive select, however having just driven a brand new 2L A5 S-Line, it seemed to make a night and day difference to the car. Switching between Eco, Comfort, Dynamic, you could really see and feel the differences. The most noticeable was how late or early the gear changes were but also the response of the accelerator and steering too.
Click to expand...
You should be able to activate it with the carista app.
 
777GE90 said:
My 2L A4 B8.5 doesn't have drive select, however having just driven a brand new 2L A5 S-Line, it seemed to make a night and day difference to the car. Switching between Eco, Comfort, Dynamic, you could really see and feel the differences. The most noticeable was how late or early the gear changes were but also the response of the accelerator and steering too.
Click to expand...
Can be enabled. However the coding for B8.5 is different then B8.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G925F met Tapatalk
 
RJ-8V said:
Can be enabled. However the coding for B8.5 is different then B8.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G925F met Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Well mine is an 8.5 and I enabled it with carista the other day.
 
ianv5 said:
Well mine is an 8.5 and I enabled it with carista the other day.
Click to expand...
And did you use the coding for PFL or FL? For FL you also need to code module 44 and a different byte in module 09. Otherwise steering won't have the real effect.

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RJ-8V said:
And did you use the coding for PFL or FL? For FL you also need to code module 44 and a different byte in module 09. Otherwise steering won't have the real effect.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G925F met Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Carista doesn’t require you to input codes. You just choose from menu options, the coding must already sit behind the menus.
 
I read somewhere that enabling ADS when it wasn't specified as a factory option is not the same but i guess it is better than nothing.
 
Flowrider99 said:
I read somewhere that enabling ADS when it wasn't specified as a factory option is not the same but i guess it is better than nothing.
Click to expand...

Ye that's what put me off, but enabling it will definitely make some difference as part of the mode selectors is just software.

I'm a programmer myself so will probably give a go making a Carista like app for myself, as I'd rather do that then pay for it :welcoming:. Just need to get my hands on some ECU emulators.
 
777GE90 said:
Ye that's what put me off, but enabling it will definitely make some difference as part of the mode selectors is just software.

I'm a programmer myself so will probably give a go making a Carista like app for myself, as I'd rather do that then pay for it :welcoming:. Just need to get my hands on some ECU emulators.
Click to expand...
Is it worth the time and effort? Carista is very cheap.
 
Flowrider99 said:
I read somewhere that enabling ADS when it wasn't specified as a factory option is not the same but i guess it is better than nothing.
Click to expand...
The only difference is that you don't have the button (and not able to choose "efficiency mode with 3g basic). The rest is exactly the same.

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RJ-8V said:
What do you mean with no no and no?

Saying thats not true what i said? :)

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Click to expand...
No, you are taking this thread to seriously, I don't care if my steering isn't dynamic etc.. Like most of the posts on this thread they just like having the options even if they don't all work.. I am not a techie expert, I just like doing stuff to my car.
 
ianv5 said:
No, you are taking this thread to seriously, I don't care if my steering isn't dynamic etc.. Like most of the posts on this thread they just like having the options even if they don't all work.. I am not a techie expert, I just like doing stuff to my car.
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Whats the point of having the options if they don't work? If you want that then i can code most of the options for you without working... :)

Im a software specialist/engineer for VAG. I'm just trying to help to get the functions WORKING.......because it is possible and it really adds something to the driving experience.

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RJ-8V said:
The only difference is that you don't have the button (and not able to choose "efficiency mode with 3g basic). The rest is exactly the same.
Click to expand...

I'm sure you are right - there is really no reason why the SW would be different. A while back I saw a post where someone managed to buy a button and successfully install it, and the part wasn't that expensive. (But please don't ask me to try to remember where I saw it let alone provide a link.) And as for efficiency mode - I used it once or twice... :(
 
Dippy said:
I'm sure you are right - there is really no reason why the SW would be different. A while back I saw a post where someone managed to buy a button and successfully install it, and the part wasn't that expensive. (But please don't ask me to try to remember where I saw it let alone provide a link.) And as for efficiency mode - I used it once or twice... :(
Click to expand...
Installing the button is really easy. And indeed there is no reason to be different.

The only substantial difference in software is coding between PFL and FL.

In the Netherlands we retrofit almost everything whats possible haha.

On my 8V FL i even retrofitted the original auxilairy heating, autohold, side assist, rvc, rear cross traffic, anti-dazzle wing mirrors (both sides).

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G925F met Tapatalk
 
Dippy said:
I'm sure you are right - there is really no reason why the SW would be different. A while back I saw a post where someone managed to buy a button and successfully install it, and the part wasn't that expensive. (But please don't ask me to try to remember where I saw it let alone provide a link.) And as for efficiency mode - I used it once or twice... :(
Click to expand...
2H1 ADS Retrofit Facelift
 
Has anyone with a B8.5 used Carista to enable Drive Select and noticed a difference in throttle response and/or steering?

I have enabled it (steering and engine options only) and can choose between auto, comfort and dynamic via the MMI. But there is no difference at all between the modes.

On my Giulietta, it was like night and day. It was like a scalded cat in Dynamic mode.

Thanks.
 
johnnygal said:
Has anyone with a B8.5 used Carista to enable Drive Select and noticed a difference in throttle response and/or steering?

I have enabled it (steering and engine options only) and can choose between auto, comfort and dynamic via the MMI. But there is no difference at all between the modes.

On my Giulietta, it was like night and day. It was like a scalded cat in Dynamic mode.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
And that's the reason why i hate apps like Carista. Its probably not correctly coded.

You should notice the different modes.

Find someone with vcds. I can code it for you with teamviewer.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G925F met Tapatalk
 
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