2014 S3, MMI, Nav Plus, Map /MMI updates help ?

roydonaldson

roydonaldson

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Hi there,

Just picked up a pre-facelift 2014 8V S3. Lovely car and very happy with it.

The car has the MMI, with Nav Plus, but no SIM slot, so no Audi Connect in it. The previous owner had purchased the Tech Pack and so, there were 6 free map updates with the car. I logged into the MyAudi website and managed to find these and download to SD card and apply the 2016/2017 GB latest map that was available there.

Now, cutting a long story short of the dealer not knowing, Audi not knowing. Would anyone be able to help me with how I go about getting the MMI and/or the Maps updated ? There have been a ton of new roads and junctions built where I stay besides the M8/M74/M73 outside Glasgow and it would be handy to get this updated, but dealer seemed to say I needed to buy a SD card and they had to install it, which is clearly not the case as I downloaded the previous one myself etc. etc.

MMI is running: MHIG_EU_AU_P1048

Thanks for any advice,
Roy.
 
Congrats on the purchase

Have a look at post#47 in the FAQ sticky near the top of this page - that will give you all the info you need. I can’t link to it just now as am on Tapatalk.

John.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Regarding maps, I believe the 6 free updates would only take you to 2017, so after that you have to buy new ones, as the dealer told you. Ridiculously expensive at around £250.
 
I haven't seen any map updates on a card once you've gone over the 6 times for the mmi plus other than cards for the sd based sat nav. Surely they're not the same ones?
 
I was lead to belive that you could buy the maps online after your free updates if you have the option to in the myaudi section online. If you have the SD card system then go to Audi, pay 250pounds. Only way. I thought the online version was a bit lower at around 200. might be wrong though.
 
Yeah, that's the thing, dealer says doesn't have all new roads in it, dealer tech says oh, i'd not touch it if it's working. Audi don't know and refer me back to same dealer.

I'd assumed, perhaps naively, that I'd just pay online and download just like the 6 free ones.
 
I have seen those on Ebay but not sure if they can be used in the mmi plus version. Would need to see the file and directory structure to establish if they contain an update or just the maps.
Within the description they state requires activation which suggests they are for sd based systems.
 
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if it’s the same as the a6 with tech pack/connect then as far as I know after your 6 free updates it’s dealer only updates on a sdcard. I looked into this with my a6 as the new Forth crossing wasn’t on the latest map I could download from my Audi.
After contacting Audi UK and dealers they said it’s an sdcard update they can do on cars with tech pack. It was more than £250 think it was £400 I was quoted. Something like 2 hour labour on top of part. It will be the same maps as sdcard based nav. A road is a road.
Sold the car in the end and didn’t go through with it.
It’s another half as5 idea from Audi. Let’s sell the tech pack so they get free maps for 3 years online but they didn’t think about what happens after 3 years. All they think about is the folk who buy cars for 3 years and get a new one after.
It’s the same problem with online traffic license. Runs out at 3 years but no easy way to pay for extra. Need to have a moan at Audi and they click a button somewhere and you get another year online traffic.
 
I don't mind paying, in fact I'd be quite happy to give them £1-200 range for an additional 3 year subscription. I don't want to pay a dealer X hours of labour to download something onto an SD card, that's just nuts.
 
roydonaldson said:
I don't mind paying, in fact I'd be quite happy to give them £1-200 range for an additional 3 year subscription. I don't want to pay a dealer X hours of labour to download something onto an SD card, that's just nuts.
Click to expand...

£1-200 wont get you even 1 year map updates.
 
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I would want to see the file structure on the sd card based update first. I do not trust it would be the same as one is an update and the other contains the actual maps.

If anyone has sd based mmi perhaps they could take a look at the card and what the card contains. I may well am being pedantic but I haven't yet experienced anyone updating the maps of the mmi plus system using a purchased sd card.
The costs quoted here seem wrong and are including activation which I am not sure is necessary unless they need to be locked to the car's VIN number. I don't see why this should be so once having purchased the card in the first place.
But then it might be me just being stupid...
 
I was told the dealer did the updates using a sdcard and I’m assuming it will require some form of activation. They did say I didn’t get to keep the card.
 
Annotation 2019 05 30 194816
 
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I will have to download the map update again to check but from memory the update has two folders and two files...
 
So, my car was activated and running with 2014 maps. I then simply put those files above from an SD card into the car and selected upgrade and it loaded them all in and they ran.

Is there more to it that that ?

What's then to stop me simply putting the 2019 version of those files on a SD card in the car ? or, am I missing something ?
 
Have you a sd card based system of a mmi high pack? If it is sd card based then the card stays in the mmi unit and locked to it by the activation process, so no one else can also used the card in their vehicle.
Thus you will need too go through process of buying the card, not cheap ones from fleabay either, then have it activated....
 
I have the Nav Plus, mmi high system with a HDD. It has 2 SD slots, but both are empty while sat Nav works.

It seems to only need the SD card to cut a new map onto it's hdd
 
Then just download the maps from myaudi, or update through the mmi itself. Instructions for the download method:
1) Get a 32 Gig SD memory card.
2) Go to My Audi site, https://www.myaudi.com Log in.
3) Click on the “Show Vehicle Details” then "Features" and then scroll down to Map update.
4) You can choose “Complete package” or “Individual country.” Your choice. I chose complete package.
5) Put you SD card in your computer. Alternately, you can load the map files to your hard drive. Click on “prepare package” at the bottom.
6) This will download a file called “downloader” with a bunch of numbers after the word.
7) You need the latest version of Java. It will prompt you if needed.
8) On the Mac, I needed to go into my security settings to allow the downloader file to open.
9) It will open with a Java screen, followed by a Download client window that says “my Audi.” It asks you to choose a folder location for the files. Pick a location on your hard drive or SD card and click to go.
10) The download starts and is tracked in the Download client window. The size of the files is 10.6 gig or more. It took about 2 hours to download on my computer.
12) Once the files are downloaded, transfer them to your SD card if you didn’t load them direct. There will be two files “0231001C.md5”, “metainfo2.txt” and two folders “Mib1” and Mib2”. All are needed.
13) Go to your car. You can do this while you are driving or stationary but the car must be on (not necessarily running but on). I did it in my garage.
14) Stick the SD card into the SD1 slot in your glove box.
15) In your MMI, go to Main menu>>Settings. Push the MMI scroll wheel to the left, it brings up a menu that says “MMI setup” and “System update.” Pick “System update.”
16) Pick SD1 (i.e. where you put your SD card) and press the MMI button to select.
17) The nav update will start and inform you of progress on the MMI screen. My update took about 20 minutes to load in my car.
 
Then it seems all your allocated number of updates must have been reached somehow...
 
Ok, so using the Audi VIN tool, it offers me 2 updates for my car. The first seems to be a purchase of updates up to a set period and the second seems to be a one-off purchase.

Navigation update

up to version 2020/2021 for Europe (MIB-H) Euro 259

Article no.:
8V0060885CB

Navigation update

version 2019 for Europe (MIB-H) Euro 199

Article no.:
8V0060884CB

*MSRP=manufacturer’s suggested retail price incl. VAT. Prices from the partner can vary.

Speaking to the dealer however, they say that the first one is not available in the UK. The second one will shortly be replaced in the next couple of months with a 2019/2020 version. And, even better, the second one will cost me £ 291, including labour ???

So, for the first 5 updates I can download it from a website and plug a SD card in to the car myself, after that, they need to sell me an hours labour to do something to get it onto the car ??

Roy.

AudiSatNav Update
 
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roydonaldson said:
So, for the first 5 updates I can download it from a website and plug a SD card in to the car myself, after that, they need to sell me an hours labour to do something to get it onto the car ??

Roy.
Click to expand...

Yes! it is the same for all of us! everyone has 5 free updates and then we have to buy the maps.
 
audi upgrades
I don't mind buying the maps, as £230 for 3 updates or £175 for a one off seems fine. What I don't understand is why the next 3 update version is not available and why I need to pay an hours labour at £120 quid to install a SD card in my car ?
 
I'm confused now, are you saying that if you buy the SD card and have it activated, you get the latest map and then five free updates within that price? I know how it works when the car is new without the sd card (connect etc) but yours is 2014 or is this because you did not claim the updates from new?

I will reconsider my update on my 2015 8v with purchased sd if it is also going to give free updates after buying the latest sd map and have to say that this would probably sell far more of the sd updates if it is correct but I doubt it somehow!
 
When you buy the car with tech pack, you get the next 5 (6 monthly) map updates made available to you to download on to SD card and then insert into your car to update it. You can only download the latest one from the website.

After that, there seem to be 2 options on the website, 259euro, next 3 updates, 199euros, single update (currently 2019). However, supposedly first option is not available in the UK and the second one attracts an hours labour charges to install it for you.
 
Or you can update through the mmi menu itself for the first free ones...
 
roydonaldson said:
When you buy the car with tech pack, you get the next 5 (6 monthly) map updates made available to you to download on to SD card and then insert into your car to update it. You can only download the latest one from the website.

After that, there seem to be 2 options on the website, 259euro, next 3 updates, 199euros, single update (currently 2019). However, supposedly first option is not available in the UK and the second one attracts an hours labour charges to install it for you.
Click to expand...


OK, thanks for that,this will allow you to then update using your own SD card via download if unable to do so via connect, unless, what Audi fit to your car allows you to then update over connect?
You would think that they would have the extension option available in the UK to save the journey, but then they would miss out on the hours labour!!

I already have the activated map and SD card slot but I thought Audi had finally realised that a new SD map for £200 with future updates would be a good seller.
 
That's kind of where I'm getting to. Paying them £300 for a single update that I know can be done by just putting a SD Card in the car seems like a complete rip off. Giving them £200 for the next 3 updates that I then just download and install myself, I'd buy it now.
 
Audi UK in their great wisdom and
traindweller said:
OK, thanks for that,this will allow you to then update using your own SD card via download if unable to do so via connect, unless, what Audi fit to your car allows you to then update over connect?
You would think that they would have the extension option available in the UK to save the journey, but then they would miss out on the hours labour!!

I already have the activated map and SD card slot but I thought Audi had finally realised that a new SD map for £200 with future updates would be a good seller.
Click to expand...

I think unlike some other countries the uk likes shiny new things and the whole keeping up with the jones things. Audi uk knows this so all finance and lease deals are 3-4 years. They really don’t care about these cars after that time as there’s no money in it. That’s why they didn’t think about folk who buys these cars after 3-4 years looking for updates and stuff.
 
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Send unit to someone who can hack it and you will get updates for free forever. Hacking cost around £150.
 
I definately think they are missing a real trick here. The Audi tech's opinion was, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. However, with all the software and firmware in their cars now, they could easily update and install to the vehicle and give me the latest, Audi 2019, experience. Now, imagine what I think of Audi and their cars now. Great car, fabulous new interface, all the latest maps, definately must make sure I go in to the Audi dealer to look at their new ones when I'm going to chance this.
 
AlS3BE said:
Audi UK in their great wisdom and


I think unlike some other countries the uk likes shiny new things and the whole keeping up with the jones things. Audi uk knows this so all finance and lease deals are 3-4 years. They really don’t care about these cars after that time as there’s no money in it. That’s why they didn’t think about folk who buys these cars after 3-4 years looking for updates and stuff.
Click to expand...

Does seem that way but didn't I read somewhere that they make more money on the servicing than car sales etc. If that is true then they need to look at the opportunities they are missing, as Roy outlines above.
Having said that,they are masters at trying to lock you in, whether sat nav updates, on line records, slowly locking the VCDS tweaks such rear sensor graphics and so on . I am pretty sure it wont be long before all coding will be impossible unless factory or Audi after sale code activated.
 
roydonaldson said:
I definately think they are missing a real trick here. The Audi tech's opinion was, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. However, with all the software and firmware in their cars now, they could easily update and install to the vehicle and give me the latest, Audi 2019, experience. Now, imagine what I think of Audi and their cars now. Great car, fabulous new interface, all the latest maps, definately must make sure I go in to the Audi dealer to look at their new ones when I'm going to chance this.
Click to expand...

This is getting there but slowly. Take a look at Tesla and how all tech is installed but not activated. The base level Model 3 has all installed but features blanked off that can be added at a later date for an extra fee. The problem we have with your car is that it is 5yrs old and unfortunately main stream car manufacturers technology is moving at a rapid pace. The A3 virtual cockpit is now outdated which means no google maps overlay soon. It’s tech. It moves on! Tesla have done a revolutionary thing by making parts of tech future proof but it will still catch up with them and be outdated at some point. Cars are now disposable items hence PCP deals etc....

Anyway, I think you are more likely to pay £250 for the SD card and activation. That’s what I got quoted a few yrs ago in the UK.
 
traindweller said:
Does seem that way but didn't I read somewhere that they make more money on the servicing than car sales etc. If that is true then they need to look at the opportunities they are missing, as Roy outlines above.
Click to expand...

The franchise dealership makes more money on servicing than probably selling. They have a massive mark up on the parts and labour.
Audi UK are the importers of the cars. They only make money on selling new cars everything after that is just costs. So once it’s out the door they try not to care or at least that’s how it seems.
 
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