2018 MMI data sim for Google maps?

[danbt]

Hey all

Wife and I have just put a deposit down on a 2018 A5 sportback which has the virtual cockpit.

We've only just realised that the Google maps interface with this will stop functioning once the Audi connect subscription runs out...

We don't really want to have to pay for an ongoing subscription but want to make the most of the virtual cockpit with Google maps if possible.

I've read that you can insert a data only SIM that should re enable the Google maps and traffic updates etc in the car.

Is this true? I just want to be sure it would work with this car. And if so, where have you guys got your SIM cards from?

Cheers

 

[HMG1K]

Look online for SIM only deals via Mobiles Co.uk part of Dixons Carphone. Although I haven't done it for my last 2018 A5 I do for my handset and cheaper than going direct to the networks.

Personally, depending how much you are paying for your A5 see if you can wait and get into a nearly new face-lift. Big big discounts to be had with dealers wishing to sell stock already registered. Faster screen better mapping that the non face-lift and also don't bank on simply using a SIM to access the data. It depends on Audi also supporting the (what is now since the face-lift came out in April this year) 5+the last generation MMI

 

[danbt]

Thanks for the answer

What do you mean the facelift model?

Is the 2018 not facelift model?

We're looking to pay 20,000 for an A5 s line, 1.4 petrol with 26000 miles on from an Audi dealership

Would you walk away from this deal?

Thanks

 

[Buck]

The issue with Google maps is that the B9 models will not be able to support this as the hardware requirements are changing and from January will no longer be compatible.

It’s not a deal breaker IMO as the standard mapping is OK and you can get google maps via Apple CarPlay or Android so there are ways around.
Are you UK based as if so, contact Audi customer services to get the connectivity extended - it gives much more than just google maps.

 

[S32B]

We're looking to pay 20,000 for an A5 s line, 1.4 petrol with 26000 miles on from an Audi dealership

Would you walk away from this deal?

Thanks

Hi and welcome to the forums, what gearbox have you gone for? also what model s-line, sport? did you try the 1.4 and the 2.0? For the car the s-tronic suits it much better, I did a test drive in a manual before I bought mine, it just felt like hard work. I haven't tried the 1.4, but it's a big car!!!

Picking up on what HMG1K said, depending how you are paying for your car and how long you intend to keep it, it may be worth looking at a big discounted new one via a pcp deal...then buy that if you want to keep it long term.

I've just bought my 67 plate 2.0 s-tronic s-line coupe at the end of a 36 month pcp deal for £19k, which is less than what I've been getting offered just for selling it to a dealership! It's only got 9,000 mile on the clock. Don't be pulled in by the "We will put a warranty on it". You can buy a warranty direct from Audi in months 36/37 at the end of the factory warranty, it's just cost me £297 for all components cover.

 

[danbt]

Its the 1.4 tfsi petrol.

I thought it moved pretty well considering, I wouldn't say it was "fast".

But it's a car for my wife and she's definitely not a petrol head.

We've just pulled out of the deal on the basis that the mileage of the car seems high compared to other cars of similar age and we also found out the virtual cockpit is essentially useless as we want to use android auto and carplay. So paying a slight premium to have it isn't worth it to us.

We're hoping that as people receive their new cars in the new year now the Audi factories are back up and running, then hopefully there should be a bit of an influx of good approved used cars.

Our budget won't really stretch to nearly new and my wife is quite finance averse. So we need to buy something as close to £20k cash as possible.

 

[S32B]

Its the 1.4 tfsi petrol.

I thought it moved pretty well considering, I wouldn't say it was "fast".

But it's a car for my wife and she's definitely not a petrol head.

We've just pulled out of the deal on the basis that the mileage of the car seems high compared to other cars of similar age and we also found out the virtual cockpit is essentially useless as we want to use android auto and carplay. So paying a slight premium to have it isn't worth it to us.

We're hoping that as people receive their new cars in the new year now the Audi factories are back up and running, then hopefully there should be a bit of an influx of good approved used cars.

Our budget won't really stretch to nearly new and my wife is quite finance averse. So we need to buy something as close to £20k cash as possible.

Manual or s-tronic?

Check out motorpoint, they tend to buy a lot of A5's!

 

[danbt]

It was the s tronic. Shifting was nice to be honest.

Happy with the way the car drove but it's the whole infotainment system that drove us away.

Paying extra for virtual cockpit when it's essentially useless isn't great.

Do you guys recommend buying from non Audi dealership like motorpoint?

 

[S32B]

It was the s tronic. Shifting was nice to be honest.

Happy with the way the car drove but it's the whole infotainment system that drove us away.

Paying extra for virtual cockpit when it's essentially useless isn't great.

Do you guys recommend buying from non Audi dealership like motorpoint?

S-tronic is nice mate, you'll not look back! I was a die hard manual fan when I had my S3....but I'll always have s-tronic now

Personally I wouldn't say I recommend buying from an non Audi dealership, but it wouldn't put me off if I saw the right car at the right price. If it's under 3 years old and has been serviced on time either by Audi or a specialist using genuine Audi parts, then the warranty is still in place. Once bought you can take it to an Audi specialists and get them to check everything over anyway for piece of mind!

The other thing I'd suggest for the sake of £10 is this, think a member on this forum set it up?!?!
https://www.vcheck.uk/?fbclid=IwAR11hxXQRH3NIN2Eh-pOtwZ6LlMi00Ftt8gzOBDqZPGWuJRyHzdsDvRIgZQ

Look at some of the things it finds, from big name dealers as well!!! https://www.facebook.com/vcheck.uk

One example from a main dealership!!!

 

[HMG1K]

No, the one you are looking at is the old model.

The B9 is the one you are looking at. It was introduced in 2017 to 2019.

The newer B9.5 was announced in at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2019 with deliveries from April 2020. But coronavirus and factory shut downs meant April deliveries didn't arrive at UK dealers until August of this year, which is when I took delivery of a 35 TDI S-Line Sportback.

Personally, aside from the new face-lift car cosmetically looking sharper that the pervious, there are other upsides to the new model.

I had a 2018 A5 Sportback 40TFSI S-Line manual and loved it. I replaced it with a 2020 A5 Sportback 35TDI S-Line and it is far superior. The 163PS engine is as responsive as my old 190PS - simply the torque is in the mid range than the bottom. No big deal but as responsive and gas the pull of the 190PS.

The equipment on the 2020 S-Line compared to the 2018 S-Line is superior. You get circa £4k of additional kit for the same price. Matrix Led, S5 last gen alloys, bigger screen, bigger virtual cockpit screen

 

[HMG1K]

To add to S32B even brand new lease.

I picked up my 2020 A5 Sportback S-Line 35 TDI (face-lift) brand new as a factory on a 23+3 lease for £292 per month, cheaper than my old A5 Sportback S-Line 40 TFSI of 2018 which was £304 per month on the same terms. Both cars financed by VWFS.

Personally, avoid the PCP route. It is for some it is for others. Like lease. But when I PCP'd my Jaguar from new in hindsight it was not a good deal. But I made a few thousand when I bought it, ran it for six months and flipped it for a profit.

Remember, you can make the monthlies as cheap as you want but you throw and lose a massive deposit

 

[S32B]

To add to S32B even brand new lease.

I picked up my 2020 A5 Sportback S-Line 35 TDI (face-lift) brand new as a factory on a 23+3 lease for £292 per month, cheaper than my old A5 Sportback S-Line 40 TFSI of 2018 which was £304 per month on the same terms. Both cars financed by VWFS.

Personally, avoid the PCP route. It is for some it is for others. Like lease. But when I PCP'd my Jaguar from new in hindsight it was not a good deal. But I made a few thousand when I bought it, ran it for six months and flipped it for a profit.

Remember, you can make the monthlies as cheap as you want but you throw and lose a massive deposit

Yeah exactly, all depends on the figures at the time, if I'd bought my A5 new other than pcp they weren't knocking a lot off, as I did it pcp they knocked 21.4% off with all the contributions etc. My mate saw a deal the other week, he was going to pay cash but then saw pcp was an extra £1,500 off, so he's doing that and then settling the finance a month or two later.

PS: Good deal on your lease I was looking at lease but due to c-19 I couldn't be guaranteed a car when I needed it

 

[HMG1K]

Yeah exactly, all depends on the figures at the time, if I'd bought my A5 new other than pcp they weren't knocking a lot off, as I did it pcp they knocked 21.4% off with all the contributions etc. My mate saw a deal the other week, he was going to pay cash but then saw pcp was an extra £1,500 off, so he's doing that and then settling the finance a month or two later.

PS: Good deal on your lease I was looking at lease but due to c-19 I couldn't be guaranteed a car when I needed it

Yep! Your mate is spot on, take the contribution and pay it off after the 90 days!

There were lease deals for a time on the A5. I struck lucky as was resigned to moving from an A5 to an A4 Avant S-Line for £258 on the 3+23. Managed to bail on it and am so happy! When I got the paper work for this A5, after discounts and freebie money off, it was booked for £27k factory fresh, list of £42k - which is around the same % you got, goes to show if they wanna flog a car they will! Great going on yours!

 

[S32B]

Yep! Your mate is spot on, take the contribution and pay it off after the 90 days!

There were lease deals for a time on the A5. I struck lucky as was resigned to moving from an A5 to an A4 Avant S-Line for £258 on the 3+23. Managed to bail on it and am so happy! When I got the paper work for this A5, after discounts and freebie money off, it was booked for £27k factory fresh, list of £42k - which is around the same % you got, goes to show if they wanna flog a car they will! Great going on yours!

Who did you use again? I'm happy with mine, nothing out atm that I'd rather have...see what next year brings...what ever I'll get next will be a keeper for 5 years. This will be a good car for the next owner.

 

[HMG1K]

S32B - I went via Huddersfield Audi direct via a fluke! No one was offering deals on A5s April when I was looking to replace my 2018 A5 due for return via VWFS in August. So I went with an A4 Avant S-Line. I wanted to stick with an A5 but going from £304 on a 3+23 to circa £475 a month I couldn't do it.

I filled out a form for a quote on What Car in July. Came back with £317. I managed to get it for £292 for a Sportback S-Line with metallic paint! There were around 20 cars built and due on these shores but held up in Germany when the factory and ports shut because of Covid. I got the VWFS loyalty deal as this was to be funded by VWFS as the last A5. Should have been circa £375 on a non loyalty deal.