8L MFSW Conversion

[warren9022]

If anyone is interested in fitting a MFSW to their S3 8L I have written a guide on how I did mine using a 2015 A5 wheel with an 8V airbag. PDF attached.

If anyone spots any mistakes please let me know and I will amend.

First guide I've ever written so take it easy on me .

Shout out to @syncro for all his help, I wouldn't have had a clue without him.

EDIT 2025-10-05
I have removed the link to the PDF as it no longer works and attached the PDF to this post instead

<tuffty/>

 

[S3AMJ]

If anyone is interested in fitting a MFSW to their S3 8L I have written a guide on how I did mine using a 2015 A5 wheel with an 8V airbag. Link below for PDF.

If anyone spots any mistakes please let me know and I will amend.

First guide I've ever written so take it easy on me .

Shout out to @syncro for all his help, I wouldn't have had a clue without him.

Warren your a star! Been waiting for this with great anticipation


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[Ashy>>]

One of the best guides ive read.

Will be getting bits together and attempting this in the near future.

Thanks

 

[tcg]

TOP JOB MATE

 

[<tuffty/>]

Other than referencing scotch locks nice work

Its about time this info came to light tbh...

Seems I have just ordered myself a steering control module for £25

<tuffty/>

 

[warren9022]

One of the best guides ive read.

Will be getting bits together and attempting this in the near future.

Thanks

TOP JOB MATE

Thanks Guys

 

[Dohcwp]

my steering has been gathering dust for months now as i havent made much effort to source an airbag. Maybe this will be a motivator for me again.

 

[warren9022]

Other than referencing scotch locks nice work

Its about time this info came to light tbh...

Seems I have just ordered myself a steering control module for £25

<tuffty/>

I hate the things too but they are every bodger's wet dream.....

Glad you found the info useful

 

[warren9022]

my steering has been gathering dust for months now as i havent made much effort to source an airbag. Maybe this will be a motivator for me again.

Do it mate, it's very simple really if you're quite good with the DIY. I got a brand spanking new genuine airbag off ebay for £120. The whole job including buying a round wheel and having it flattened and retrimmed cost me £500 and I got £150 for my old wheel so didn't work out expensive to do.

 

[Tj 0785]

Do it mate, it's very simple really if you're quite good with the DIY. I got a brand spanking new genuine airbag off ebay for £120. The whole job including buying a round wheel and having it flattened and retrimmed cost me £500 and I got £150 for my old wheel so didn't work out expensive to do.

Got all the bits sorted for this now all in the boot waiting to be done only issues I’ve got is cars been stood that long I’ve forgotten the code for the rnse so need to send it off

 

[warren9022]

Got all the bits sorted for this now all in the boot waiting to be done only issues I’ve got is I’ve forgotten the code for the rnse so need to sent off

That's a bummer mate, if you were handy with wiring diagrams (which I am most definately not!!) I'm sure you could do it without removing the RNSE but using the RNSE harness is definately the easiest/most simple way of doing it.

 

[Tj 0785]

That's a bummer mate, if you were handy with wiring diagrams (which I am most definately not!!) I'm sure you could do it without removing the RNSE but using the RNSE harness is definately the easiest/most simple way of doing it.

It has to come out any way to get it decoded the cheap eBay unlocking won’t work because I changed it from the original code like a bell end

 

[S3AMJ]

Just had a really good read through, great work Warren. Well documented and easy to follow. @Tuffty can we get this put into the stickies?


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[<tuffty/>]

...I may have also bought a wheel!!

...and I have added this thread to the stickies (just in case somebody reads them )

<tuffty/>

 

[<tuffty/>]

Was there a part number available for the airbag you used?

<tuffty/>

 

[warren9022]

...I may have also bought a wheel!!<tuffty/>

That didn't take you long!!

...and I have added this thread to the stickies (just in case somebody reads them )<tuffty/>

Yay!! I'm in the stickies!! (my version of the hall of fame )

Was there a part number available for the airbag you used?

<tuffty/>

This is the airbag I bought, send the seller a message asking what his best price is and he will probably knock it down for you (he did for me):

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ORIGINAL...h=item26068c2da1:g:io4AAOSwVqlaI~o5:rk:4:pf:0

 

[Dohcwp]

Was there a part number available for the airbag you used?

<tuffty/>

im sure the one you will need is the same one i require and the airbag part number is 8v0880201

a Q3 airbag is also compatible afaik

i will be using a lin 2.0 controller however as i dont need to switch the buttons, cause im using a windows based headunit and not an RNSE

 

[<tuffty/>]

This is the wheel I bought... hopefully its the right one lol

Not overly fussed about it being flat bottomed tbh as I am a slide the wheel through the hands kinda guy... looks in decent condition...

Paid £25 delivered for the module..

Just need to get the airbag and wiring bits lol

...such a bad influence this forum!

<tuffty/>

 

[Dohcwp]

This is the wheel I bought... hopefully its the right one lol

View attachment 167934 View attachment 167935

Not overly fussed about it being flat bottomed tbh as I am a slide the wheel through the hands kinda guy... looks in decent condition...

Paid £25 delivered for the module..
View attachment 167940

Just need to get the airbag and wiring bits lol

...such a bad influence this forum!

<tuffty/>

that wheel looks 100% correct

 

[warren9022]

This is the wheel I bought... hopefully its the right one lol

Certainly looks like the right one

Not overly fussed about it being flat bottomed tbh as I am a slide the wheel through the hands kinda guy... looks in decent condition...

Mine started off life as a round wheel, it cost me £180 to have it flattened, thickened and re-trimmed (so it ended up as basically a brand new steering wheel). The guy sends you one he has already done, charges a 100 Euro deposit until you send him yours back for him to recycle. Let me know if you're not happy with the wheel when it arrives and I'll give you his details.

...such a bad influence this forum!

Now you know how we all feel every time you post something up......

 

[<tuffty/>]

This is the airbag I bought, send the seller a message asking what his best price is and he will probably knock it down for you (he did for me):

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ORIGINAL...h=item26068c2da1:g:io4AAOSwVqlaI~o5:rk:4:pf:0

What was the finished colour of the airbag cover?... fairly sure they do a black and a grey finish... not sure what the std finish of the wheel I bought is...

<tuffty/>

 

[<tuffty/>]

Now you know how we all feel every time you post something up......

Thats a fair point well made... pity not everyone reads it and then asks the same questions over and over again huh lol

<tuffty/>

 

[warren9022]

What was the finished colour of the airbag cover?... fairly sure they do a black and a grey finish... not sure what the std finish of the wheel I bought is...

<tuffty/>

Mine was black (although I didn’t know they did different colours to be honest)

 

[S3AMJ]

I’ve joined the band wagon now, was going to wait until I had finished the car performance wise. But now with the parts lists and everything written before us! I’ve delved into my pockets, like PT said, bad influence haha.... I’ve also gone for a round steering wheel, can always get it flattened at a later date if want

Only thing I’ve had to source elsewhere is the 2x sockets I’ll have to order from Audi/TPS.

All for a bargain £245

Thanks again warren and sycro too.


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[<tuffty/>]

...and need to find the S3 equivalent badge to replace the S Line one

<tuffty/>

 

[S3AMJ]

...and need to find the S3 equivalent badge to replace the S Line one

<tuffty/>

Would you have to replace the whole section? Or just the inner part of the badge me wonders....


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[warren9022]

...and need to find the S3 equivalent badge to replace the S Line one

<tuffty/>

Let me know if you find one, I searched everywhere and couldn't find one....

 

[warren9022]

Would you have to replace the whole section? Or just the inner part of the badge me wonders...

The badge is just held on to the black 'background' with clips.

 

[S3AMJ]

The badge is just held on to the black 'background' with clips.

I’m guessing the original s3 badge on the old steering wheels wouldn’t fit them with some manipulation? Is it a different size entirely?


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[warren9022]

I’m guessing the original s3 badge on the old steering wheels wouldn’t fit them with some manipulation? Is it a different size entirely?


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Yeah unfortunately couldn't be any more different!!

 

[Dohcwp]

...and need to find the S3 equivalent badge to replace the S Line one

<tuffty/>

if you were in SA i would have swopped with you as im looking for the sline badge, i did buy one but it looks like its for an 8p wheel so its slightly smaller

 

[<tuffty/>]

There must be a way of recoding the steering modules incase you come across one that isn't... appreciate its not going to be easy on the 8L due to comms but pretty sure it can be done...

Will look into it... especially if my module turns out not to be coded already lol...

<tuffty/>

 

[S3AMJ]

Spent a good hour looking for alternative badges, yes I’m sad like that. your right warren.... tricky. There’s lots of “Stickers” which look knafff. I’m looking into the sizes of the S3 8V badge from the flat bottom steering wheel. Granted the gloss black part is smaller.... but maybe the inner badge is the same size. Failing that, if I decide to flatten the bottom of mine. I could specify to get the 8V S3 badge and surround to fit instead.


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[warren9022]

Spent a good hour looking for alternative badges, yes I’m sad like that. your right warren.... tricky. There’s lots of “Stickers” which look knafff. I’m looking into the sizes of the S3 8V badge from the flat bottom steering wheel. Granted the gloss black part is smaller.... but maybe the inner badge is the same size. Failing that, if I decide to flatten the bottom of mine. I could specify to get the 8V S3 badge and surround to fit instead.


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Unfortunately the whole button assembly is in one piece so using a different surround wouldn’t be possible, you’d have to find a badge to fit the one that you’ve got

 

[warren9022]

There must be a way of recoding the steering modules incase you come across one that isn't... appreciate its not going to be easy on the 8L due to comms but pretty sure it can be done...

Will look into it... especially if my module turns out not to be coded already lol...

<tuffty/>

If anyone can do it @<tuffty/> it's going to be you!!

I just presumed it would need a K-line input to be able to re-code it on the 8L.

 

[S3AMJ]

Unfortunately the whole button assembly is in one piece so using a different surround wouldn’t be possible, you’d have to find a badge to fit the one that you’ve gotView attachment 167943

Ahhh I see, sorry when I meant surround. I meant the lower badge. As in the badge is pressed into its surround. Not the whole thing around the steering wheel. Or is that not the case and you do in fact have to change the whole surround to replace the badge?!

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[warren9022]

Ahhh I see, sorry when I meant surround. I meant the lower badge. As in the badge is pressed into its surround. Not the whole thing around the steering wheel. Or is that not the case and you do in fact have to change the whole surround to replace the badge?!

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Sorry, crossed wires!! You have the one piece surround that holds the buttons and the bottom part where the badge is, the part where the badge is then clips into this and the badge clips into that (if that makes sense!!).

So yeah if you can find a badge the right size to fit the existing hole where your badge is now (or will be when it arrives) they are interchangeable.

 

[S3AMJ]

Got all the bits sorted for this now all in the boot waiting to be done only issues I’ve got is cars been stood that long I’ve forgotten the code for the rnse so need to send it off

TJ, I swear I saw somewhere when I was coding my RNS-E in the adaptions for it in radio/navigation was where the code for unlocking it was..... you can even possibly change it. This is completely from memory and flirting through on VCDS a month ago. Have a look before you go sending it off.


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[S3AMJ]

Without getting proper dimensions I can’t judge this correctly, but it looks to me like it’d fit.... same way clipping into the badge surround.

The badge surround is obviously smaller on the flat bottom steering wheel, however the badge looks like it’s the same size to me.

Dimensions for this badge is -
10mm H x 31mm W

Warren could you confirm if this is the same size as the S Line badge please?


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[warren9022]

@S3AMJ As far as I can tell (awkward spot to measure with a solid tape measure!!) it is indeed 10mm x 31mm. Where's that one from mate? Is it the one on ebay for £45?

I'll get the vernier gauge on it when I get home to confirm.