Audi A6 2016 RMC Upgrade Options

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Stuart Paterson

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I have just purchased a 2016 Audi A6 S-Line Quattro. I love a lot about the car, and it’s a great drive! I’m just getting to know it inside out but the one thing I am not loving is the Sat Nav and Media options. I have looked up the software and it’s the RMC version with a 6.5” screen.
My question is what options do I have for an upgrade.

I have seen a CarPlay option for the RMC version, I would still be stuck with a pretty poor 6.5” screen.
I have seen 10.25” android screen but not for RMC and not obviously available and clearly going to fit.

I would quite like to upgrade to 8” screen (Audi) and CarPlay, is this possible?

I am willing to spend a bit to get the right solution, hopefully without changing the car!

Any solutions / videos / links would be welcome.
 
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Thanks Nathan - they look good and had I had a better screen I would have gone with that. I have ended up buying an android screen replacement (8.4"). I will try to update on the install and usability.
 
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Stuart Paterson said:
Thanks Nathan - they look good and had I had a better screen I would have gone with that. I have ended up buying an android screen replacement (8.4"). I will try to update on the install and usability.
Click to expand...
I am looking at doing the same. Can you tell me what it's like and which option you went for?
 
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Gaz10 said:
Im thinking of going for this seems best option
www.ebay.ie

AUDI A6 A7 2011-18 RMC Wireless Apple Carplay Android Auto RETROFIT HDMI | eBay

AUDI A6 A7 2011-18 RMC Wireless Apple Carplay Android Auto RETROFIT HDMI | Vehicle Parts & Accessories, In-Car Technology, GPS & Security, In-Car Entertainment | eBay!
www.ebay.ie
Click to expand...
Rather than replace the whole screen for a bigger screen android unit don’t trust alliexpress for some reason

 
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If you just replace the screen for a bigger one, the RMC unit won't support it as the graphics chip on the RMC unit is awful. If you want to use a better screen then you have to upgrade the head-unit as well...you end up going down a rabbit hole of what parts you need and then you'll want the colour DIS on the dashboard. It's personal preference but I do know what you mean, the RMC units are a slap in the face for such a premium car.
 
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Gaz10 said:
Im thinking of going for this seems best option
www.ebay.ie

AUDI A6 A7 2011-18 RMC Wireless Apple Carplay Android Auto RETROFIT HDMI | eBay

AUDI A6 A7 2011-18 RMC Wireless Apple Carplay Android Auto RETROFIT HDMI | Vehicle Parts & Accessories, In-Car Technology, GPS & Security, In-Car Entertainment | eBay!
www.ebay.ie
Click to expand...
I’m literally looking at the same unit. Would really like to hear from someone who’s purchased one. The only thing for me will be the aux cable management from the armrest AMI port
 
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I'm keen to hear more on this topic, I too have the basic RMC to my A6 Facelift C7.5, I love the quality and finish of the C7.5, but the RMC is a massive let down, my older BMW previously had a far superior info system. I was tempted to go for larger screen Android aftermarket set up...

To be honest its not much dearer than the Wireless Car Play system you shared from eBay. but for me the nicer/bigger screen etc. is worth it. Also worth noting Car Play only works best on a touchscreen set up in my opinion. I have a GTD with the touchscreen Car Play, and I know a guy who has an Audi without the touch option and he finds the Car Play not as effective without it sadly.
 
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DJM911 said:
I'm keen to hear more on this topic, I too have the basic RMC to my A6 Facelift C7.5, I love the quality and finish of the C7.5, but the RMC is a massive let down, my older BMW previously had a far superior info system. I was tempted to go for larger screen Android aftermarket set up...

To be honest its not much dearer than the Wireless Car Play system you shared from eBay. but for me the nicer/bigger screen etc. is worth it. Also worth noting Car Play only works best on a touchscreen set up in my opinion. I have a GTD with the touchscreen Car Play, and I know a guy who has an Audi without the touch option and he finds the Car Play not as effective without it sadly.
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Yea it feels like Audi have only just managed to jump onto the touchscreen bandwagon with the C8 A6s I have the C7.5 with an MIB2 system in it. My old C7 had the rubbish and pointless RMC (I still think it was a huge scam to sell such an expensive car with such a basic system). While it lacks touch screen functionality, it runs much faster and is very responsive
 
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asalhan said:
Yea it feels like Audi have only just managed to jump onto the touchscreen bandwagon with the C8 A6s I have the C7.5 with an MIB2 system in it. My old C7 had the rubbish and pointless RMC (I still think it was a huge scam to sell such an expensive car with such a basic system). While it lacks touch screen functionality, it runs much faster and is very responsive
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£356 - RMC Android 12 8+128GB Car Multimedia Player For Audi A6 C7 2012~2018 IPS Touch Screen 4G Carplay Music Stereo GPS Navi Auto Radio

This is what I'm tempted with. There's a guy locally to me seems to be buying them in and selling for around £550 - so thought must be worth the punt at £356.
 
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Sadly haven't yet, kept reading through forums to see if anyone else has to learn from their experiences first. Still top of my list though. Hoping to find someone who has done it, I think would vastly bring the C7.5 A6 into the modern world regarding info system. I would say fitting this and upgrading the dials to the colour centre screen version would make a huge difference...
 
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I've done it.

I took my roughly 7 hours to do the install..

It's not too bad I was just really careful when I was taking everything off the dashboard and I must have spent an hour trying to work out how to remove the existing adapter from the screen mechanism and replace it with the shorter one (required if you want the screen edge to slit flush with the trim when it's closed.

I also plugged everything in before cramming wires in etc just to check it was all working. I didn't find the wire stuffing to be too bad it's tight but if you take the glove box out and dangle everything out the side that doesn't need to connect you can find places for all the stuff once the two lower front units are in place.

So far happy with it, I'm probably just going to use it for apple car play so didn't bother putting usb sticks or sim card in.
 
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fafa said:
I've done it.

I took my roughly 7 hours to do the install..

It's not too bad I was just really careful when I was taking everything off the dashboard and I must have spent an hour trying to work out how to remove the existing adapter from the screen mechanism and replace it with the shorter one (required if you want the screen edge to slit flush with the trim when it's closed.

I also plugged everything in before cramming wires in etc just to check it was all working. I didn't find the wire stuffing to be too bad it's tight but if you take the glove box out and dangle everything out the side that doesn't need to connect you can find places for all the stuff once the two lower front units are in place.

So far happy with it, I'm probably just going to use it for apple car play so didn't bother putting usb sticks or sim card in.
Click to expand...

Well done, glad the job went well...
I am considering doing the same install, what unit did you go for in the end?

www.aliexpress.com

Android 14 Carplay Car Multimedia Player For Audi A6 C7 A7 2012~2018 Touch Screen 4G Music Stereo GPS Navi 8+256GB Auto Radio - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
www.aliexpress.com www.aliexpress.com

Which RMC version did you opt for?

Thanks,
 
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I went with the one in link below. I needed the RMC version so I went for the cheapest which after discounts was £180.

There’s a guy on you tube who does a good review on the unit and this was the one he used.

8 Core Android 13 System Car Multimedia Stereo For Audi A6 C7 A7 2012-2018 WIFI 4G 8+128GB RAM Carplay IPS Touch Screen GPS Navi
a.aliexpress.com

8 Core Android 13 System Car Multimedia Stereo For Audi A6 C7 A7 2012-2018 WIFI 4G 8+128GB RAM Carplay IPS Touch Screen GPS Navi - AliExpress 34

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
a.aliexpress.com a.aliexpress.com
 
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fafa said:
I went with the one in link below. I needed the RMC version so I went for the cheapest which after discounts was £180.

There’s a guy on you tube who does a good review on the unit and this was the one he used.

8 Core Android 13 System Car Multimedia Stereo For Audi A6 C7 A7 2012-2018 WIFI 4G 8+128GB RAM Carplay IPS Touch Screen GPS Navi
a.aliexpress.com

8 Core Android 13 System Car Multimedia Stereo For Audi A6 C7 A7 2012-2018 WIFI 4G 8+128GB RAM Carplay IPS Touch Screen GPS Navi - AliExpress 34

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
a.aliexpress.com a.aliexpress.com
Click to expand...

Thanks for the recommendation
 
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LukeKirby said:
Thanks for the recommendation
Click to expand...
No worries, just one bit of advice. Disconnect the battery, I didn't do that which as well as being dangerous and possibly shorting something it throws an error code if you have the airbag unplugged (which you need to do when removing the glovebox). Fortunately my neigbour has an expensive code reader thing and he cleared it for me. I tried using car scanner with my bluetooth OBD2 reader but it wouldn't do it.
 
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fafa said:
No worries, just one bit of advice. Disconnect the battery, I didn't do that which as well as being dangerous and possibly shorting something it throws an error code if you have the airbag unplugged (which you need to do when removing the glovebox). Fortunately my neigbour has an expensive code reader thing and he cleared it for me. I tried using car scanner with my bluetooth OBD2 reader but it wouldn't do it.
Click to expand...

Thanks again for the advice, really appreciated.
I will disconnect the battery ✔ but lso luckily have vag-com cable, so should be able to clear if any pop up ✔
 
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fafa said:
I went with the one in link below. I needed the RMC version so I went for the cheapest which after discounts was £180.

There’s a guy on you tube who does a good review on the unit and this was the one he used.

8 Core Android 13 System Car Multimedia Stereo For Audi A6 C7 A7 2012-2018 WIFI 4G 8+128GB RAM Carplay IPS Touch Screen GPS Navi
a.aliexpress.com

8 Core Android 13 System Car Multimedia Stereo For Audi A6 C7 A7 2012-2018 WIFI 4G 8+128GB RAM Carplay IPS Touch Screen GPS Navi - AliExpress 34

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
a.aliexpress.com a.aliexpress.com
Click to expand...

Hi Fafa,

Me again :)

Sorry to bother you, but any chance you could share a link to the YouTube install video you mentioned, there are loads, and be helpful to know which one you would recommend, and found helpful.

Secondly, can you explain what the situation is with audio? I have reached out to the seller on aliexpress, but the English is not great, and I am still a little confused…
Is the use an AMI cable required, connecting to the new box? Is this for both android or CarPlay setups?

Lastly, how do you switch between android and apple CarPlay, is this during setup?

Any other problems during install I would need to research before moving forward…

Sorry, I know I am asking a lot, but any help would be really appreciated
 
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Sorry, I've only just seen this.

I watched as many as I could to get a feel for what to do none worked as a definitive guide. This review is good at explaining how to use it though and he talks about installing it.

View: https://youtu.be/oRUdUz0dDko?si=Cli09Oj1-p-8bB-O

I'm not sure I understand your question about the audio. There are two main components the new screen and the box. OEM the existing headunit plugs directly into the screen so what you're doing with the install is replacing the old screen with the new one and then the new box sits between the screen and the existing head unit.

There is AUX OUT on the new box, at first I connected this to the AUX IN that's in the armrest but it doesn't need to be and I've remove it now. I'm not sure why they provide it. You just need to make sure that the media input selection on the car is set to AUX (press the physical Audi media button until it says AUX on the instrument cluster) and the audio from the box comes through.

To be clear about android and CarPlay, the OS on the new box is android but it's like an android tablet. There is an app called z-link that is pre installed on the system. You use that to connect your phone with CarPlay or Android on your phone. I only use CarPlay so can't comment on android phone car thing.
 
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The hardest bit was getting the old screen off the drive mechanism, I had to snap the little clasp off in the end as I couldn't jiggle it off.
 
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