Has my car previously had a Virtual cockpit fitted?

[terrymcg]

Morning all,

Just got my S3 back from the dealer last night after it has been having the usual coolant leak fixed under warranty. While it was in I asked them to locate and rectify an annoying rattle coming from the lower drivers foot well area. Turns out upon collection the annoying rattle was an 8mm hex head screw rolling about against the drivers knee airbag.

I have the culprit screw and it has came from one of the locating screws holding in the dash cluster (Circled Red on the attached image). Audi wanted £138 to screw this back in, big job apparently, takes a long time. But that's another story!

Upon inspection, when I removed the trim piece to screw the screw back in, i noticed my dash appears to have been cut away. So I suspect the previous owner retrofitted a VC and removed prior to sale.

The worrying thing for me now, and I am at work and cant check, is does my ECU odometer reading match my current cluster reading!? As I doubt the previous owner bothered to rectify the mileage prior to refitting on the original cluster.

I bought the car at 12000 miles, but wondering if it really was a 12000 mile car?? I can check this tonight with VCDS when I get home. However I now have a few niggling alarm bells in my head that when I bought the car tyres were like 2.5mm, pretty low for that mileage but I assumed car had just been driven hard. Also it had new brake pads all round - surely 12000 miles is too early for that!

So question's are if you can help:

Does the picture look like what you need to cut away to fit VC?

I have had the car into the dealer twice since I have owned it, once for warranty work and once for a service. When they record the mileage for the service would they use the ECU mileage or just belive the odometer, as they have noted on the invoice the same mileage as the odometer is displaying.

I know in other brands like MB - when their is a mismatch between ECU mileage and cluster mileage, the cluster just displays -------- on the odometer. Do VAG cars do the same?

 

[Jassyo06]

Highly unlikely mate that its had virtual cockpit flitted mega expansive to do...and extremely difficult to fit

 

[Adam14]

I'd also doubt they'd remove it as if it'd been done properly it'd help with sale

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[DJAlix]

No. In order to retrofit a VC the trim which secured a standard dash would need to be cut away / removed, together with approx 1inch of dash around the instrument cluster. Most likely your cluster has been out for some works, maybe even a replacement (common) and the screw in question not replaced correctly, or one dropped and the person could not be bothered to find it and just put another in.

Edit: When / if there is a mismatch in Milage the dash continues to display its “indicated” Milage with no displayed error message as long as there are no electrical errors or indeed physical tampering.

 

[terrymcg]

There is definitely something missing in the pictures though, i can see where plastic is snapped.

I just assumed that was maybe why its missing.

However I am unsure what plastic needs to be removed to fit a VC.

Can you see the missing/snapped plastic in the picture?(Updated the image and circled the snapped areas.)

 

[DJAlix]

There is definitely something missing in the pictures though, i can see where plastic is snapped.

I just assumed that was maybe why its missing.

However I am unsure what plastic needs to be removed to fit a VC.

Can you see the missing/snapped plastic in the picture?

I am looking at this via my phone so cannot see any great detail but everything looks pretty normal to me. I think I see what you mean tho (the bits on the sides that have no coating on them?) If so then this is normal.

 

[terrymcg]

I am looking at this via my phone so cannot see any great detail but everything looks pretty normal to me. I think I see what you mean tho (the bits on the sides that have no coating on them?) If so then this is normal.

Yeah i see the lack of coating, however next to them there is clearly the remains of where plastic looks like its been snapped away and not cut. However I don't know what other cars look like!

 

[DJAlix]

Yeah i see the lack of coating, however next to them there is clearly the remains of where plastic looks like its been snapped away and not cut. However I don't know what other cars look like!

I would not worry, all looks normal to me and I have these things out every day. If anything it looks like someone wedged a screw driver in there to level the dash out but other than this, from what my eyes can see, all looks ok. 10000000000% you have not had a VC in there as you would have a massive gap around your standard dials if so

 

[terrymcg]

I would not worry, all looks normal to me and I have these things out every day. If anything it looks like someone wedged a screw driver in there to level the dash out but other than this, from what my eyes can see, all looks ok. 10000000000% you have not had a VC in there as you would have a massive gap around your standard dials if so

Okay thanks for your help! Much appreciated.

BTW - where the hell to Audi get off trying to charge £138 to replace that screw??

 

[DJAlix]

Okay thanks for your help! Much appreciated.

BTW - where the hell to Audi get off trying to charge £138 to replace that screw??

That’s about an hour + vat for their time. Welcome to the world of Audi

 

[terrymcg]

That’s about an hour + vat for their time. Welcome to the world of Audi

Tell me about it, however he actually made and sent me an Audicam video which lasts longer explaining the issue than it would have taken to pop the trim and screw the screw back in!

 

[musicegbdf]

To give some comparison . I also run a 50 year old mgb gt . It goes to specialist when needed .
I emailed him as the dash lights are dim as standard and now can have led bulbs . The only issue is the rheostat needs to be disconnected and the forum suggest replacing with in line fuse .( there is no fuses on lighting circuit) . I was asking his advice , he said just pop over and he would do it FOC!
PS I was there a couple of weeks ago and he was working on a mint E Type.

 

[B5NUT]

Audi dealer have no interest of giving anything away for free, they are only interested in making money.

 

[S32B]

Could just be that the part has been damaged in the factory prior to fitting, as the damage is hidden and doesn't impact it from working/fitting correctly they have just fitted it!

 

[RS03_SEN]

Okay thanks for your help! Much appreciated.

BTW - where the hell to Audi get off trying to charge £138 to replace that screw??

Well they charge about £160 for an hours diagnostics so I’d say that’s not a bad price!


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[terrymcg]

Well they charge about £160 for an hours diagnostics so I’d say that’s not a bad price!


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ah well, I refitted in sub 60 secs, no exaggeration. So I would say 138 to spend on something else now!

 

[RAF_S7]

The worrying thing for me now, and I am at work and cant check, is does my ECU odometer reading match my current cluster reading!?

I can check this tonight with VCDS when I get home.

Did the mileage match?

 

[DJAlix]

Did not have access to my files yesterday so could not post example images but this is what a cut dash looks like to a virtual cockpit retrofit:

Cut with VC in place with no trim installed


cut with original clocks in place


*this vehicle was shipped from Germany to the UK after the locals butchered the installation and tried to use stolen parts, hence why I had to put the original clocks in to get the car running again

 

[dnzbdr]

@DJAlix

I need your help please, will be glad to hear your comments.

I am planning to install VC to my facelift A3, but afraid of the adaptation issues.
- Does this retrofitted VC stay in the same location as in the original fitted one? I mean the depth of it, distance from the dash limits for example?
- How about structural side? Could VC move inside the dash day by day, are brackets strong enough? How is the original VC assembled on the original dash for example? Can we rely on these adaptation brackets in general? You look like you fitted many many VCs, faced any problems so far?
- Any trim noise maybe? In fact I just wanted to hear some long term use feedback.
- Assume we wanted to go back to the original cluster, I see this is not possible right? Why would I go back to the original, I don't know I just have concerns about cutting and adapting.
- Electrical and software wise, I suppose there is not a problem at all?

Many thanks.

 

[DJAlix]

-Does this retrofitted VC stay in the same location as in the original fitted one? I mean the depth of it, distance from the dash limits for example?

Depends on your retrofitter. I myself install as per factory as much as possible but you need to remember that you are fitting something to your vehicle that is not supposed to have.

- How about structural side? Could VC move inside the dash day by day, are brackets strong enough?

See the above answer. An experienced retrofitter should be able to complete a solid installation.

- How is the original VC assembled on the original dash for example?

Its a different dash with all the correct mounting points. If you want a 100% factory job you need to change your dash. If you don’t have the budget you cut your existing dash.

-Can we rely on these adaptation brackets in general?

Seem to be good as long as fitted correctly.

-You look like you fitted many many VCs, faced any problems so far?

Physical issues no. Coding issues sometimes.

- Any trim noise maybe? In fact I just wanted to hear some long term use feedback.

Not that I am aware of but I can only speak of my own installations.

- Assume we wanted to go back to the original cluster, I see this is not possible right? Why would I go back to the original, I don't know I just have concerns about cutting and adapting.

Dash is cut = no, you would have a massive hole.

Dash is changed = can revert with no issues.

- Electrical and software wise, I suppose there is not a problem at all?

I think you need to stop over thinking this. If you want to have the cockpit retrofitter you need to find someone you trust and pay them to do their work. An experienced professional should complete a factory style retrofit.

 

[dnzbdr]

Many thanks for all, really.

I found a local retrofitter here in my home country, in Istanbul, he told they fitted dozens of VCs in the past without a problem.
But anyway I just wanted to hear from somebody experienced here as well. I had concerns as you can see.

I just saw the original dash and the mounting points. There are three slots on the top for example, in order for VC body to fit in. When I ask the local guys, if the VC is only assembled with two bolts on the bottom and nothing on the upper side, he replied they are using a Z shaped bracket as well to support. I hope it holds it well.

This retrofit is expensive for something that is irreversible, that is why I want to be 100% sure before doing this. And I really don't like the new A3 interior

I will let you know of any progress, some questions maybe. Thank you again for the quick help.

 

[dnzbdr]

@DJAlix

By the way, the adaptation bracket is assembled onto the steering column right? Does it mean that the vibrations coming from the steering system, in other words all the way from the wheels, are transmitted to the VC as well?

On the original configuration, VC is sitting on the dashboard, which already dampen the road vibrations.

This is something bothering me considering the lifetime of the VC. What you think?

 

[DJAlix]

@DJAlix

By the way, the adaptation bracket is assembled onto the steering column right? Does it mean that the vibrations coming from the steering system, in other words all the way from the wheels, are transmitted to the VC as well?

On the original configuration, VC is sitting on the dashboard, which already dampen the road vibrations.

This is something bothering me considering the lifetime of the VC. What you think?

No lol, if an installer does that then they have no idea what they are doing lol

 

[dnzbdr]

No lol, if an installer does that then they have no idea what they are doing lol

Then where exactly this bracket sits on to?

There is this bracket that I'm talking about, in your VC and analogue cluster pictures above, where the bracket is assembled with the two center holes. Isn't it the steering column body, that the VC adaptation bracket is assembled on?

 

[dnzbdr]

No lol, if an installer does that then they have no idea what they are doing lol

This is the one, below yellow arrow. VC bracket and as a result the VC itself is sitting on this structure.
This belongs to steering column body? Isn't there too much vibration on this?

 

[DJAlix]

This is the one, below yellow arrow. VC bracket and as a result the VC itself is sitting on this structure.
This belongs to steering column body? Isn't there too much vibration on this?

View attachment 212724

That’s not bolted to the steering column

 

[dnzbdr]

I need to know what that is, trying to figure out and evaluating the long term effects of the vibration on virtual cockpit.

Anybody here, using the retrofitted virtual cockpit and have something to say maybe please?

I think the virtual cockpit adaptation bracket is fitted to the steering column body from two holes shown below. This body carries the height adjustment mechanism for the steering wheel. I thought the steering can carry some vibration to these brackets via the bearings, etc.
It can also be seen there is a gap between body and column, due to lowered steering wheel during the virtual cockpit assembly.

 

[DJAlix]

Actually I remember this job. Customer supplied all parts, a bracket I don't personally use. while fixed to a "column" bracket and not the column itself there is no vibration, zero.

Seriously, you are over thinking this. Speak to your retrofitter and see if he has examples of his work he can show you. If you want a factory perfect installation then change your dashboard to one which is meant for the virtual cockpit, something a lot of people do.