Sat Nav

[Cornish John]

I would like to get Sat Nav installed in my 2016 S3, is it main dealer job or can it be done by a 3rd party?

Thanks.

 

[Leevr]

Sat nav on the mmi is mainly an Audi only job as they hold all the keys to install and enable. Few independents on here have the ability to install. But your looking at circa £600

 

[HertS3]

Speak to @DJAlix, he should be able to do it much cheaper than the dealers

 

[Wibbly]

Consider using your a phone with Waze or Google Maps. I use Google Maps, as it happens. Heck, you could even buy a new/extra phone and data contract just to run your maps app in the car for less than the Audi maps on a SD card! On Android I also use AmiGo (free from TomTom) to give me advance warnings of speed cameras on my phone, if I'm actually speeding. Also check out this for a neat installation https://www.audiphoneholder.com/

I found the Audi MMI/SD system (if that's what you are considering) gives the most bizzare routes too frequently, whereas the free Waze or Google Maps are far better and will also route around current traffic dynamically, and you get up-to date maps always. Because I happen to have the Audi MMI/SD based maps, I use it sometimes to show an overview of a longer journey (according to Audi) just for the benefit of passengers who can see it and want to answer the 'are we nearly there yet?' question themselves ;-). That's all.

I know it's irritating to have a Nav button in the car that doesn't do anything useful, but when it does bring the (SD at least) maps up, the functionality really isn't there these days. Given the choice I would now always go the Carplay/Android Auto way (if available) or use my phone directly...

 

[HertS3]

I would second that, I had an S3 with no nav and I got the Audi phone holder (should've kept hold of it and sold it instead of leaving it in the car!) which was excellent, Waze FTW!
My new (to me) S4 has HDD nav built in, I've used it a few times but still have a phone holder on the air vent and sometimes use Waze on my phone still. It's nice having the integrated system but I wouldn't pay hundreds for it, plus Waze/Google Maps will always be up to date and give you dynamic route changes depending on traffic.

 

[Peter Peter]

I would like to get Sat Nav installed in my 2016 S3, is it main dealer job or can it be done by a 3rd party?

Thanks.

Forget poor car maps.. Get yourself magnet holder in middle of air vents put phone and fire app Waze
You will be more happy...

 

[DJAlix]

...or better yet get yourself an apple CarPlay box and then use your device (both android auto and Apple CarPlay) on your MMI screen.

 

[Cornish John]

Thanks for all the tips, I have much to think about!

I do already, have a magnetic phone holder between the vents.

Thanks again,

John.

...or better yet get yourself an apple CarPlay box and then use your device (both android auto and Apple CarPlay) on your MMI screen.

Can I have some more info on car play please?

 

[DJAlix]

Thanks for all the tips, I have much to think about!

I do already, have a magnetic phone holder between the vents.

Thanks again,

John.


Can I have some more info on car play please?

A lot of my customers are purchasing these and then those who are not confident enough to install themselves pop over for an installation:


￡184.49 35％ Off | Wireless Apple Carplay Android Auto Module For AUDI B9 A5/S5/A4/A3 A6 A7 A8 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q7 B9 S5 MMI System Mirror-link Siri Voice
https://a.aliexpress.com/_BPoChG

not gonna lie, these are not fault free but they are a very cost effective way of getting navigation and device integration in to your vehicle.

 

[Cornish John]

Lots of options to consider, I have a real good iPhone, so that's an option on the magnet. (maps etc.)

I also have, didn't think of it before, a real good TomTom that I use in the camper van, it has updates for life and can connect to your phone for live data.

I will have to give it all some thought.

John.

 

[roydonaldson]

A lot of my customers are purchasing these and then those who are not confident enough to install themselves pop over for an installation:


￡184.49 35％ Off | Wireless Apple Carplay Android Auto Module For AUDI B9 A5/S5/A4/A3 A6 A7 A8 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q7 B9 S5 MMI System Mirror-link Siri Voice
https://a.aliexpress.com/_BPoChG

not gonna lie, these are not fault free but they are a very cost effective way of getting navigation and device integration in to your vehicle.

This looks quite good. Would it work ok in my 2014 S3 pfl with B&O, large touchscreen ?

Any experience of it in these, as I think I'd get one.

 

[Wibbly]

A lot of my customers are purchasing these and then those who are not confident enough to install themselves pop over for an installation:


￡184.49 35％ Off | Wireless Apple Carplay Android Auto Module For AUDI B9 A5/S5/A4/A3 A6 A7 A8 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q7 B9 S5 MMI System Mirror-link Siri Voice
https://a.aliexpress.com/_BPoChG

not gonna lie, these are not fault free but they are a very cost effective way of getting navigation and device integration in to your vehicle.

Looks interesting.

- What do you charge for install of one of these?
- Are all the existing MMI features still present (i.e. is this launched from an extra menu item?)
- Just what kind of faults do users experience? How bad is it (Android Auto in my case)?

 

[DJAlix]

Looks interesting.

- What do you charge for install of one of these?
- Are all the existing MMI features still present (i.e. is this launched from an extra menu item?)
- Just what kind of faults do users experience? How bad is it (Android Auto in my case)?

I don’t supply these units as there is no real profit in there for me but I ask £45.00 to install for those are not confident enough to start removing trim etc. Boxes are pretty much plug and play but do need to be fitted in a place where their cables will not be stressed and where heat will not pose an issue. Glovebox will need to be removed.

MMI features and usage remain “as is”. The box sits in between the display screen and the media unit and is a pass-thru device I guess, until one of your control buttons is pressed and held, ie media or back for 3 seconds, in order to trigger the box. At this point display from the MMI is cut off and the box takes over with your selected options, CarPlay etc etc. Sound is via AMI or Bluetooth.

issues? Can be laggy and glitchy. For £200 nothing is gonna be perfect but there does seem to be a fair amount of software updates for these things to fix bugs. Sound can be an issue, this is a cheap box and it never going to give amazing sound quality however if connected over Bluetooth to the car then all should be good.

when these boxes first cake to market there were a number of issues and people were returning or binning them, the initial reason as to why I didn’t sell them as there was no way I could support / warranty these unless I asked at least double the money. Things have progressed since then however and I have fitted a lot of these recently, A LOT, and not had any bad feedback to be fair.

 

[Wibbly]

I don’t supply these units as there is no real profit in there for me but I ask £45.00 to install for those are not confident enough to start removing trim etc. Boxes are pretty much plug and play but do need to be fitted in a place where their cables will not be stressed and where heat will not pose an issue. Glovebox will need to be removed.

MMI features and usage remain “as is”. The box sits in between the display screen and the media unit and is a pass-thru device I guess, until one of your control buttons is pressed and held, ie media or back for 3 seconds, in order to trigger the box. At this point display from the MMI is cut off and the box takes over with your selected options, CarPlay etc etc. Sound is via AMI or Bluetooth.

issues? Can be laggy and glitchy. For £200 nothing is gonna be perfect but there does seem to be a fair amount of software updates for these things to fix bugs. Sound can be an issue, this is a cheap box and it never going to give amazing sound quality however if connected over Bluetooth to the car then all should be good.

when these boxes first cake to market there were a number of issues and people were returning or binning them, the initial reason as to why I didn’t sell them as there was no way I could support / warranty these unless I asked at least double the money. Things have progressed since then however and I have fitted a lot of these recently, A LOT, and not had any bad feedback to be fair.

Thanks - how do the updates get applied? Do you have to get to the box?

 

[DJAlix]

Thanks - how do the updates get applied? Do you have to get to the box?

Download from website to USB stick

 

[Wibbly]

Download from website to USB stick

And USB stick goes into the unit placed somewhere where I can get to it without removing loads of trim etc?

 

[Cornish John]

I don’t supply these units as there is no real profit in there for me but I ask £45.00 to install for those are not confident enough to start removing trim etc. Boxes are pretty much plug and play but do need to be fitted in a place where their cables will not be stressed and where heat will not pose an issue. Glovebox will need to be removed.

MMI features and usage remain “as is”. The box sits in between the display screen and the media unit and is a pass-thru device I guess, until one of your control buttons is pressed and held, ie media or back for 3 seconds, in order to trigger the box. At this point display from the MMI is cut off and the box takes over with your selected options, CarPlay etc etc. Sound is via AMI or Bluetooth.

issues? Can be laggy and glitchy. For £200 nothing is gonna be perfect but there does seem to be a fair amount of software updates for these things to fix bugs. Sound can be an issue, this is a cheap box and it never going to give amazing sound quality however if connected over Bluetooth to the car then all should be good.

when these boxes first cake to market there were a number of issues and people were returning or binning them, the initial reason as to why I didn’t sell them as there was no way I could support / warranty these unless I asked at least double the money. Things have progressed since then however and I have fitted a lot of these recently, A LOT, and not had any bad feedback to be fair.

Its a shame you are no where near Cornwall, for the money I would have given it a try!

 

[Cornish John]

I would second that, I had an S3 with no nav and I got the Audi phone holder (should've kept hold of it and sold it instead of leaving it in the car!) which was excellent, Waze FTW!
My new (to me) S4 has HDD nav built in, I've used it a few times but still have a phone holder on the air vent and sometimes use Waze on my phone still. It's nice having the integrated system but I wouldn't pay hundreds for it, plus Waze/Google Maps will always be up to date and give you dynamic route changes depending on traffic.

Been using Waze for a few days, working well!

 

[DJAlix]

And USB stick goes into the unit placed somewhere where I can get to it without removing loads of trim etc?

uses USB port will be accessible from inside the glovebox, well the way I install them