powderlvr

Hello Mishar,

I think that several others may have gone with an aux/bluetooth setup like this, rather than the expensive AMI system. I seem to recall a post about a year ago discussing the hardware, which I purchased. I just finally got around to installing it.

As for how it all works, the phone connects to the car's built-in Bluetooth for audio calls, just like it came stock from the factory. But the aux adapter, and the Blackberry Bluetooth adapter I hooked to the aux adapter, handle all other audio from the phone.

For instance, Spotify could be streaming music through the car's speakers with Waze running in the background. When it's time a make a turn, the music pauses and Waze says "In 500 yards, turn left on XZY road". Then, should a call come in, Waze and Spotify both pause and everything switches to the car's factory phone function. Hang up the call and the music and Waze come back without any driver intervention.

Waze is handy because it's a social app; users update the map database as they drive. From a practical standpoint if there is a ladder or a broken couch on the dark road ahead of you, another Waze user has likely already encountered and reported it, and the app will verbally warn you that there is an obstacle on the road ahead. Users also report police and speed traps, which might be handy for speeders. Users also update the map when previously reported road issues are no longer there. The map database is not real-time, but it's close.

The whole thing basically bypasses Audi's MMI interface. In my opinion manufacturers would do well to move away from expensive, proprietary music/entertainment/nav systems in favor of a slot on the dash for a phone or tablet. All the car needs is speakers and an amplifier. Anything else becomes obsolete in a few years and becomes a hassle to work around.

-JT

mishar

Thanks for the answer. I remember hardware discussion. Just navigation thing was something unknown. For the moment I hopped you can see Google map on the MMI screen. I guess I was a bit too optimistic.

Regarding integrating phone/tablet I totally agree with you. This technology is advancing too fast to be part of a car that should last for years.

Just a few peaces of duct tape and Samsung Note would be "integrated".

mishar

Fuse box on the right side of dashboard:

Fuse #9 is power switched. Checked on 2005.

Also, but I didn't check on the car, fuses 1, 3, 10, 19, 28 and 32

powderlvr

Well done Mishar; thank you. I like your duct tape idea by the way, but so far my A8 L is duct tape-free. The old allroad is entering duct tape territory though (260,000 miles).

-JT

everwake

powderlvr:

would you mind telling us which hardware components you used?, I have seen several threads on bluetooth non-ami things, but never quite understood how to connect a bluetooth adapter to the fiber-loop.

since I am a waze addict, getting streaming and waze to work together would be real nice, as it is I can hardly hear the directions from my cellphone, unless I am on the phone via bluetooth hands-free, because then it reroutes all direction to the stereo (kind of odd)

powderlvr

Hello Everwake,

The item I purchased is this one. I think that I bought it for around $90 but the price seems to be higher now. http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/271262024960?lpid=82
Note: I don't think that I bought from the seller in the link above.

The bluetooth adapter is this one, though not this seller: http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/351033509954?lpid=82&item=351033509954&lgeo=1&vectorid=229466

05SilverA8

I did a LOT of experimenting with Bluetooth adapters. Do not get a BT V2.0 adapter. The BT 3.0 has far superior sound quality in the car. Make sure to check specifications.

If anyone wants to try a BT 2.0 unit I have several lying around that I could part with for shipping costs.

Also THIS looks to be the same unit as the one mentioned above.

everwake

I do not quite understand how bluetooth protocol version can have any effect on sound quality?, there is plenty on bandwidth in BT 2.0 and all later version use the same method for streaming.

do you have any recommendation for a BT3 gateway?

thanks for the link, that box looks useful.

05SilverA8

There should be plenty of Bandwidth on the BT 2.0, but I tried at least 5 different BT 2.0 units and the 3.0 EDR sounded much better on the two I tried so far.

Perhaps it is just "Cheap" electronics in the BT 2.0 units, but I could definitely tell the difference in the 2.0 and 3.0 devices.

If you want to try I could send you some units and you could hear for yourself.

everwake

I live in the north of europe, so just shipping alone would cost more than the BT gateway itself, but it was nice of you to offer.

I ordered a blackberry BT gateway, but even with google I did not find any BT 3.0 GW to compare it to, what brand are you using?