Audi A4 Concert with only CD/SD button

[RobbieM]

Hi everyone,

I'm a newbie here and this is my first post, I have recently bought a 2008 A4 (B8), fitted with the absolute most basic stereo, Concert with no AUX etc, just the CD/SD option.

Wondering what my options are to upgrade this?

My main priority is to allow me to play music from my iPhone, (either via bluetooth, or cable), but depending on cost I am not averse to paying a bit more to have a Carplay setup where I could benefit from the satnav also:o

The digging I've done to date suggests that this head unit is not great in terms of working with other systems, has anyone swapped the concert stereo with CD/SD button for the one with Media button, and then fitted a carplay system? Is this an option, or will it be incompatible with my vehicle?

Any help/advice would be much appreciated

[RobbieM]

Ok, i have an update

Took the audi and a 2012 Concert head unit to a local Auto Electrician, head unit fitted fine but needs 'coded' which our local Audi dealership refuse to do!!:mad:
So, question is...what are my options now?
Have read a number of threads advocating use of the SD Card, which would be fine were it not for the 4Gb limit the concert unit allows, am i right to belive the 2012 head unit will support a bigger SD?
If so, are there any folk who can 'code' the 2012 Concert to my car?

Really at a loss here, and pretty ****** at how difficult getting a decent ICE set-up is for this car!

[Dr Mcr]

Ok, i have an update

Took the audi and a 2012 Concert head unit to a local Auto Electrician, head unit fitted fine but needs 'coded' which our local Audi dealership refuse to do!!:mad:
So, question is...what are my options now?
Have read a number of threads advocating use of the SD Card, which would be fine were it not for the 4Gb limit the concert unit allows, am i right to belive the 2012 head unit will support a bigger SD?
If so, are there any folk who can 'code' the 2012 Concert to my car?

Really at a loss here, and pretty ****** at how difficult getting a decent ICE set-up is for this car!

this maybe more than you want to spend, but there may be an additional option. I think Alpine do a model that replaces the concert with a new head unit, giving you full CarPlay.

Navigation System for Audi A4 and A5 - Alpine - X701D-A4R (https://www.alpine.co.uk/p/Products/SingleView/X701D-A4R)

[RobbieM]

Thanks Dr, looks awesome...a quick search suggests £1600, i'll get shopping around, if i could find it a bit cheaper I'd be all over that!:beerchug:

[Dr Mcr]

He you tried a local VAG specialist independent garage for the coding ? They may be able to help. Which town or city are you based near?

sorry, just seen you’re in Scotland.

[RobbieM]

i do have an ex-VAG engineer who services my cars, hoping he might be able to help....booked in on Monday!

[RobbieM]

OK, at long last I'm having the newer Concert head unit fitted tomorrow, next question...where can I get my hands on the required wiring to allow me to connect this to my ipod/iphone? eBay seems to have plenty of the AMI cables, but I think I'm right to believe I need some additional wiring from the rear of the headunit to the AMI port?

[Gunnark100]

For ami you also need AMI(can) unit, not just wiring. For aux you need 12pin connector with "jack" cable(male or female up to you), should be cheap on ebay, but aux means no controls via car buttons.

[RobbieM]

Thanks Gunnark, thinking AMi is the way I'd rather go....any recommendations?

[Gunnark100]

Thanks Gunnark, thinking AMi is the way I'd rather go....any recommendations?


Probably there is few aftermarket solutions also for music interface and concert radio, but i have not investigated those.
Factory solution is 8T0035785A(must be can version) and oem location is glovebox(you may need new one or modify old, depends what you have now). On ebay i guess you find ami around "100"!
Some generic info here:
Question Adding USB to a Concert 4 non MMI radio........How? (http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php/184140-Adding-USB-to-a-Concert-4-non-MMI-radio-How)

Not related to cp, so dealer is not needed for this retro.

[Kokicha]

Sorry, I know this post is months old now, but I’ve only just come across it. The basic concert radio does have an AUX port already built-in, its just that some models don’t have it wired. You can purchase a plug/cable on-line and wire it through to the centre console (or wherever) yourself. Obviously you’d need to remove the radio and a few other items to run the cable, but actually not too difficult and there are plenty of videos on-line that can guide you. To access the AUX as an input, there is a config change required that is done via VCDS. Also, there is a software update available to increase the capacity of the SD card reader from 4GB to 64Gb - you need a dealer to do this, but I’d suggest the AUX port is the way to go.
Looks like this info is too late for you but may benefit others.

[RobbieM]

Thanks Kokicha,

still considering options for this, have been using an FM Transmitter which is not ideal! (it seems to jump wavelengths randomly while in use which is a.annoying and b. scares the sh*t outta me!
I'll have a look for the aux port, any idea how you select this input for playback given there is no aux button on the headunit?

[Kokicha]

This thread should provide you with the answers you need re. Using and enabling the AUX port: 2007-2008 concert-symphony cd/sd aux-jack possible | Audi A5 Forum & Audi S5 Forum (https://www.a5oc.com/threads/2007-2008-concert-symphony-cd-sd-aux-jack-possible.19826/)