A8 D3 MMI Screen Opening Problem..Need Help!

[meffe]

Hi Guys,

Ive just bought an Audi A8 TDI 2006, and its a just a brilliant car.
I checked out a few of these cars and noticed a lot had problems with the MMI screens retractable mechanism - either non working, or sticking. Unfortunatley mine here is the same!! Although, we did negotiate a much better price because of it!

Can anyone out there help??:1zhelp:

The screen opens & closes fine, but when it opens fully, the mechanism is
still trying to open it - as if it cant detect that its already open, so it shudders for around 3 seconds, then its fine.
Im wondering if its the gears thats broke, or some kind of sensor which has failed.
Also, would this be an easy fit for me to repair - diy?? Ive checked online, and suspect it could be the motor, but not really sure.

I really want to get this sorted, as i dont think the internal gears are going to last with all the grinding and shuddering.

So far, i well pleased with the car, and its got everything i wanted, so i'll be keeping it for some time...

All suggestions are appreciated, as the most obvious answer is to take it to audi, but they charge a fortune, and past experience with dealers shows they dont always do a good job.

Thanks for all your help!!


Current Cars:

2003 e39 BMW 530D M sport Agean Edition
1994 Toyota Celica GT4 - Track Day Car - Completley Stripped out!!

Just an insight into other cars ive had:

2004 e60 BMW 530D M Sport, With every poss option - brill All rounder!
2005 Saab 9-3 TID 150bhp - Boring - never to be repeated
2001 Honda Accord Sport - Just 1 of 4 previously owned - Damn Reliable!
2001 BMW e46 330ci Sport - Pretty Quick
2002 VW Bora TDI 130 - Surprisingly Brilliant Car
2001 e39 BMW 530i Sport - with Every Option
2001 Merc S320 Long Wheel Base - Pure Luxury
2001 Lincoln Town Car - Dont Ask!
1994 Toyota Corolla Gti
1984 Toyota Corolla GT

These are just a few over the years..Theres probably 20 more in between, too list..What can i say..I get bored quick!!!


Anyway..Thanks for looking

[Micha_elD]

It sounds like the screen mechanism is wrecked. Don't worry about the state of the motor, or the gears, or the sensors, the only way to fix it is to get a complete new mechanism, which has a new motor, sensors and gears. The existing screen and wood cover is retained.

I did hear of someone that had a new gear mechanism machined to fit, but that's probably just too hard for most of us to organise, so just get the whole unit.

Your symptoms sound exactly like mine, and I replaced mine, can't remember the price of the unit, but did post the cost in an earlier thread. Somwhere around £275? Generally, I find its best to forget numbers like that :(

Its do-able by someone reasonably careful and patient, but involves taking off the glovebox, all the vents, most of the dashboard, and the lower dash parts, so it can take a while. Definitely worth getting a copy of ELSAWIN before you start to see how to remove everything (look on ebay)

[meffe]

Hi Michael,

Thanks for the reply.. ive been busy at work, so could'nt reply sooner!

Do you by any chance remember the cost of the motor, and where you got it from? Ive been online ebay etc, but cant seem to find one?

Thanks

Saf

[Micha_elD]

can't remember the price of the unit, but did post the cost in an earlier thread. Somwhere around £275?

I got mine from the main dealer, reasoning that the original lasted 4 years, 36,000 miles, so secondhand would have what, 2 years left in it? As I plan to keep the car for a few years yet, I didn't want to go through all the work of replacing the unit then doing it all again the year after next.

[meffe]

Thanks mate,

I did speak to audi, but they said they could'nt confirm the problem without booking in for diagnostic @£99.00 Per hour!!

Anyway, i'll call them tomorrow and see what they say in terms of costs!!

Cheers!!

[Micha_elD]

The way you've described the problem, its exactly the same that mine was, and it took a new unit to fix.

Thats a scary hourly cost, I wouldn't be at all surprised if it's a 3+ hour job to fit a new unit, definitely took me that long, but then, I hadn't done it before and I was being ultra careful, so they should be quicker

[bigandyt]

My car had a new one fitted under warranty at 2 years old so I guess that it's a well known problem.

[meffe]

Hi Guys,

Just to let you know, ive had a new screen Mechanism fitted by an Audi expert. The mechnism was purchased new at £250.00, and cost £100 to fit, so it was'nt cheap:mad:.

Anyway, thanks for all your help, and all thye advise was appreciated.

Cheers Lads!!!

[phildefreitas]

Hi Saf,
I have the same problem as you described with my 2005 A8 which I have owned for 2 years, I live in the North West so not too far from you, please can you let me know where you got the parts and who fitted it for you.

Thanks.
Philip

[meffe]

Hi Philip,

I got the part from Audi direct - Lancaster Audi (Opposite Man UTD). pRICE WAS £250.00, and the parts always in stock.

A local garage charged £100.00 to fit - that was pretty much the standard price of fitting.

Try looking online if possible (depending on how much time you want to spend looking for the part at a cheaper price). Unfortunatley mine stopped working altogether, so i coulnt really wait.

Good luck, and if your local to manchester, try some of the audi garages for prices on fitting - you will be surprised, but some guys will do a foreigner!! The fittings really important, as you have to open all the trimmings and fittings around the dash - which is fiddly, and not to mention delicate.

Oh, just to ask, does your model have the bluetooth phone prep. Im asking cos, mine needs re-setting everytime i get in. It wont save my setting, as it finds it on the phone, but requires the pin setting everytime??

Cheers..... Saf

[phildefreitas]

Thanks Saf,
Will have a look around, mine has blue tooth, touch wood all is OK in that area, just had to put the pin in once when I got the car.
Philip

[mantes]

does anyone have a step by step instruction to remove the MMi

[Guest 2]

does anyone have a step by step instruction to remove the MMi

which part? the whole lot or seperate parts? :confused:

[mantes]

the whole lot what to take off on the dashboard on the A8

[Guest 2]

which part? there are many components to the mmi system

[mantes]

i need to replace the mmi mechanism which is getting stuck and not working properly when opening so i have bought a new mechanism for it so i need instructions of how to open the dashboard mountings to remove the mmi to replace it with a new mmi mechansim

[driventodespair]

I just replaced mine (found a supplier with the gear) and found the job okay to do (just a bit awkward changing the gear). I do know of someone who will replace the gear if you send them the complete unit for repair. Saved me £250!

[Happydan123]

i need to replace the mmi mechanism which is getting stuck and not working properly when opening so i have bought a new mechanism for it so i need instructions of how to open the dashboard mountings to remove the mmi to replace it with a new mmi mechansim

Hi Mantes. I had searched the net previously and found some useful instruction on doing this.....I have the PDF Document with pics, but not able to upload here (size restriction) so PM me with contact details and happy to email directly to you if you still need help and have not resolved this. Hope this helps you.

[denisdo]

Hi Happydan, can you send me a copy too (PM me) , I am a new member and cannot send PMs yet :-)

[denisdo]

OK , I just found this document that helps but if someone has something better please let me know: http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articles/d3/center_console_remove_D3.pdf

[Micha_elD]

If you're removing the MMI screen, I'd strongly recommend getting a copy of Elsawin from ebay, its the Audi official workshop manual, and gives you very detailed instructions and diagrams.

You need to remove glovebox, trims, air vents, lots of fragile stuff in there. Its not a difficult job, but for the £5 - £10 it will cost to get you expert advice, you could save damaging something expensive.

[Happydan123]

Hi Denisdo,

Apologies for the delay, but i do have the document which shows more detail specific to the removal of the screen but I am not sure how i can attach it to a PM. i will try and see if there is a way for me to upload on the thread which may help others in the same situation a well.

Happydan123


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[denisdo]

Thanks a mil. If you PM me I can give you my email address so you can send but it would be great if everyone could benefit too :-)

[denisdo]

Thanks a mil HandyDan. If you PM me I can give you my email address so you can send but it would be great if everyone could benefit too :-)
MichaelD - I have ELSA and I could not find anything before but I looked and again and found it - it does help for sure. It mentions that there is a connector behind the driver side storage drawer? No idea what this is but will figure it out hopefully.
I think I may have a problem though - my Screen is stuck in the down position but the front cover is stuck open. When the system powers on the screen and door only move about an inch. The MMI would not turn off fully even when the ignition was turned off and the car was locked. The car battery was running flat on me! Looks like the MMI will only power off when the screen door is closed. I figured out that if you hold down the little micro-switch just under the lid (top centre) and simultaneously turn off the car then the MMI shut down properly.
Elsa says the cradle cannot be removed with the screen down and I that I will have to break part of the mechanism to allow it to rotate up in order to get it out! Basically scrapping the cradle when I was hoping to just have to replace the damaged gear! It mentions that some models have a release cable behind the right vent. I hope this applies to my car and releases the jammed screen. Hopefully I will figure something out when I have the trim off.

[Micha_elD]

There are connectors behind loads of things, the illuminated vents, ashtrays etc. The only drawer I can think of is the 'card drawer'. Open it, slide the front off to one side (left I think) then you can take the trim off round it. The connector will be one of those small two-pin ones.

I just worked my way very slowly and methodically through the instructions, and everything came off OK, and went back OK.

[happydan]

Hi Denisdo,




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Did the instructions I sent you help with the job? Hope you managed to sort it all out now.

Thanks

[denisdo]

Hi all, apologies in the delay in coming back with feedback. HappyDan - your instructions helped a lot. I got instructions from several sources - none were perfect but I was able to figure it. I probably spent 4 hours researching and the job took a couple of hours in the end (incl gear replacement).
I replaced the broken cog in the screen cradle and all is perfect now.
Here a few tips:


There is no need to remove the trim over the drivers wheel, you just need lift it enough so you can get at the screw that holds the cradle
Similarly, I didn’t remove the cover underneath the steering wheel. I just removed the screws along the top of it and just one of the connectors, just enough to allow access to the screen wiring harness.
ELSAWin said that it is not possible to remove crable with screen down but it is easy to remove the screen (two screws at the back) and then the cradle will slide out.
None of the instructions I read clearly explained how to disconnect the screen from the main wiring loom. Figuring this out delayed me quite a bit. I read where people were unclipping the micro switches from the cradle – there is no need for this. The connector to the loom clipped to the underside of the centre vent on the driver’s side. If you look into the whole where the vent was you will see a thick plastic pin, push this and the connector will be freed. You can then pull it through under the steering wheel and disconnect it.
Some instructions say there is a string in the vent that you need to pull – this was not in my car (2005/2006 A8)

I hope this info helps the next person!

[happydan]

Hi Denisdo,

Thank you for letting us know how you got on. Glad you got it all sorted. Hopefully this will help anyone else with the same issue.

Happydan.

[michelmsk]

hi, Philip
I had exactly the same problem with the screen.this is due to a broken gear. I bought new here Audi A8 MMI Screen Repair Kit Replacement Gear 4E0857273D | Vanos BMW Repair kit Disa BMW Repair kit Repair kits for car (http://vanos-bmw.com/audi-a8-mmi-screen-repair-kit-replacement-gear-4e0857273d), it really works.