Park Assist - Retrofit?

[Westyfield2]

I was browsing Kufatec today, and one of the retrofit kits caught my attention... because it was relatively cheap compared with some of the others! It's the option of "Park Assist". Complete Set park steering assistant Audi A6 4G - park assis. avail.-40177-1 (http://www.kufatec.co.uk/shop/en/audi/a6/a6-4g/complete-set-park-steering-assistant-audi-a6-4g-park-assis.-avail.?action_ms=1)

On page 46 of the original Audi brochure was the following:

Order Code 7X5. Park assist – searches for suitable parking spaces along the road by means of ultrasonic sensors, calculates the ideal parking path and performs the steering action virtually automatically. Steering is done by the vehicle, the driver need only accelerate and apply the brakes. Only in combination with colour DIS (9Q8). £410.00



My car doesn't have this. But I do have the Colour DIS that the Audi brochure insisted on, and I've got the Park Distance Control that the Kufatec website asks about. The Kufatec kit is £488.97 as I've got Park Distance Control - so not much more that the original option for once! Complete Set park steering assistant Audi A6 4G - park assis. avail.-40177-1 (http://www.kufatec.co.uk/shop/en/audi/a6/a6-4g/complete-set-park-steering-assistant-audi-a6-4g-park-assis.-avail.?action_ms=1)

Description:



[*=1]Complete - Set for retrofitting the original Park Assist including Parkpilot parking aid at front and rear of the vehicle
[*=1]Detection of longitudinal and transverse parking spaces
[*=1]The vehicle performs the maneuver autonomously
[*=1]Optical parking assistance in MMI display
[*=1]Better assessment of distance to obstacles by individually response of each sensor, and optical representation of this distance change



Selected option:



[*=1]Parking assistance available



Scope of delivery:



[*=1]Wiring
[*=1]Control unit
[*=1]Sensors
[*=1]Button
[*=1]Warning buzzer




Note:


[*=1]After installation the vehicle has to be coded. Please contact an Audi dealer or a specialist workshop with diagnostic software.
[*=1]The sensors are supplied primed - painting required



Has anyone got this option and reckons it's worth retrofitting? And has anyone tried the retrofit? From the pricing of it, I guess that we've already got the motor for the steering (electric power steering?) and it's just sensors/controllers that are needed.


For anyone that's got this option originally; where are the extra sensors fitted compared with us with only the normal parking sensors? I'm guessing they're in the wingmirrors or the front wings somewhere rather than being an extra in the bumpers?

[Guest 2]

If you're still in warranty or your car is leased then give it a miss.

[M1tchy]

I would send them your VIN mate, their prices rocket when you do as they realise you need X, Y and Z to make things work.

[ali00]

In my opinion, it's not worth doing.

I had this option in my car when it was delivered, but didn't ask for it. It's a good gimmick however in the 10 months I've owned my A6 I have rarely used it. I once used it when I first got the car - and even then the car drove into one bay, recognised another free bay directly ahead and then drove into that one and then recognised another and started heading towards that one before it just stopped completely. I tried it again after a month or so and it managed to do the job. But it's just time consuming and when you're in a rush to just park up, you won't bother using it. Much simpler just to do it yourself.

In terms of extra sensors fitted to the car, as far as I am aware there are four extra sensors (ones which are visible to me anyway). They are located on the sides of the front and rear bumpers. They have an indent around them unlike the normal parking sensors. I've circled them on the pictures attached.


2536425365

[Whippy53]

Simply not worth it.

[Westyfield2]

Thanks for the pictures ali00 - don't think I've ever seen one with the sensors in the flesh!

[ukgroucho]

Yeah I have this and have only tried a couple of times and not been to impressed. The one that stands out is trying to parallel park alongside a low curb with buildings set back about 10 or 15 feet.

There was DEFINITELY a big enough space to parallel park... but the car decided I wanted to reverse in to 'herringbone' park - at right angles to the curb 'cos it did not see that but saw the buildings. I switched it off and reversed into the correct parallel parking space.
Maybe with more practice it could be useful but, in all honesty, if you have the parking sensors all around then just use them.

[Hellodave.]

Personally I would choose the reversing camera retrofit over the park assist. If you fit the OEM camera it gives you on screen guidelines which should make parallel or reverse parking a lot easier, and it doesn't require drilling your bumpers to add sensors - you just swap your boot lid handle for one with a camera.

Every opinion of park assist I've seen (admittedly only 3 or 4!) goes along the lines of "nice gimmick, tried it once and it was slow, never bothered again!". On the other hand, people who have reversing cameras seem to love them.

[wja96]

I completely agree about the camera. It's very good. But the retrofit is actually quite painful in that not only do you have to change the tailgate door handle, you have to run an extra cable into the passenger side of the boot where the new rack lives and then you have to run a cable to the fusebox by the drivers seat so you are pulling interior trim pieces off left right and centre. It's well worth it though, in my opinion!

[hopgop]

I completely agree about the camera. It's very good. But the retrofit is actually quite painful in that not only do you have to change the tailgate door handle, you have to run an extra cable into the passenger side of the boot where the new rack lives and then you have to run a cable to the fusebox by the drivers seat so you are pulling interior trim pieces off left right and centre. It's well worth it though, in my opinion!


The above was exactly the advice I was given when specifying my car. - Now having used both it's totally clear the advice was spot on. Camera is amazing especially the guidance lines.

My take on the Park assist itself however, It isn't as bad as some make out if used correctly and in the right situations it can be a real help I've found.
Best scenario that really helps is when you're driving down a row of parallel parked cars looking for a space. You spot a likely candidate select the dash park assist button then while indicating towards it as you drive forward, which warns the obligatory car up your backside of your intention as well as activating the sensor to tell you if it's big enough when to stop and select reverse. You can then parallel park faultlessly in one smooth movement normally without the performance pressure of an impatient driver behind causing you to totally make a fool of yourself. The end on parking for me doesn't work anywhere near as well.
Overall - I'm glad I have both now - but on a new car now - for me - no reversing camera would be a deal breaker. Park assist, nice but completely a luxury.

Hopgop

[Hellodave.]

I completely agree about the camera. It's very good. But the retrofit is actually quite painful in that not only do you have to change the tailgate door handle, you have to run an extra cable into the passenger side of the boot where the new rack lives and then you have to run a cable to the fusebox by the drivers seat so you are pulling interior trim pieces off left right and centre. It's well worth it though, in my opinion!
Did you fit an OEM camera kit to a C7? Just wondering because the instructions I've found show most of the connections being made in the boot, including the fusebox. You do need to run a cable to the front of the car, but that connects to the MMI head unit (video feed & CAN bus). Still plenty of trim to remove either way though!

[wja96]

Did you fit an OEM camera kit to a C7? Just wondering because the instructions I've found show most of the connections being made in the boot, including the fusebox. You do need to run a cable to the front of the car, but that connects to the MMI head unit (video feed & CAN bus). Still plenty of trim to remove either way though!

I didn't do it myself ;)

[Westyfield2]

Thanks for all the replies guys. Looks like this will be one that I don't bother with!

[Boxbrownie]

I wouldn't........when I got mine a few weeks ago I thought it would be fun, but quite frankly its a pain to use and the number of times it actually "picks" a spot (that you could even get a bus into) is few and far between.

Much better to have the rear view camera......which I have not got! :mad:

Is there a retro fit for the RVC or an aftermarket version that works seamlessly?

[Hellodave.]

Is there a retro fit for the RVC or an aftermarket version that works seamlessly?
Kufatec sell an oem RVC kit for £600 which doesn't look too hard to fit.

[Boxbrownie]

Kufatec sell an oem RVC kit for £600 which doesn't look too hard to fit.

Do they? I looked and only saw the wiring kit, I couldn't see anywhere the actual camera fitment.......I shall take another squint, thanks.

[Hellodave.]

Yup. This one: Complete Set APS Advance rearview camera Audi A6, A7 4G - from my. 2012-38025-1 (http://www.kufatec.co.uk/shop/en/audi/a7/a7-4g/complete-set-aps-advance-rearview-camera-audi-a6-a7-4g-my.-2012?tab=cross) ☺