DAB Radio - Retrofit?

[Westyfield2]

My A6 must have been made just before Audi made DAB standard fit. Don't ask me why Audi didn't have it as standard fit from the introduction of the C7, to me it's stupid! :confused: The Lexus that I had before the Audi had DAB as standard and more :p.

Anyways, I would like to have DAB retrofitted to it. I would like to have the proper Audi one that integrates into the MMI, twin tuners, fallback onto FM, etc. Not one of those Belkin FM transmitters or something uses the 3.5mm jack.

Does anyone know what options I have? And has anyone done it before?

If it makes any difference, my car has MMI Navigation Plus (part of the Technology Pack) and BOSE surround sound system.

Thanks!

[Jim Walker]

Have you tried Hazzydayz they seem to be the company to go to for that sort of thing.

[Guest 2]

Search on here, you'll find a couple of threads.

You need a new tuner headunit, big money.

Saloon - DAB Digital Radio - Retrofit - Audi A6 4G Limo - MMI 3G-39518-2 (http://www.kufatec.co.uk/shop/en/Audi/A6/A6-4G/DAB-Digital-Radio-Retrofit-Audi-A6-4G-Limo-MMI-3G1?action_ms=1)

Avant - DAB Digital Radio - Retrofit - Audi A6 4G Avant - MMI 3G-39518-3_M (http://www.kufatec.co.uk/shop/en/Audi/A6-4G/DAB-Digital-Radio-Retrofit-Audi-A6-4G-Avant-MMI-3G)

[Chesterfield313]

£550 plus vat on hazzy dayz website, supplied and fitted.

[Guest 2]

Take their prices with a pinch of salt, seen online it rises pretty quickly according to some people.

[johnsimcox]

£550 plus vat on hazzy dayz website, supplied and fitted.
Kufatec do the OEM one for cars with MMI Plus for £578 (DAB Digital Radio - Retrofit - Audi A6 4G Limo - MMI 3G-39518-2 (http://www.kufatec.co.uk/shop/en/Audi/A6/A6-4G/DAB-Digital-Radio-Retrofit-Audi-A6-4G-Limo-MMI-3G1?action_ms=1)) plus fitting.

Just realised this is the same link Chris posted

[Westyfield2]

So I've done some research...

If you have the lower MMI version (RMC) it's expensive/difficult to fit as everything is integrated. If you have the higher MMI version (MMI Plus), it's easier as everything is modules in the boot.
I have MMI 3G Plus :D

If you have a saloon it's expensive/difficult to fit as you don't have the antenna integrated. If you have the Avant it's easier as you already have the antenna.
I have an Avant and can seen the antenna in the rear boot window just behind the C pillar. :D

[Guest 2]

I thought all 3G systems ran from the unit on the dash labelled Audi Multimedia? I know on 3G (non +) the headunit (ie radio box) was either dab or non dab and the single unit had to be replaced, surely is it not the same for 3G+?

[Westyfield2]

For the 3G+ its all in the boot - nothing to do with the stuff in the dash. To add DAB capability to a 3G+ you can either add in a DAB unit into the rack in the boot (with its own set of power/antenna/fibre connections), or you can replace the existing AM/FM unit in the rack with a combined AM/FM/DAB unit (stealing the original power/antenna/fibre connections).

[Guest 2]

You learn something new everyday, thanks for the info!

[morski]

I thought on the new 3g+ systems which we have the dab unit is in the actual radio unit in the back and a separate dab unit is not available with these and the this radio unit has to be changed at circa £11-1200 new?

[Guest 2]

That's what I thought. Can't see them doing away with the combined unit they introduced in 3G.

[morski]

Just checked ETKA and no separate unit for DAB just the original radio with built in DAB and or TV options

[Westyfield2]

I thought on the new 3g+ systems which we have the dab unit is in the actual radio unit in the back and a separate dab unit is not available with these and the this radio unit has to be changed at circa £11-1200 new?
That is correct.

To retrofit DAB to a non-DAB MMI 3G+ car there are two options:


Buy the Fistune module. It fits in the boot rack and will need its own set of power/fibre connectors (you can tee off from the existing modules). If your rack is already full of other modules, then you're stuffed. Note that whilst the Fistune properly integrates into the MMI, it doesn't have autotuning or multiple DAB tuners like the Audi one does. Cost is about £380
Replace the original Audi AM/FM tuner (bottom row of the rack) with the AM/FM/DAB version that Audi would have fitted if you'd ticked the option. Cost new is about €1200 from Audi. This is actually what the Kufatec OEM kit (£530) and Hazzydayz (£714 fitted) kits are. Presumably they are both cheaper than Audi parts because they're using refurbished equipment or they're factoring in resale value of your original AM/FM tuner.


Note that either way, you also need a couple more pieces than just the tuner. You need the short cable that connects from the antenna in the window to the antenna amplifier. You need the antenna amplifier that gets hidden in the C-pillar (€75 from Audi). You need the Fakra coaxial cable from the antenna amplifier to the DAB tuner. The Kufatec and Hazzydayz kits include all that.

[Westyfield2]

I took couple of photos of the media rack in the boot for anyone that's not looked at theirs:

http://www.edwardb.co.uk/audi/rack1.jpg

http://www.edwardb.co.uk/audi/rack2.jpg


Radio tuner unit is in the bottom bay (mines the AM/FM, not the €1200 AM/FM/DAB one!) The pair of connections on the far side are the AM/FM radio antenna. The connections in the middle are the fibre optic cable. The nearest connections are the power. If you have Audi DAB on the €1200 AM/FM/DAB radio unit then you have an extra connection for the FAKRA coaxial cable going to the C-Pillar antenna amplifier [not pictured as I don't have it!].

The middle bay is empty as I don't have TV. This is where the Fistune would go. It would need power and fibre connections to be tee'd off the AM/FM radio unit, and a FAKRA coaxial cable going to the C-Pillar antenna amplifier. If you already have the TV unit then you're out of space.

The big silver thing on the top is the BOSE amplifier.

[@lpher]

I have the Fistune module in my A7, and apart from the unit not being able to switch automatically from FM to DAB and vice versa, it's a very good unit. And for those of us living in areas where DAB+ is the new norm, quite a bit more futureproof than the OEM unit aswell :)

[Westyfield2]

Well this weekend I have now successfully retrofitted full Audi OEM DAB :). Unfortunately, I completely forgot to take any pictures! :Blush2: So instead here's my basic writeup...

The original radio unit fitted to my car was part number 4G1035053 (running software 4G1035053G). I removed this and fitted part number 4G0035061E which is the AM/FM/DAB tuner that EKTA lists as fitting for vehicles with the DAB option code.
Radio Unit 4G0035061E is over £1K new from Audi, so I purchased a used one from eBay.

To fit the radio unit:

Undo the bolts into the side of the car that hold the top half (BOSE Amp) of the media bay in place.
Undo the two bolts that hold the top half (BOSE Amp) of the media bay to the bottom half.
Unplug the cables to the Bose Amp and then remove the top half of the media bay with the BOSE Amp attached to it. Note that the big fat cable with all the wires has a lever on the plug.
Undo the bolts holding the bottom half (Radio Unit) of the media bay in place.
Unplug all the cables to the Radio Unit and then remove the bottom half of the media bay with the Radio Unit still inside it. Note that the bottom of the media bay has a cable tidy/trunk cover which you need to open to release the cables from.
Slide the 4G1035053 Radio Unit out of the bottom half of the media bay. It slides out just like a CD drive in a desktop PC.
Slide the 4G0035061E Radio Unit into the bottom half of the media bay.
Reverse all of the above instructions to install the Radio Unit.


The new 4G0035061E Radio Unit has all of the same plugs on the back of it as the old 4G1035053 Radio Unit, plus a Fakra plug for the DAB antenna. For now, we'll leave the DAB antenna unplugged. If you go into the MMI and select the Radio, you should now see DAB appear in the list alongside FM/AM, but not find any stations to listen to as we don't have an antenna yet.

Original Radio Unit

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 56: Radio (R) Labels: Redir Fail!
Part No SW: 4G1 035 053 J HW: 4G1 035 053
Component: Radio U Basic H41 0133
Revision: AB001007 Serial number: ***
Coding: 010003010000000001
Shop #: WSC 02391 785 00200
VCID: 26430BED5112592EC11-8073
No fault code found.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


New Radio Unit


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 56: Radio (R) Labels: Redir Fail!
Part No SW: 4G0 035 061 E HW: 4G0 035 061
Component: Radio U DAB H60 0099
Revision: AB001007 Serial number: ***
Coding: 010103010000000001
Shop #: WSC 02391 785 00200
VCID: 1F4D1E090E4888E6827-804A

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


When you turn the car on, you'll now get the following two errors in VCDS:
5F: Information Electr - 03276 Please Check Software Version Management

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 5F: Information Electr. (J794) Labels: 4E0-035-6xx-5F.clb
Part No SW: 4G0 035 670 J HW: 4G0 035 670
Component: H-BNT-EU H47 0798
Revision: -------- Serial number: ***
Coding: 050101010003E1ED05008B3E00000003000001000000000000
Shop #: WSC 02391 785 00200
VCID: 2A5BFFDD450A7D4EE59-807F
Subsystem 1 - Part No: 8R0 060 884 AR
Component: ECE 2013 1505
Subsystem 2 - Part No SW: 4G0 919 605 A HW: 4G0 919 605 A
Component: DU8 C7 SV H42 0021
Subsystem 3 - Part No SW: 4G2 919 610 C HW: 4G2 919 610 A
Component: E380 BDT C7 H08 0204
Subsystem 4 - Part No: 8R0 060 961 B
Component: CD-Database 3371
1 Fault Found:
03276 - Please Check Software Version Management
000 - -
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 01100000
Fault Priority: 6
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 38
Mileage: 38668 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2014.09.20
Time: 14:27:07
Freeze Frame:
Text: ARU9440,Atmega,M,0,0,5

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This you can fix yourself using VCDS. Follow the instructions here (http://www.audienthusiasts.com/Application_SVMError.html) or here (http://audiforum.us/threads/please-check-software-version-management.14145/page-2) to enter the right adaption value.

The other error is:

56: Radio - 02095 Component Protection Active

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 56: Radio (R) Labels: Redir Fail!
Part No SW: 4G0 035 061 E HW: 4G0 035 061
Component: Radio U DAB H60 0099
Revision: AB001007 Serial number: ***
Coding: 010103010000000001
Shop #: WSC 02391 785 00200
VCID: 1F4D1E090E4888E6827-804A
2 Faults Found:
02095 - Component Protection Active
000 - -
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 01100000
Fault Priority: 4
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 38
Mileage: 38668 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2014.09.20
Time: 14:25:25
02095 - Component Protection Active
008 - Implausible Signal - Intermittent
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00101000
Fault Priority: 4
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 78
Mileage: 38668 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2014.09.20
Time: 14:25:25

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This you cannot fix yourself and you need to visit the dealer for. Basically, when a new unit is manufactured by Audi, its first use will then cause it to be 'bonded' with a particular car. If the unit is now put into a different car, it needs to be activated again. The idea is to stop people fitting stolen stereos etc. To remove component protection my dealer charged £50. Note that if the unit's serial number is on a database of stolen parts at Audi HQ, then the dealer will be unable to remove component protection and you need to go back to the eBay seller for a refund (and report them to the Police for selling stolen goods).

With component protection removed, you will then have a new error appear:
56: Radio - 02877 Digital Radio Antenna - 011 Open circuit.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 56: Radio (R) Labels: Redir Fail!
Part No SW: 4G0 035 061 E HW: 4G0 035 061
Component: Radio U DAB H60 0099
Revision: AB001007 Serial number: ***
Coding: 010103010000000001
Shop #: WSC 02391 785 00200
VCID: 1F4D1E090E4888E6827-804A
1 Fault Found:
02877 - Digital Radio Antenna (R183)
011 - Open Circuit
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 01101011
Fault Priority: 7
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 41
Mileage: 38681 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2014.10.02
Time: 09:12:37
Freeze Frame:
Voltage: 12.00 V

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


This is because the Radio unit doesn't have anything connected to the DAB antenna socket.

Plug a Fakra cable into the DAB socket on the radio unit, and run it along to the C-Pillar inside of the boot side panel. Instructions for removing the side panel are on Elsa, and there are lots of "having first remembered to". Basically:

Remove the two blinds.
Remove the silver piece of trim on the loading edge of the boot.
Remove the left tie-down rail in the boot.
Remove the boot side panel.


Once you reach the C-Pillar, we then need to remove the trim on that too. To remove the C-Pillar trim:

Remove the boot side panel (already done).
Remove the rear seat bench.
Remove the seat side trim.
Remove the seat belt guide.
Remove the C-Pillar trim.


Inside the C-Pillar, we want to install the DAB antenna booster / amplifier. This is part number 4G9035225D. The antenna booster fits into the C-Pillar with an angled piece on its bottom, and with a screw/retaining nut on its top. The screw you need is part number N10633602. The retaining nut is part number WHT000748, but I found that antenna booster actually came with the retaining nut anyway under the one 4G9035225D part number.
Once you've attached the antenna booster to the C-Pillar, plug the Fakra cable into the bottom of it.

In VCDS, the Open Circuit error will have disappeared as we now have a connection from the Radio to the antenna booster. A new error will occur however as there is nothing plugged into the top of the antenna booster.

56: Radio - 02877 Digital Radio Antenna - 012 Electrical Fault in Circuit

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 56: Radio (R) Labels: Redir Fail!
Part No SW: 4G0 035 061 E HW: 4G0 035 061
Component: Radio U DAB H60 0099
Revision: AB001007 Serial number: ***
Coding: 010103010000000001
Shop #: WSC 02391 785 00200
VCID: 1F4D1E090E4888E6827-804A
1 Fault Found:

02877 - Digital Radio Antenna (R183)
012 - Electrical Fault in Circuit
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 01101100
Fault Priority: 7
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 44
Mileage: 38705 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2014.10.04
Time: 17:24:31
Freeze Frame:
Voltage: 11.90 V

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The next parts you need are two short wires part number 000979009E, and one Connector housing 1C0973119B. The connector housing has three pins.

Pin 1 = Short wire soldered onto the bottom contact patch in the window glass. Whether you solder the wire to the glass or use some form of electrical conductive glue is up to you.
Pin 2 & 3 = Short wire looped together to bridge the two pins in a loop.


Important note: The connector housing has a latch mechanism in which it opens up. If you just push the wires into it, they will not go in far enough! Make sure that you open up the latch of the connector housing and push the wires in all the way!

Then plug the connector housing into the top of the antenna booster. If you rescan the car with VCDS, there will be no errors.

And then reassemble all your trim back together. Installation is the reverse of removal.


That's it :). Turn the car on and in the MMI your DAB radio option will now have all the different stations listed :). In the Green hidden menu, you can get an actual signal strength reading if you want to check that the solder to the window glass antenna is still connected well.

[Westyfield2]

So a complete parts list:

My original Radio Unit - 4G1035053 - To be resold on eBay now!
The new AM/FM/DAB Radio Unit - 4G0035061E - Over £1K from Audi, or whatever you can find it for on eBay.
Component Protection Removal - £60 from my local dealer.
Antenna Amplifier (inside C-Pillar) - 4G9035225D - £33.61 from my local dealer
Screw for Antenna Amplifier - N10633602 - £0.25 from my local dealer
Retaining nut for Antenna Amplifier - WHT000748 - Came included with Antenna Amplifier (or £0.25 from my local dealer)
2x Short wire from Antenna Amplifier to window glass contact patch - 000979009E - £3.03 each from my local dealer
Connector housing for Antenna Amplifier wires - 1C0973119B - £3.15 from my local dealer
Female FAKRA coaxial cable from Antenna Amplifier (in C-Pillar) to Radio Unit in boot, about 2metres - £9.39 on (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110959432230)eBay

[Guest 2]

Good job, alot of time, effort and money well spent!

[Westyfield2]

Good job, alot of time, effort and money well spent!
It's definitely a lot of time taking all the interior bits apart! And then remembering to install it all in the right order!
The money was surprisingly ok; I paid less for the radio unit than the Fistune would cost, plus I've still got my original radio unit to sell on :).

[chesterfield]

That sounds a right ball ache of a job. Think I would have gone with a separate dab tuner in the boot and extended the aux input wiring if I was that desperate.

And this is from somebody who once extended every single connection between the face controls and CD deck of a mini hifi and its main base in order to mount the low voltage components in a bathroom wall.

[Westyfield2]

I did it the proper Audi way as I wanted it done right. This means that an Audi Tech could take apart my car and not know that the DAB wasn't fitted in the factory until he looked at the PR Codes. It was a right hassle though; I wouldn't have had the patience if it wasn't my own car! And I can see why HazzyDayz charge what they do.

If I were to do it again...

I would question whether you're so obsessed with doing it "The Audi way" as I was. I would probably install the Radio Unit/Fistune in the media bay in the boot, but then not bother with the antenna in the window. I would use a short 10cm Fakra cable from the radio unit to the antenna booster which itself is in the media bay. Then from the antenna booster I would create my own aerial within the media bay / boot.
That wouldn't give as good a signal as I've got from doing it properly, but would be "good enough" and save lots of time! You could go into the MMI green menu to see the detailed antenna readings and experiment with different aerial shapes/positions to see what works best.

[CNC-Meister]

Hi All,

I have just bought a 2012 Q7 and am looking at doing the DAB retrofit the proper Audi way like westyfield2 did. One question to westyfield2, why couldn't you use the existing antenna booster already fitted in the C Pillar, this should already have its connections soldered to the window contacts and a socket for DAB antenna fakra plug? They certainly do a version of this part 4L0 035 225AE which has the DAB antenna connection, so it should be plug and play? Or was this not already fitted to your car?

Or is there another reason for using the A6 booster 4G9 035 225D? apologies if I am being stupid and overlooking something obvious.

[Westyfield2]

Hi All,

I have just bought a 2012 Q7 and am looking at doing the DAB retrofit the proper Audi way like westyfield2 did. One question to westyfield2, why couldn't you use the existing antenna booster already fitted in the C Pillar, this should already have its connections soldered to the window contacts and a socket for DAB antenna fakra plug? They certainly do a version of this part 4L0 035 225AE which has the DAB antenna connection, so it should be plug and play? Or was this not already fitted to your car?

Or is there another reason for using the A6 booster 4G9 035 225D? apologies if I am being stupid and overlooking something obvious.
I don't know what it's like on the Q7, but on the A6 the Window Antenna is only used for the DAB and TV. So on a car that didn't have either DAB or TV options factory fitted, you don't have any antenna booster or wires in the C Pillar.
It seems odd really that they still fit the window that has the antenna in the glass, but I guess that makes it easier to only produce one version.

[CNC-Meister]

Ahh, Got you! I haven't taken my car apart yet, but I'm just hoping the booster is there with a socket for the DAB antenna once I get all the trim off the car.

Thanks for the info..

[@lpher]

So a complete parts list:

The new AM/FM/DAB Radio Unit - 4G0035061E - Over £1K from Audi, or whatever you can find it for on eBay



This partnumber....is the unit with both DAB and DAB+?

[@lpher]

It seems odd really that they still fit the window that has the antenna in the glass, but I guess that makes it easier to only produce one version.

Most newer Audi models are this way (except C6 sedan) So all you need to do when retrofitting a DAB-tuner, oem or otherwise, is to get a hold of the fakra cable and the booster :)

[@lpher]

For those of you wanting a DAB-upgrade the easy way WITHOUT having to resort to fm-modulations, analogue aux input etc. (In general tech. Solutions that will degrade the soundquality drastically) There is a new version of Dension's DAB+U unit comming out now that I've just tested myself with good results :)

[Westyfield2]

This partnumber....is the unit with both DAB and DAB+?
Hi @lpher,

Unfortunately I don't know if it supports DAB+ as-well as DAB. And as DAB+ isn't broadcast in the UK, I can't think of a way to test it. Maybe the MOTOR-TALK - Europas größte Auto- und Motor-Community! (http://www.motor-talk.de) forums will know?


One thing worth noting is that when I updated the car to MMI firmware 783 (link (http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?160891-Frustration!-Latest-Sat-Nav-software-versions-and-changes&p=941827#post941827)), the radio unit was included in the update. VCDS now reports that it is running software 4G0 035 061 N.

[mark-]

For those of you wanting a DAB-upgrade the easy way WITHOUT having to resort to fm-modulations, analogue aux input etc. (In general tech. Solutions that will degrade the soundquality drastically) There is a new version of Dension's DAB+U unit comming out now that I've just tested myself with good results :)

Hi @lpher

Are you still happy with the Dension DAB+U? does it connect via the USB cable in the AMI connection in the armrest?

Thanks

[Deliverance]

Hi to anyone interested in adding DAB to an A6 4G/C7 with an RMC unit. (Original Non-DAB unit marked RMC Cnct Nav RMC=SD NAV + AM/FM Radio 4G0-035-193)

I am thinking about getting the RMC unit with DAB (Original DAB unit marked RMC Nav Plus, SD NAV + AM/FM/DAB Radio 4G0-035-192).
Has anyone ever tried this...?
Possible hurdles:
SD Nav card would have to be re-activated at the dealers. - £50 estimated
VCDS would be needed to re-code the RMC-DAB unit. £free if you have VAG-COM/VCDS
There would be no DAB antenna cable fitted at the rear of the RMC unit so a new loom would be required (a lot of pulling trim & cable). The antenna itself is supposed to be fitted to all A6 4G so if it is options are;
Options;
FISTUNE® antenna module A6 4G Limo-39528 (https://www.kufatec.de/shop/en/fistune-dab-solution/antenna-modules/fistune-antenna-module-a6-4g-limo2?action_ms=1)
Antenna extension FISTUNE for RMC-39949 (https://www.kufatec.de/shop/en/fistune-dab-solution/antenna-modules/antenna-extension-fistune-rmc)

Otherwise this might work...?
DAB Digital Radio Antenna Fakra | Advanced In Car Technologies (http://www.advanced-incar.co.uk/digital-radio-dab/dab-antenna)

Would be interested to hear from anyone that ever tried this approach.....