What is the difference between standard Mobile Phone support and Mobile Phone Prep Low

[ipslim]

Hi everyone,

I'm just coming up to replace my 09 A4 and am for the first time sticking with the same car model as have been very happy (plus our car fleet policy is getting fairly agressive in terms of CO2 caps).

My current A4 has Mobile Phone Prep Low and I'm not sure if I need this vs the standard Bluetooth Mobile Phone and am getting a bit confused with the avaiable info on this.

At present I don't use the cradle and just use Bluetooth for connecting my phone and get phonebook and recent call lists downloaded and accessible in DIS which is all I really need.

My confusion is what Mobile Phone Prep Low is going to give me

The current A4 spec guide has the following to say:-

Mobile telephone preparation – Low with Bluetooth and voice control.
Provides handsfree connection via Bluetooth using mobile phone aerial. Alternatively, it can use a cradle with charging facility for optimal reception via external aerial. Located in front centre armrest. Cradle available at extra cost – please contact your Audi Centre for phone compatibility

but the A4 configurator additionally has the following under the benefits of Mobile Phone Prep Low:-
- Full access by the vehicle of the SIM card and the telephone entries stored there
- Excellent speech quality which has been specially matched to the vehicle
- Convenient control via the MMI, multifunction steering wheel or voice commands

I would have expected that some of these are already included in the standard bluetooth phone support but the spec guide only says the following:-

Bluetooth interface for handsfree mobile phone connectivity. Includes voice control for telephone functions

I guess my main questions are:-
- does the standard bluetooth interface support phone book and call list download to allow DIS phonebook access
- do I just lose the cradle and ability to use the car mobile phone aerial?

I know this is quite a minor distinction but I don't think I need the Phone Prep Low but am wary of losing functionality that I currently have so am just trying to confirm what the actual differences are.

Thanks in advance for any help,

Ian

[Soot1e]

Unless you really need to connect your phone via a cradle, then the standard Bluetooth should give you all you need. Once paired you will be able to access your contacts via the steering wheel buttons utilising the DIS screen. Phone prep low means the phone is powered via the cradle and connected to the car aerial.

[ipslim]

Thanks Soot1e,

Thanks for the feedback, that's what I hoped. I just didn't want to lose any functionality that I was using and was part of the Low Prep pack (I've only the Low Prep as it was included in the Exec pack at the time). Not worried about having the cradle so all good.

Thanks,

Ian

[ipslim]

Btw - was there any reason you went for the 143bhp on your current order instead of the 170bhp you've got at the moment?
I'm debating whether to go 143 or 170 this time around so was just interested in if you had any reasons for your choice.
Ian

[Soot1e]

Btw - was there any reason you went for the 143bhp on your current order instead of the 170bhp you've got at the moment?
I'm debating whether to go 143 or 170 this time around so was just interested in if you had any reasons for your choice.
Ian

Mainly on grounds of cost and consumption, plus comparing 170 to a previous 143 I find the smaller engine to be smoother and a little quieter. TBH most of the time with the driving I do I don't need the extra power.

[ipslim]

Mainly on grounds of cost and consumption, plus comparing 170 to a previous 143 I find the smaller engine to be smoother and a little quieter. TBH most of the time with the driving I do I don't need the extra power.

Fair enough. I've been more than happy with my 143 and haven't really had any issue with it but always tempted by the bigger is better school of thought so good input :-)

Ian

[eob]

Fair enough. I've been more than happy with my 143 and haven't really had any issue with it but always tempted by the bigger is better school of thought so good input :-)

Ian

In this case, I think that bigger probably is better. I chose the 143 thinking it would be marginally better in fuel economy than my 170 CC that I had.
Wrong!
I'm down 15 MPG.
The performance at the top end was also woeful.
Granted the A4 Avant is probably a heavier car but I didn't expect there to be such a difference.

I used to easily manage 700 miles on a 70 litre tank but was barely getting 500 with 65 litres.

I've reverted to a Tuning box. I'm happy with the increase in performance, and initial calcs show I've gained 40 miles to a tank. I'm going to play with the box and see if I can eek out some more MPGs.

If you go for the 143, depending upon the miles you cover, you may consider the tuning box/remap route at some point. Or, you may be quite happy with it.

[derekm]

I can confirm that the standard bluetooth mobile on the new models has all the same functions as the old mobile phone prep low except on the standard bluetooth now you dont get the craddle or the roof aerial. I never used the craddle on the last car so the standard blue tooth works fine and you still get voice activation also.

[ipslim]

Thanks for the confirmation DerekM - means I can spend my £175 on something more useful. Maybe not the Storage Pack though but that's another story of wasted option on the current car - I don't tend to have any matchboxes to keep in the under seat storage :-)

@eob - I on a comapny car scheme and get my private fuel paid for so fuel economy is less of an issue than OTR price and emissions due to impact on income tax so 143 is edging it at the moment (especially as my current 143 has been fine for 99% of needs).