Prospective A6 - a few queries

[Hippogriff]

Hi all,

My first post into the A6 forum area. I've had two previous A4s and I am currently running a 59 reg. 2.0 S line with MMI 3G and various other options. Today I went into Audi Sheffield to look at the face-lifted A4, the A6 and the Q3. The face-lift of the A4 appears to be nearly wholly cosmetic so I'm losing interest in that quickly. I didn't like the Q3 at all. The A6 seems to be front-runner... it all depends on whether I can afford it.

However, in preparation (as I say), I went to the dealership to ask some questions and I've got all the brochures in front of me.

Sheffield Audi told me that no Audi, apart from the A3, allows 7 digit postcode entry. I sought clarity on this and he confirmed it for me. I didn't believe him, to be honest, and the brochures certainly indicate that 7 digit postcode is a feature - can any A6 owner tell me for sure that you can enter full postcodes into the sat. nav. system, please? I guess what I'm looking at here is Order Code WB4 (Technology Package) which is said to include PNQ (MMI+), 9Q8 (colour DIS), 9ZW (mobile phone preparation - high) and UF7 (AMI).

Linked to MMI+, it appears that you PNQ gives you MMI Touch, the ability to scrawl letters onto the keypad (Sheffield Audi told me this wasn't on their cars - again, I was baffled)... how well does this work, is it better than spinning the MMI wheel?

Finally, can any A6 owners help me with an AMI query? In my A4 today, I connect a USB HDD to the car with all my MP3s on there and this is held in the glove compartment. Obviously this only shows me music in a list format... there is no Album Cover presented to me. I would like this feature - is it something the A6's system can display - either if the MP3s had Cover images embedded in their ID3 tags, or even a folder.jpg file held in the same folder as the music files?

If these were both 'fixed', then I would be a really happy A6 owner... these are things that I was always hoping the A4 would have. Any responses are very much appreciated, as it will help me out a lot (although I expect a further trip to Audi and more conversations about potentially duff information I seem to be getting).

Oh, really finally... has anyone got first-hand experience of 7X5 (Park Assist)... as I do love the idea?

[retired99]

Sheffield Audi told me that no Audi, apart from the A3, allows 7 digit postcode entry.

Rubbish, I have a current model A6 sitting outside and only today I was able to input and navigate to a seven digit postcode. This car is fitted with the Tech Pack but I'm fairly sure that 7 digit postcode is supported by the MMI SD version.

Linked to MMI+, it appears that you PNQ gives you MMI Touch, the ability to scrawl letters onto the keypad (Sheffield Audi told me this wasn't on their cars - again, I was baffled)... how well does this work, is it better than spinning the MMI wheel?

For me this works well and is certainly quicker than spinning the wheel. I could have an advantage here in that I am left handed. It doesn't seem very fussy about the quality of the character formation so it might be ok even for right handed people.

Finally, can any A6 owners help me with an AMI query? In my A4 today, I connect a USB HDD to the car with all my MP3s on there and this is held in the glove compartment. Obviously this only shows me music in a list format... there is no Album Cover presented to me. I would like this feature - is it something the A6's system can display - either if the MP3s had Cover images embedded in their ID3 tags, or even a folder.jpg file held in the same folder as the music files?

'My' A6 has been lent to me so I've not delved too far into all the 'entertainment' features. However, it does have MMI plus which features a couple of SD card slots. I've copied some music to an SD card, one folder per album, and this plays the music and displays the album art. Don't know if it's using the images in the album folder or in the ID tag as both are present. Car also feature a HDD based jukebox (MMI Plus) which I assume will work in the same way as the SD card, although I haven't tried it.

Oh, really finally... has anyone got first-hand experience of 7X5 (Park Assist)... as I do love the idea?

No experience.

[gribbo91]

Yes standard Nav has 7 digit postcode, lot better than my 2010 which has 5 digit. don't think that AMI or even the SD supports covers on the MMI screen.

[Whippy53]

I suspect you were talking to the tea boy.

[retired99]

Your question about album art prompted me to go outside and fiddle about.

As far as I can tell ( loan car with no handbook - paper or on the HDD) when music is played from the SD card the album art is shown as part of the track playing information, this seems to be the only time it can be seen when using an SD card.

I loaded a couple of albums onto the HDD jukebox. The jukebox provides an 'album browswer' feature( not present with SD card ) which allows you to flick through the album covers ( art work) in much the same way as mobile phone /mps players often do. When a track is then selected and played the artwork is displayed with the track details in the same way as from the SD Card.

Have to say I find the user interface a bit unattractive and clumsy, but I guess you adapt to that. I suggest that you find a competent sales person and get them to demo it.

[Hippogriff]

Thank you for this... he did say he'd only worked there for just over a year, but I figured that he should still know answers to basic queries about key features. Oh well.

So, this confirmation on full postcode entry is great... it's been way too long coming to Audi vehicles (for reasons I understand, but never accepted!) and now that's all sorted, I feel more positive.

The Album Covers also sounds positive as well... it seems like it works from SD Card (I do load up tracks via SD Card, as well, often) and via the Jukebox (something I do not use often, myself)... so it will be very interesting to see if that works with a USB HDD attached. It doesn't really matter which of ID3 tag or folder.jpg it uses - just as long as the feature is there.

And, as I'm also cag-handed, the text entry via scrawling should work well for me.

Sounds positive.

I've just been trawling the brochure... is it really £515 for me to get electrically-folding wing mirrors (so that they'll fold on locking and unfold on unlocking) on an A6?

[Passatier3]

If he's only worked there for a year he's got no excuse for his poor knowledge of recent/new cars, older models yes, but not new ones!

This is my first Audi for a few years, had a few VW in between, and was lucky enough to stagger into ownership as I thought was going to be too expensive. I say lucky because it seems my timing was right because it's the best A6 to-date, as said has the full postcode entry etc. and is basically a great car.

As I've got the Black Edition it's got AMI which allows the connection of HDD etc. I'm using the SD card for my music (in separate albums) but haven't been able to crack the showing of album covers yet. I've got them in I-Tunes but don't know how to tag them to the folders.

If you go down the A6 route one thing to consider carefully, if you are concerned about fuel economy, is whether to go for manual or Multitronic - worth reading the thread on real world figures. Basically whilst Audi claim very similar figures it's being found that generally the manual is much better. I find that driven gently the fuel consumption is pretty good but as soon as I start putting my foot down (and I'm not talking hard) the average fuel consumption drops quite a lot, certainly compared to my previous Passat with DSG gearbox which compared very well with a manual. Multitronic is very smooth though and enhances the prestige feel of the car.

[Hippogriff]

Interesting. I'm multitronic all the way! That limits my choices re. engine, but I'm happy with that. I would not have a manual and I wasn't a personal fan of the S tronic.

I have no qualms with messing around with the MP3s, to find out how and why they get their images shown in the MMI, I tinkered enough with the A4 and MMI 3G, finding out the differences in how tracks were ordered differently in a USB-attached device and on the Jukebox - all good fun. What I'm glad about is the fact that someone has said they've seen Covers in the MMI on the A6 - that's good enough for me.

Now, as to the Black Edition - I was also very, very tempted to consider going for this... however, those 20" wheels made me apprehensive. Are they working out OK? I note that the S line is 18".

[Olio]

I've just been trawling the brochure... is it really £515 for me to get electrically-folding wing mirrors (so that they'll fold on locking and unfold on unlocking) on an A6?

No, it should be £235 if I remember correctly and if you have only the basic options (electric / memory-wise) (option 6XE)

[Hippogriff]

I hope that's right... that's a helluva difference.

6XE @ £235 = "heated and electrically adjustable and folding..." vs. 6XK (what I was looking at) @ £515 = "heated, electrically adjustable, electrically folding and auto-dimming..." so it must be the auto-dimming bit that jumps up the price, then... which I have on the A4, and I do like having. Might well get dropped here. However, I note the slight difference in "electrically adjustable and folding" and "electrically adjustable, electrically folding"... I guess I'd better find out for sure.