Audi smartphone carplay activation

[doodlebug]

I used a laptop with a fresh install of Windows 10, today I am going to have a look if there is anything on there that shouldn't be, I watched the whole install and didn't see anything to worry about.

I wouldn’t expect you to see anything. Validating the firmware installed would be a starting point. Though no idea how you’d do that or then scan the car for any vulnerabilities.

[Golfather]

This process is curious. You’re handing your car over to an unknown third party to install some software. Is that software genuine?

To me this is a massive cyber risk akin to clicking on a link which merrily installs malware on your PC or Mac.

Would you hand over control of your PC or Mac to an unknown third party?!

Brave.

Firmware - its genuine, its a later version which has the smartphone activated within it.
Cyber risk - use a new latop and wipe it clean afterwards if its causing concern.

As with any mod, risks will always be associated with it.

Just depends if you've got a pair big enough to manage that risk..

[doodlebug]

Size of knackers won’t help you manage the risk.

Clean laptop doesn’t help you....I’d spend some time understanding what is a well funded highly organised entity.

Still, your risk, not mine!

[bn8959]

I’ve just had this done. The guy is genuine and I didn’t see anything suspicious in what he does (I work in IT security). I’m very pleased with my outcome!

In more detail:
You need a USB 2.0 to 100Mbps Ethernet adapter based on the AX88772 chip (not necessarily the Dlink one). I got one for £8 from Amazon.
You need an 8gb or larger SD card and be able to read that in your PC (may need a USB adapter)
He sends you a download. Download it and extract to the SD card in advance
He will connect to your pc via TeamViewer
First he will upload some additional files and tools to your machine
Then he does a custom firmware update on the USB to Ethernet adapter. This makes it appear like an Audi diagnostic tool so the MMI will detect it and assign itself an IP.
Then he uses the TeamViewer VPN so he can connect from his PC through to the MMI (via telnet).
He does something to enable custom firmware updates on the MMI
Then he takes you through entering the green screen diagnostic screen on the MMI and triggering a manual firmware update for the MMI components (this are the files you downloaded in advance on the SD card).
Once updated he connect again via telnet to enable the Audi Smartphone feature.

If anyone is getting it done, you’d be welcome to have my USB Etherner adapter for what I paid for it. Benefit is that it already has the right custom firmware on it which will save you half an hour of him updating it.

[LeeRS6]

I'm more than happy with mine, everything works perfectly.

[kerniez]

Just had my 2015 facelift done and it works perfectly. All done for £139 - Great result so much better than the external box

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[chandler99]

chances this will invalidate Audi warranty?

[wildbore]

Four questions, please:
Has anyone tried an Android phone, yet?
Do you have to connect the phone with a cable, or does this work over Bluetooth?
Will the upgrade get wiped by Audi during a service?
Does the car hand a GPS position back to the phone as part of the connection, or are you relying on the phone's GPS when you use a nav/location app?

Thanks

[bn8959]

I haven’t myself, but I understand it works fine.

It needs USB connected

I doubt this would be wiped by Audi as that would only happen if they tried a firmware upgrade on the MMI, but it would already be newer than any release available for this age of car.

GPS will be the phones GPS and not the car one. Works perfectly well for me though.

[kerniez]

Just to add, it works fine with Apple CarPlay and Android.

I’ll keep the SD Card in case it is wiped by Audi, I should be able to upgrade again with a little help from @Carplay_audi


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[bn8959]

I had video-in-motion activated on my B7 RS4 via a similar method. It was never wiped or lost at any point in 9 years of ownership, so I doubt very much if you'd ever lose it - even if there is a software update (but im certain Audi wont be releasing any updates now, especially as we are talking <=2016 cars). It wont retrospectively check feature enablement with Audi im pretty sure too.

[Moonmonkey831]

Not sure I would do it. Random remote connection done by god knows who from god knows where into my 90k weapon that I trust to keep me safe without suddenly changing some settings.

Who says it’s not installing tracking software that shows where you car is via the 3g connection?

Paranoid, probably


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[LeeRS6]

Paranoid, probably

Just a little bit, do you look under your car everyday to see if someone has stuck a tracker there as that’s probably more likely to happen


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[Moonmonkey831]

Paranoid, probably

Just a little bit, do you look under your car everyday to see if someone has stuck a tracker there as that’s probably more likely to happen


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I have a stick with mirrors on to check for all devices




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[jwlanky]

I had the upgrade done at the weekend and loving the use of waze over the standard sat nav. It works really well with the mmi knob/ touchpad too.
Im guessing the carplay dude is a chinese Audi tech and would happily recommend him to others.