B5 S4 single to Double Din conversion

[wrightbr]

Hello everyone.

My name is Brad and I am a 99.5 B5 facelifted S4 Avant owner from Kent.
Had the car for 3 months now and very pleased with it. Had most of the options I wanted when i bought it (black, Recaro front and rear seats, low miles, sunroof, bose) and I have since added RS4 wheels and RS4 rear spolier.

I am now looking to put in a Sat Nav + which I have purchased and I am looking for advise, especially from anybody who has done a single din to double din conversion. ie does the whole of the centre console + handbrake cover etc need to be removed to do this and if so where are all the bolts located to remove all this? Also has anybody moved their existing single din climate unit down ?I have searched the web and this site and cannot find much info on it?

Any advise/help on doing this will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Brad

[Dippy]

Brad,

I know of a few people who have done it, not thru this site but thru Navi sites such as the AudiNav yahoo group.

I know that you need to replace the single DIN metal cage with a double DIN one (these often come up on e-bay), so yes you need to remove the centre part of the dash trim. I don't think you have to remove the centre console, but that's not difficult and it might make it easier to remove the rest. Based on my experience, I suggest you get hold of a Haynes manual for the B5 A4. Although it doesn't cover the S4, it still applies to removing the dash trim.

The problem with the aircon unit is that to move it down you would need to cut parts off the trim to make it fit. AFAIK people who have done this job have bought a correct unit instead.

[wrightbr]

Dippy,

Thanks for the info. I will pop to Halfrauds at the weekend and pick up a haynes manual.

I am hoping that I can change the cage by just removing the trim etc and not removing the whole middle console. Once i remove the trim I can see some bolts holding the cage in but it depends it it will fit comming out forwards because of the lip.

I will be doing this in the next few weeks and I will post up info on this once I have completed it.

It also has a TMC unit, can this be used as a CAN gateway?

Not seen any double din climate units around. Got a quote from VAG parts and they wanted £396 + VAT so unless I can find one then I will be adapting mine.

Thanks
Brad

[Nige_RS4]

This may help you ... http://forums.audiworld.com/s4/msgs/512854.phtml

[wrightbr]

...also has anybody based close to me (Kent) got VAG.com that I can borrow as I believe that I need this to set the Sat Nav up once installed? i.e I have BOSE upgrade - will I need to config the sat nav to take advantage of this or will it default to this?


Thanks,
Brad

[wrightbr]

..also (so many questions, sorry!) does anybody know of anybody who can supply JUST the surronding trim for the bottom half of the double din ( the piece that covers the climate control) as VAGparts will only sell it with the Control unit? Have looked on ebay but no luck

Thanks
Brad

[Dippy]

Brad,

You may not need VAG-COM to get the system working, however IMO VAG-COM is an invaluable tool which every owner should have, just to keep a track of DTC etc.

AFAIK, the aircon controller does not have a removeable fascia, which is why you are being offered a complete replacement.

If your TMC is an Audi part, it will include the CAN gateway (although there was a rumour in the US that there were some parts which were ONLY CAN gateways without TMC). The Blaupunkt branded TMCs are just TMCs.

When you say you've looked on ebay, have you been looking on GERMAN ebay?

[wrightbr]

Dippy ,

Thanks for the info. No I did no look on German Ebay I will give that a try. Sorry to be a pain but do you know that part number for the double din climate?

I have ordered a VAG.COm cable now just in case.

Thanks,
Brad

[Dippy]

Sorry Brad, I don't know the part number, but use the word "Klima" in your search. I just had a quick look but could only find B6 modules. It took me nearly a year to find all the parts I needed on German e-bay, although I was waiting for rock-bottom prices.

Shame about that - I have a VAG-COM cable for sale now that I have to upgrade...