Advice on Sat Nav for S4

[JohnS4]

I've got a Jun 2001 S4 Avant and would like to get a Sat Nav system fitted. The Audi Sat Nav+ system looks great but seems a lot more expensive than the 3rd party alternatives from Pioneer, Panasonic etc.

Has any one here retrofitted Sat Nav systems of any type to an S4 ? I would prefer to do the minimum of cutting up of interior etc.

I currently have the Concert radio/cassette/6-CD boot changer with BOSE.

There is a picture of the type of center console in my car attached.

Thanks in advance for any help with this.

[JohnS4]

Sorry the attachment didn't seem to get attached.

I'll try one more time in this message, otherwise you can see it in my gallery photos (listed as user jw83113)

[Nige_RS4]

You might consider the cheaper OEM option of the sat nav display on the instrument cluster - see attachment.

I don't know anyone who has done this, but for sure, you will need the following bits as a minimum;
cd-rom based unit (boot mounted)& cabling to front, gps antenna & cabling, switch mechanism (mounted nr handbrake), connection to DIS and back of concert headunit.

Nige.

[Dippy]

John,

IMO You should ONLY consider the Audi system if you must have it fully integrated. This is because aftermarket solutions are cheaper and quite frankly are probably better.

It will be a lot of work to do and cost a lot. Recently a used Sat Nav + head unit (i.e. only the part that goes in the centre console) went on e-Bay for about £800! [img]images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]
In addition you would need all the extra parts and a lot of fitting effort.

I have seen some aftermarket solutions where the LCD slides out of the head unit, so that looks pretty cool to me. One of our members, Bushy, has had some good work done on his RS4 so he might be able to advise.

[DavidT]

Here is a link to tell you all about it.

Audi SatNav + aftermarket install

The complexity put me off to be honest.

[robscim]

Slightly off topic (apologies) but I have sat nav as original fit, along with Bose and was wondering if anyone could tell me the best way to get an up-to-date disc for it. I guess I could get one from the stealers but I'd rather save my money for more useful upgrades!

Thanks in advance

Rob
[img]images/graemlins/yellows4.gif[/img]

[Dippy]

If you find a cheap source, let me know too. My CD is 2000 and the info is getting a bit old.

[wazza]

from navshop.com [89GBP] [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]
I think it's the correct one for a non-DX pre-Apr 2001 unit.

[JohnS4]

Dippy,

Thanks, you have confirmed more or less what I was thinking that it will be more straightforward with an aftermarket solution. I have seen the head units with the slide out LCD panel - they do look good, but are the Audi Concert systems a standard DIN fitting size ? It looks bigger but that could just be an illusion. If it is then I guess I can just take out the Audi Concert system and fit one of the LCD panel systems. These are normally just DVD players though and you still need the seperate Sat Nav unit to feed them but I could put that in the boot instead of the Audi 6CD changer.

If anyone has done anything like this and has photos it would be great if you could post them.

John

[wazza]

John, you may be interested in the one for sale on Tyresmoke [img]images/graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

[JohnS4]

Thanks for the info, I have had a look at the one for sale and it looks nice. My worries are more about the fitting process, Audi seem to go out of their way to make it as difficult as possible by customizing everything.

The concert unit looks larger than normal and my Audi dealer wont even sell me the tool to remove it ("security reasons" so they say). I believe that the roof mounted antenna has an amplifier powered from the antenna cable as well just to make life more difficult. I also read that some Audis have special glass that prevents GPS signals passing through cleanly so you can't mount the GPS antenna on the dashboard.

I was hoping someone else here might have had this pain and worked out the solutions.

All this is making me consider getting a professional install done. Does anyone know anyone who will do a good job in the South London area ? There is a place called GPS warehouse that looks very knowledgeable about the GPS piece but I don't know whether they are any good with car electronics and Audio.

John

[Nige_RS4]

The GPS antenna is powered, but on the avant, there are 3 sets of cables going up to it - GPS, FM antenna and also GSM.

GPS does work through Audi glass (well the side windows anyway)

Hope this helps.

Nige.

[kennyboy]

I have a motorised flip screen Alpine DVD sat nav & CD changer system fitted.

The antenna is mounted by the window and it works even through Pentagon security glass.

There is alot of work to fit these and would advise it being fitted by the pros. The 'brain' for the sat nav is quite bulky with numerous cables running to it.