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I am currently spec ing my car and have asked for GSM dash mounted prep. I have asked for the acual cradle not to be fitted to the dash (I think they look rather ugly) and as far as I know the cradle only charges the phone battery anway. This should give me the functionality of the bluetooth interface without an ugly cradle bolted to the dash.

The dealer is telling me that I can't do this and that I if I spec this item I must have the cradle mounted to the dash.

Does anyone have any experience of this as it seems b*****ks to me.

The Audi options always fit a cradle.

The best way is to order the car without the Bluetooth kit and get craigyb to fit it for you after you've collected it - that way you get the OE Bluetooth parts and NO CRADLE!

On my last two Audis (S4 and RS4) I've done just that.

Already replied to this when same message was posted on the electrical section of the forum. See my comments there.

Rotavirus

Thanks, I was sure I had seen others who had managed to spec their cars with the dealers with the dashmounted system but without the actual cradle being mounted on the dash, If you know what I mean!

My dealer is saying that the Audi ordering system does not allow them to delete the cradle and they know of no way round this.

itaggart wrote:My dealer is saying that the Audi ordering system does not allow them to delete the cradle and they know of no way round this.

AFAIK the dealer is telling the truth.

If you don't want a cradle - order the car without Bluetooth and get the craigyb kit fitted.

Option dealer is suggesting is to go for the cradle in the arm rest so that it is out of sight. Down side of this is that you lose some of the already small storage space.

Heard great things about Craigyb, there seems to be no doubts about the standard of work he does and his overall knowledge of his subject. The only thing that worries me about a retro-fit is that it will have an impact on the Audi warranty.

I think the answer is no ....

itaggart wrote:Option dealer is suggesting is to go for the cradle in the arm rest so that it is out of sight. Down side of this is that you lose some of the already small storage space.

No, don't do that - you'll loose the RS4 steering wheel if you do.

Forget the factory fit options. Get Craigyb to retrofit as petroldave recommends. That's what I did!!!

I did the same - opted for a craigyb reto-fit

It's a bit poor of a £50K car maker that the only way you can get bluetooth functionality is to either have an ugly cradle on the dash (which no one wants) or to lose one of the coolest looking steering wheel's on the market. How can Audi do this?

Why don't you do what one of the lads on here done and take off the cradle and fit a new console. You can hide the wires from the cradle behind the dash/console and you still have bluetooth connection without the hideous cradle that everone bangs their right knee on.

But doesn't the cost of the factory bluetooth option and new console cost more than getting it retrofitted?

Yes it does. It's just that I picked up a cancelled, already specced car so had the cradle in there already. Just thought this is another way round what could be achieved.