Upgrading S4 Interior

[Joshie]

B5DOM PM'd me the other day to ask about upgrading the interior of an S4 to the facelifted interior. Thought I'd post the reply here so it would benefit anyone who wanted to carry out the modification.

You need to pick up a facelifted Aircon (HIVAC) control unit from an Audi breakers although I will have one for sale (without heated seats) as I acquired the heated seats version recently. You'll also need the switches and the can holder as well as the central console again available from the breakers. make sure you get the plugs and cable too as this makes installation far easier.

The fitment is pretty easy as the aircon unit plugs are identical. The problem is with the fog lamps and HRW. The HRW can be controlled from the new aircon control unit, the spade connctor at the back needs to be connected to the HRW power and the other side to the supply to the HRW. The HRW will also need to be earthed. The spots and fogs are a problem as the facelifted switches are electronic rather than than the mechanical pre facelift ones.

Toasty built a switching box for me which converted the pulse from the new switches to close a circuit in the switching box to operate the lights. He also rewired the lighing circuit inside the aircon control unit as it only works from the ECU in the facelifted version. It now is wired to the ignition so that the lights are always on but in the daylight they are invisible. Thanks again Dan [img]images/graemlins/beerchug.gif[/img]

Overall I would say that it is a significant improvement and really modernises the interior.

I recently acquired a symphony radio from ebay along with the HIVAC with the heated switches which I will be fitting as soon as the housing arrives from VAG parts.

[TurkS4]

Hi Joshie,

Do you have any before and after pics for our perusal? [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]

[toasty]

Nice one Joshie,

Glad you finally got the HRW working off the aircon switch, hope the diagram helped.

If anyone is considering the interior mod and would like some advice concerning the electrics that Ian mentioned, just give me a bell [img]images/graemlins/1syellow1.gif[/img]

[Nige_RS4]

Joshie,

I recently acquired a symphony radio from ebay along with the HIVAC with the heated switches which I will be fitting as soon as the housing arrives from VAG parts.

Heated switches - now I've heard it all - is that to stop your fingers getting cold when pressing them ?? [img]images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img]

Seriously, when you had the dash out, did you notice if the S4 was pre-wired for heated seats .i.e. the loom between the dash and the seats ? Or did you already have heated seats ? [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]

[toasty]

Joshie already had heated seats.

I don't have them however (Alcantara) but I fitted the switches into the centre console along with an ASR and ESP just because I think they look better than that dodgy coin tray thingy.

I had to make up my own loom to get power to the swithes (for illumination purposes) as there was no cabling there for heated seats.

Nor could I find any under the carpets which would connect to the elements in the seats.

Mine is a '98 Saloon.

I suspect therefore that cabling is only in place if you have the heated seats. Either that or it is extremely well hidden! [img]images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[Joshie]

Hi Joshie,

Do you have any before and after pics for our perusal? [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]

Only "after" pics

Have a look here.

I'll take some more after I fit the Symphony. Tried it to see that it worked before ordering the cradle and delighted that it uses the same plugs as the Concert.

The only difference is the power output which delivers a great deal more bass.

[Joshie]

Joshie,

I recently acquired a symphony radio from ebay along with the HIVAC with the heated switches which I will be fitting as soon as the housing arrives from VAG parts.

Heated switches - now I've heard it all - is that to stop your fingers getting cold when pressing them ?? [img]images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img]

Seriously, when you had the dash out, did you notice if the S4 was pre-wired for heated seats .i.e. the loom between the dash and the seats ? Or did you already have heated seats ? [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img]

[img]images/graemlins/biggrin3.gif[/img]

D'oh, thanks Nige [img]images/graemlins/<beep>_you.gif[/img]- missed the "seat" word out after heated [img]images/graemlins/roundeyes.gif[/img]

That's what happens when you travel for 18 hours solid.

I think Dan answered your question about heated seats but I suppose I would still enquire about what would be required to make the standard seats heated - anything is possible, after all

[TurkS4]

HI Joshie,

Had a look at your pic and this is what my interior looks like. I was under the impression mine was a pre-facelift model (reg March 1999), as the facelifted model had a digital clock rather than the analogue one? or is this the post facelifted model, but pre-final facelift model?...damn, how many of these are there for a model around for only a few years [img]images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img].

Would be nice to see pics of all the various models though for a comparison/upgrades or maybe just for the record of a great car.

I'll post a pic tomorrow of my interior, but one thing I have noticed is that you have a ASP button (or is this just for show?), where mine just has a lookalike button that has no function [img]images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img].

Cheers...Jem

[Joshie]

Hi Turk,

Are you sure?

Do you have the cup holder in the dash next to the light switches and the uprated Air Con unit? If so that's great but I thought that facelift took place in MY2000.

The original S4 aircon cluster and ashtray was certainly a little dated and the facelifted one was much more modern.

[toasty]

you are correct, the facelift does have a digital clock but Joshie just changed the centre console bit (I say *just* but it was a lot of work!!!)

Also some of the facelift models have a different steering wheel, and the s4 logo on the dash in under the rev counter rather than the speedo.

F/L = facelift

External differences are the boot badge (lower on the facelift)
Boot release (no button on the F/L)
Mirrors (more angular on the F/L)
Door bump strips (lower profile on the F/L)
Washer spray nossels (hidden under the bonnet lip on the F/L)
Different door handles (rounder on the F/L)
Front lights (integrated indicators on F/L)
Different badges (older ones are the 3 diagonal lines, new ones like the RS4, but without the R)


Brakes and oil ducting on turbos is different, as are the TBB and F pipes (all better on the F/L)

I think that's everything, and before anyone says it, yes I do know I'm a boring ba$tard [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Nige_RS4]

Good start Dan, but Joshie was right in that there was another facelift in MY2000 (possibly due to the Americans getting the S4 for the first time). This included the new badge and also the digi-clock. The most obvious changes for the 99.5MY facelift was the center console - here are the 3 variants ; 1998MY , 1999MY , 2000MY
How sad is that! [img]images/graemlins/biggrin2.gif[/img]

[toasty]

Nice one!

Except that there seems also to be a 4th lift. (somewhere between 3 and 4 I think)

Look at biturbos interior, he's got the digi clock but the old s4 badge, steering wheel and the S4 logo under his speedo.

-Dan

[TurkS4]

Joshie...yes, I do have the cup holder next to the light switches and the uprated air con unit [img]images/graemlins/thumbs.gif[/img].

Toasty...mine has all the items you have listed as part of the F/L apart from the digital dash [img]images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img].

Nige_S4...great pics of each model. Must say I prefer the 1999 dash as it is a lot less cluttered than the 2000, and I can make full use of the space under the ashtray.

Also the 1998m reminds me of my Audi 80 1.8s interior (1986 model!!!!) with the big old switches for the airflow control.......can see why Joshie did the upgrade. [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[wazza]

Mine was 3.2000 registered.

[toasty]

with the big old switches for the airflow control

Not all 1998 models had those awful dials, just the ones without climate.

Mine is the 98 interior, but has climate control (to be honest I've never seen one without) and the console looks far better as a result