[loobola]

I am just about to make my Q5 order (through drivethedeal.com) and need some clarification on a few things that Audi don't seem to know the answers to.

I am getting the Technology Pack - High which includes the Audi music interface. I have been told that this connection effectively occurs in the glovebox via a provided cable? Now my questions on this that I am struggling to get answers to is, is this compatible with the iphone 3G? ie can I access, play and control my music on the iphone all through the Sat Nav (and multi function steering wheel)? Interesting Audi say ipods are supported but iphones not.

And does this AMI cable charge the phone while connected?

Part the reason I ask the above question is if it does charge the phone then I only need to get the bluetooth prep - low to enable to make and receive calls through the sat nav whilst also having my phone charged (in the glove box) on my journey.

And finally could someone please clarify for me if my understanding of the bluetooth options are correct:

Mobile Telephone preparation - just allows a phone to connect wirelessly to the Sat Nav and allows the user to make and receive calls. Can I scroll through contacts etc whilst doing this?

Bluetooth (low) with voice control - As above but with the option of purchasing a cradle to sit in the centre arm rest which connects to the external aerial and also charges (which I believe is now available for the iphone)

Bluetooth (high) with voice control - Via bluetooth connects to an external aerial to boost reception and also allows voice control (whatever that is?) No charging ability?

So what is the difference between the Bluetooth High and Low option? I can only see that the high option connects to the external aerial via bluetooth with no mention of charging and the low option connects to the aerial via an optional dock in the armrest (?100?) and charges. Yet for an S Line the High option is ?200 more expensive.

As you can see I am getting a little confused on this! Any guidance would be appreciated! I really just want the ability to make and receive calls (external aerial not that important) but also have the phone charged.

Thanks all.

 

[jonathanbr]

Hi

Our experiernce is with a July 2009 vehicle with the 2009 Technology Pack (HDD, Tailgate and Parking plus) with separate AMI and the bluetooth low - My Iphone 3GS will not connect as I would have hoped. When you connect it to the AMI cable the Phone comes up with "device not compatible / switch off phone to reduce interference" so it charges and you can listen to music but the phone function is disconnected - whether there has been a firmware update I'm not sure?

If you however want to use the phone function you connect via the bluetooth - Cradle has just become available but I haven't picked one up yet. Have used Bluetooth Telephone connections since 2003 I have always found that you get improved reception when using a cradle - connects to the roof aerial and charges - big problem is always the lag between new phone models comming out and the cradles launching, hence delaying my Iphone purchase.

I beleve the base phone system just connects to the car but without the cradle / outside aerial option, and the better one adds a Handset. They should all connect and allow you to access your phone book - if your numbers are set up correctly on Outlook etc.

Jonathan

 

[loobola]

Thanks for the info.

Can anyone else confirm or deny the compatibility issues with the iphone and the AMI (I thought I read elsewhere on this forum someone said the AMI worked for them?). If this is the case then it implies that the iphone can't be used as a music player (ipod) whilst also bluetooth'd to the car to make and receive calls?!

And so with the low prep you can now buy this 'cradle' that sits and connects in to the glovebox? This gives you the better reception and charges the phone?

And so I still don't fully understand what the high phone prep gives you over this?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Guest]

I have the bluetooth high. I chose this as it avoids the cradle in the armrest which basically stops you using the arm rest cubbyhole. You have to buy a cradle which you dont need with the high spec. The phone pairs with the car and transfers the sim to the car electronically and shuts your phone down so it uses next to no power.

You can make calls as though the car had the phone integrated. You also get voice dialling. This puts automatically a voice tag to each of your contacts so you can say the contact name and it will dial. A great saving rather than trying to turn the dial on the mmi to input a number or search for a contact. As the phone is not really using much power no need to charge it in the car, but if you do, use a standard car charger in the socket inside the arm rest.I am glad I chose this now. Really depends on how much you use the phone in the car.

 

[Guest]

hello,

I have the "bluetooth interface" (the ?240 one) and this has no physical connection to the car (cradle) so you retain the cubby hole for your cd's or mp3 player via the aux port. This is a benefit to us as my wife and I each have different mobile phones and it also saves you having to get mobile out of bag, pocket etc when getting in car.

It also transfers the phonebook to the car and updates if any changes have been made to phone contacts since last linked, it allows voice dialling and allows MMI to be used for dialing a number.
The only things it doesn't do is connect to an external aeriel or charge your phone whilst driving, which the later can be remedied with a cheap cigarette lighter if required.

Hope that explains a ittle bit more about the bluetooth interface phone option for you.

Regards
Barry

 

[loobola]

Thanks for all the info everyone. I think i have all the options and abilities of each straight now. I just need to clarify if the AMI now works with the iphone (someone mentioned that it does after a software update to the sat nav) and also whether the AMI cable in the glovebox when connected actually charges the iphone also.

That way i can connect it to the AMI, have it charged and play all my songs while have the bluetooth preparation only option that will route all calls and phone book etc through the sat nav. Then the only thing it won't do is use the cars aerial to create a better reception.

Thanks for all the info so far....

 

[kenny]

Hi - I have the AMI and can confirm that whilst I can play music from my iPhone 3GS via the MMI, the phone *does not* charge. I believe this is due to a change Apple made to the 3GS version, as my phone is also incompatible with my iPod chargers. Now whether Audi have a modified version of the AMI cable that *is* compatible with the 3GS, who knows? My Q5 was built in September 2009.

 

[Guest]

I've also replied on the AMI thread to clarify my previous post, but will answer some specfic points raised in this thread:

Firstly, I have an iPhone 3G, not 3Gs, but believe the behaviour is the same (relating to these questions).

A couple of Apple related points first: They changed the charging spec on the 3G iPhone, so many older ipod accessories will not charge an iPhone. You can buy an adaptor to solve this, available on the Apple store and made ny Scrothe, IIRC. Also, the iPhone will "complain" if connected to a whole heap of old accessories and ask you to switch to airplane mode. I've always ignored this helpful advice, and not had any issues with interference or non-functionality (other than charging, as mentioned above).

My AMI does cause my iPhone to complain and suggest airplane mode, but I've not found ignoring that to be a problem, and it DOES charge the phone.

Finally, as said on the other thread - AMI and bluetooth both operate seamlessly for me. Not sure when my car was built, but I bought it from stock in September 2009 with delivery mileage only, so likely an August build.

Phil.
Having said that, my AMI DOES charge my phone, but also makes the iPhone

 

[loobola]

Thanks for the update Phil.

So it seems that you can connect your iphone to the AMI cable in the glovebox and have it bluetooth to the MMI system such that you can:

Charge your iphone
Play your music on your iphone
And make and receive calls (via bluetooth) on the MMI.

I have read elsewhere that there is a bluetooth receiver that you can physically connect to the AMI and that then also allows your iphone to bluetooth to this accessory and hence the AMI and thus wirelessly play your music from your iphone. 1st up it looks expensice and secondly I have only seen one that says for 2G systems whereas the Q5 is a 3G system. (There may be a dongle for the 3G system I have just not seen it). I think the reason you need this dongle is because of limitations Apple have implemented in to the iphone such that it can only play music to a headset of sorts (ie earphones, hands free). 'I believe' the dongle acts as a handsfree speaker and then plays the received music through the AMI connection. Again all this is what I can figure out from many forums. However I think its close to $200 - which is hard to justify. You could buy an ipod for that or just load up some SD cards with music.