MMI 3G High map update

[rayyan171]

Looking to update maps for our A6 C6. It is the MMI with the joystick on the controller (3D maps). Anyone know how much it is to upgrade the maps from the dealer? Believe it is a SD card needed to do the job.

Edited for forum rules

Edited by rayyan171 on Wednesday 6th February 14:06

[catso]

I recently updated the maps/MMI software on my S4, got it from an ebay seller 'vagnav' ; https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/vagnav?_trksid=p2047675...

All on SD cards with full instructions and helpful telephone support. The update took a couple of hours all in and without any problems, cost around £85 IIRC.

[Dr G]

Such behaviour is highly illegal and shouldn't be discussed on this forum as it breaches the rules.

There is a large thread on the A5 owners club discussing the process for circumventing copy protection on map updates that makes me extremely angry.

[rayyan171]

Dr G said:

Such behaviour is highly illegal and shouldn't be discussed on this forum as it breaches the rules.

There is a large thread on the A5 owners club discussing the process for circumventing copy protection on map updates that makes me extremely angry.

Noted

The company mentioned above however sells only genuine Audi map updates. It is both the SD cards, including the license needed to install the system, as well as coming in original Audi packaging and having the part numbers on all the items. They are not copies. Personally haven't had good things with copies myself. I am only looking to see if people had main dealer prices, or cheaper yet still genuine OEM alternatives. VagNav on eBay seem good for this.

[rayyan171]

catso said:

I recently updated the maps/MMI software on my S4, got it from an ebay seller 'vagnav' ; https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/vagnav?_trksid=p2047675...

All on SD cards with full instructions and helpful telephone support. The update took a couple of hours all in and without any problems, cost around £85 IIRC.

I saw this online, tempted to get it, they are OEM products. Does the car need to be running for it? Also, how hard is it to install?

[catso]

rayyan171 said:

I saw this online, tempted to get it, they are OEM products. Does the car need to be running for it? Also, how hard is it to install?

Need the MMI on all the time, I am told you can do it with a battery charger connected to stop it powering down? but I left it running as it was easier.

Basically just insert the 3 SD cards in order, the last one being the licence card, took a couple of hours but no problems encountered.

As for it being illegal, why would that be?

AFAIK all the kit was OEM, certainly looks it with Audi serial nos. & barcodes on the SD cards and I had to supply VIN/serial to get the license card - what should be illegal is some of Audi's pricing...

[Dr G]

catso said:

As for it being illegal, why would that be?

Because certain uncouth individuals see fit to circumvent Audi's copy-protection measures in an outrageous act of villainy that I cannot in any way approve of by means described elsewhere on the internet.

They should pay Audi their ridiculous £300 per update and enjoy it!

[rayyan171]

Dr G said:

catso said:

As for it being illegal, why would that be?

Because certain uncouth individuals see fit to circumvent Audi's copy-protection measures in an outrageous act of villainy that I cannot in any way approve of by means described elsewhere on the internet.

They should pay Audi their ridiculous £300 per update and enjoy it!

The best way to stop the fakes from carrying on is to not buy them at all. People will make fakes of everything. However, there is no enjoyment in Audi's ridiculous prices for a simple navigation update. Considering the MMI system is rather expensive, especially as it is an option for the system in our car, the prices are obscene. £300 for an update for a car that was £40k from new is too much, considering it is £80 from the BMW dealer for a DVD update for our X5 (£150 for the HDD update if you have the newer system). See no difference whatsoever in either system in terms of their maps, yet the X5 was £60k from new. And they are both the same age as well.

I am in no way supporting the illegal updates out there, it does cost the manufacturer to update these maps every year and provide widespread support for all cars and their different MMI systems. But, £300 is the price of a service for the X5 from the dealer. I however have no problem with buying OEM software, albeit from someone else who has managed to get their hands on it, probably directly from a parts centre of some sort, and sell it at a fraction of the original price Audi demands.

[Adrian E]

The prices are particularly cheeky when you realise the VW Discover Pro system gets free map updates for life with the car....:25GB download from VW which takes 2 days via their flaky software, but it does work

[catso]

Indeed, my Wife's car has no inbuilt nav so I bought an £80 Garmin with lifetime free updates, it also does speed camera locations etc.

I fully expect to pay more for a 'premium' brand but I still think £300 for an update to a £45k car is extracting the urine a tad. I wouldn't download a freebie/hacked version off the 'net but am (almost) happy to pay the price of a new Garmin for what I believe is the genuine article every couple of years...

[Adrian E]

It's a common problem with monetising services, rather than products. Most OEMs have now realised from the days of Traffic Master etc that nobody renews the subscriptions once the trial period runs out. Instead of trying to monetise from a much smaller customer base (i.e. spreading the costs over a shrinking number of willing punters) most OEMs now see it as an opportunity to maintain a relationship by being able to send you service reminders direct to the car, etc.

The bloody Golf, although it gets free map updates, requires you to pay circa £70pa after its 3rd birthday in order to be able to use Google Earth mapping and receive petrol station price information and similar meaningless drivel. I wouldn't mind so much if that included a SIM card in the vehicle. it doesn't - you have to connect your own data-contracted mobile, activate a personal hotspot, and plug it in via USB every time. Needless to say that's not been renewed, but the free map update's been done!

Not sure if DrG is being entirely serious......

A

[Dr G]

Thank you Adrian for saving me from uncaging the whoosh parrot

[rayyan171]

Dr G said:

Thank you Adrian for saving me from uncaging the whoosh parrot