Knowledge Base: Audi Music Interface (AMI)

[OEMplus.com]

Hello all,

Since there is some confusion about how the AMI works in the R8, I wanted to write a short Q&A on the topic. Please FEEL FREE to ask questions and I'll update the thread as we go.

Q: What is AMI? Aren't they a band? Why do I want this?
A: AMI stands for Audi Music Interface and is a great little device that Audi developed in conjunction with a German company called Paragon. In a nutshell, this product will integrate any portable music device (Apple or otherwise) into the vehicle and allow you to play that content over the factory sound system.

Q: What devices are supported? iPhone? Droid? Crackberry?
A: The AMI device current comes with four different dongles (available separately) that will allow you to use a wide variety of devices. They are:

• Apple Interface Cable - The connector on the base of every Apple device
• Standard USB - For portable HDD, thumb drives, etc.
• Mini USB - For Blackberry and other similar devices
• 3.5mm - The "all other" connector that will go right into the headphone jack

Q: Can I control my device from the RNS-E?
A: The level of integration & control varies depending on your device, but the most popular devices (from Apple) can all be FULLY controlled and integrated with the Audi system. You will be able to see Artists, Tracks, Playlists, etc. on screen and use the factory dial & buttons to control your device. Making and receiving calls will pause the device just like the CD-Changer does now. Powering off the car will also pause the device, so no worries about a dead iTouch battery.

Q: Will it charge my device while it's plugged in?
A: The Apple family of products will receive a charge through the vehicle, keeping them up to snuff. This is NOT the same as the iPhone cradle that will additionally boost your phone signal while connected. The two devices are mutually exclusive. Blackberry phones will also receive a charge while connected. Other devices will vary.

Q: Where does this unit install? Can I keep my CD-Changer?
A: The AMI unit installs in the same location as the factory CD-Changer, so you cannot have both. It is also not possible to mount the AMI elsewhere and run both in serial, as the RNS-E is only ready for one input of this type. The AUX jack in the center console is also lost, as the wiring is required to run the AMI. On the positive side, it has a nice door that you can shut to hide the interface.

Q: Will this work in any model & year R8?
A: Yes and No. It will work natively with the 2010> upgraded RNS-E unit, so if you have a '10 w/the hi-res screen and 32GB SD slots, you'll be fine. If your vehicle is an '08 or '09, you will need to upgrade to the new RNS-E. There are additional benefits besides AMI integration for that unit and we have documented that process in this thread.

Q: Can I install this without the 2010 RNS-E unit?
A: We have not confirmed 100% at this time, but it appears that the RNS-E unit must also be updated to a 2010 unit in order for the AMI to be functional.

Q: What else is needed besides the AMI unit?
A: We will be providing this product as a retrofit kit, which will include the following:

• AMI Unit
• Wiring harness
• Dongle of choice (default is iPhone)
• Mounting bracket
• Trim bezel/door

Q: How involved is the installation?
A: The complete installation has not been documented yet. Putting the actual AMI box in is easy, but we are experimenting with the wiring to ensure that functionality will be correct. Unfortunately, the CD-Changer and AMI unit have different connectors and schematics, so we are expecting that a bit of effort will be required. More on this as we move forward.

Q: Is VCDS/VAS coding required?
A: Yes. "Media Player 3" must be enabled in the CAN Gateway (module 19). Using your tool of choice, access this module and look for Byte 6, Bit 4. Checking this via VCDS will change it from "02" to "12". Using VAS, you'll need to change it from 0000010 to 0010010. The long coding is vehicle specific (so don't just copy this) and the string from a '10 V10 with the unit installed is AFA81F07404712004100.

Q: Can I watch movies or shows from my device on the RNS-E screen?
A: No. Video content is specifically blocked and you will not see movie or TV show menus even available on the screen. There is another product available from Kufatec.com that will solve this problem, but we'll save that for another FAQ.

[Davey_Dee]

Pretty much tells me I knew what it did Thanks

[smoothy]

awesome! thanks for making it!

[SDR8]

Rich,
Thanks again for all your help and info. You have been a great contributor for this forum (providing a lot of great info and source for items). It is very nice to see such an active sponsor. I definitely appreciate it and look forward to our future dealings.

[AnOutsider]

definitely. This is what a sponsor should be!

[ianerrid]

definitely. This is what a sponsor should be!

Agreed, almost word for word what I was planning to post!!

[ianerrid]

Actually, I am really hacked off at not having an OEMplus in the UK, my **** Amex would be on fire!! Perhaps just as well then...

[OEMplus.com]

Ian, you can take comfort that we are able to ship to the UK from either Germany or the US...

[OEMplus.com]

We have an AMI unit fitted and wired into an '09, using a modified & extended harness from an A5. Working on the coding at the moment, so hopefully we'll have that sorted shortly.

[OEMplus.com]

SUCCESS! Today we were able to stream music from an iPhone and control it from the RNS-E interface. Previous attempts had gotten us close, but we had to step back and approach it from a different angle to get full integration

Some notes:

• The A5 harness we talked about earlier is not the solution.
• The center console must be loosened to install the harness.
• The CD-Changer and AUX jacks are both eliminated.
• No vehicle wiring is cut or removed. Full uninstall is possible.

Our first car is on a tight time-table, so we will be modifying the factory wiring to install the unit. However, we have another car waiting for this kit so we'll be building a test harnesses from scratch for that one. Going forward, all harness will be made by our partners at Kufatec.com.